News and blog

Eviction Actions by Corporate Landlords Increase Despite CDC Moratorium, Recent Surge in COVID-19 Cases

November 23, 2020

On September 1, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced a moratorium on residential evictions through the end of the year to help limit the spread of COVID-19, noting:

“In the context of a pandemic, eviction moratoria—like quarantine, isolation, and social distancing—can be an effective public health measure utilized to prevent the spread of communicable disease. Eviction moratoria facilitate self-isolation by people who become ill or who are at risk for severe illness from COVID-19 due to an underlying medical condition. They also allow State and local authorities to more easily implement stay-at-home and social distancing directives to mitigate the community spread of COVID-19. Furthermore, housing stability helps protect public health because homelessness increases the likelihood of individuals moving into congregate settings, such as homeless shelters, which then puts individuals at higher risk to COVID-19.”

The CDC’s eviction moratorium is especially important given the current dramatic surge in COVID-19 cases across the US.

Yet despite the eviction moratorium and the dramatic increase in new COVID-19 cases nationwide, private equity firms and other corporate landlords have steadily filed more evictions to remove residents from their homes in the geographies the Private Equity Stakeholder Project has been tracking (in AZ, TX, FL, GA, and TN).

Large landlords have filed more than 5,100 cases in these geographies just since the beginning of November (through Nov 20), up from October and September. The Private Equity Stakeholder Project has identified more than 19,000 eviction actions filed by private equity firms and other corporate landlords since the CDC Eviction Moratorium was announced on September 1.

Some of the largest landlords in the US, including Greystar Real Estate Partners, Mid-America Apartment Communities, Starwood Capital, Cortland Partners and the Praedium Group have filed to evict residents in recent weeks. See list below.

Many of these cases are evictions for nonpayment of rent, which are specifically covered by the CDC eviction moratorium.

An organization violating the CDC eviction moratorium may be subject to a fine of up to $200,000 per event.

Recent media coverage:

“Large corporate landlords have filed 10,000 eviction actions in five states since September,” NBC News, Oct 26, 2020.

“U.S. evictions surge amid pandemic despite federal ban,” Reuters, Oct 5, 2020.

Corporate Landlords Are Still Filing Eviction Cases After CDC Order, Data Show,” VICE News, Sept 28, 2020.

Eviction Filings by Big Landlords Surged After Trump Issued Ban,” Bloomberg, Sept 14, 2020.

Eviction filings since November 1 (select counties in AZ, FL, TX, GA, and TN)

LandlordFilings since Nov 1
Ventron Management157
S2 Capital131
Mid-America Apartment Communities103
Western Wealth Capital97
Madera Residential71
Olive Tree Holdings70
Progress Residential65
Camden Property Trust59
Weidner Apartment Homes46
IMT Residential46
Main Street Renewal/ Amherst Holdings42
Invitation Homes42
InterCapital Group41
American Landmark Apartments39
Dominium Apartments37
Home Partners of America35
Bridge Investment Group32
Pacifica Companies29
Greystar Real Estate Partners27
Highland Capital/ Nexpoint Advisors, L.P.27
TruAmerica Multifamily24
Carlyle Group24
Federal Capital Partners24
Eaton Vance24
Colrich23
Gables Residential22
Pennybacker Capital21
Carter Multifamily21
Resource Real Estate20
Praxis Capital16
Republic Funds16
Peak Capital Partners16
Oaktree Capital16
Front Yard Residential16
Cortland Partners16
FPA Multifamily14
29th Street Capital14
Steadfast Companies14
GEM Realty Capital13
JRK Property Holdings13
GWR Equities LLC13
Benedict Canyon Equities12
CBRE11
Bell Partners11
Investcorp10
Carroll Organization10
Electra America10
Berkshire Residential Investments10
Crow Holdings10
UDR9
NRP Group9
Aimco9
Harbor Group International9
Turner Impact Capital8
DRA Advisors8
Equity Lifestyle Properties8
Alden Torch8
Covenant Capital Group8
Nuveen/ TIAA-CREF7
The Praedium Group8
Waterton Residential7
Abacus Capital Group6
Chetrit Group6
Ares Management6
Fairfield Residential6
Knightvest Capital5
Clarion Partners5
AEW Capital Management5
UBS Realty Investors4
Westdale Real Estate Investment and Management7
RREEF4
True North Management Group4
MetLife4
Invesco4
Sares Regis Group3
Waypoint Real Estate Investments3
PGIM3
Pacific Coast Capital Partners3
Starwood Capital Group3
Redwood Capital Group3
Almanac Realty Investors3
KBS Strategic Opportunity REIT3
Merion Realty Partners2
Rockwood Capital2
Laramar Group2
Thor Equities2
Related Companies2
AIG Global Real Estate2
Brookfield Asset Management2
Transwestern1
Mesirow Financial1
Northwood Investors/ Ravin Partners1
Tricon Capital1
TA Realty1
Yes! Communities1
Timberland Partners1
BSR REIT1
Fundamental Advisors LP1
Harrison Street Real Estate Capital1
Canyon Partners, LLC1
Boston Capital Real Estate1
BH Equities1
Heitman1
JPMorgan1
Artemis Real Estate Partners1

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