Gov. Wolf hints at moratorium extension as Allegheny County courts ready for eviction proceedings

Pennsylvania’s moratorium on evictions and foreclosures is set to expire Tuesday, and Allegheny County courts have laid out guidelines for those and other hearings.

Gov. Tom Wolf, however, hinted Monday that he could extend the moratorium that has shielded renters from losing their homes due to non-payment, the Associated Press reported.

Wolf, a Democrat, last week said he does not have the legal authority to extend the moratorium beyond the end of August. He urged lawmakers in the Republican-controlled General Assembly to pass legislation to extend the statewide moratorium, which has been in place for more than five months, according to the report.

He has since hedged as to whether, legally, it must end by Tuesday, and on Monday said he no longer stands by his decision to let it expire. Asked whether he would extend the moratorium on Tuesday, he said, “you have to wait and see.”

In the meantime, county courts have laid out plans for beginning eviction proceedings again Tuesday in a court order from President Judge Kim Berkeley Clark.

Evictions based on failure to pay rent will be scheduled as far out as possible, and that can be extended up to seven days beyond the limit at the judge’s discretion, according to the order. If the tenant applies for or says they will apply for rental assistance under the CARES Act before the first hearing, the eviction hearing will be postponed “to allow for sufficient time for the application to be processed as agreed to by the parties and the (judge).”

The order came alongside two others, one of which extended the judicial emergency in the Fifth Judicial District through the end of the year. The other laid out court operations under the extended emergency order. Video conference hearings should take the place of in-person hearings whenever possible.

The state House of Representatives returns to voting session Tuesday and the Senate was scheduled to return next week. Per the Associated Press, Republicans have said they will discuss the matter, but gave no promises.

Like many Democratic and Republican governors and local officials around the U.S., Wolf imposed a moratorium on foreclosures and evictions to prevent people from losing their homes in the midst of the virus outbreak and widespread joblessness, according to the report. On July 9, he extended the moratorium until Aug. 31.