Governor Kathy Hochul is allowing the Eviction Moratorium to expire on January 15,2022.  This moratorium has prevented residential evictions and foreclosure actions to proceed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The State Office of Court Administration (OCA) alleges more than 81,500 eviction filings in NYC since March 15, 2020 when the moratorium was first put into place. There are currently approximately 224,000 pending eviction cases across NYS. Come Tuesday, January 18, 2022, these cases which have all been stayed as a result of the moratorium may proceed. Exactly how many of these cases actually remain to proceed is currently unknown as it is assumed that many cases have been resolved as a result of rent payments to Landlords from the Emergency Rental Assistance Program. (ERAP)

We expect that there will be an influx  of new cases filed starting January 18^th. At this point, the courts have not indicated what measures, if any, it has, or will, put in place to address how it will process  the backlog of pending matters or newly filed cases. We anticipate lengthy delays in the court processing of cases especially since the Omicron virus has negatively affected staffing of the courts, and of legal service providers  which are now made available to aid tenants.

If you have any questions concerning a currently pending case or about commencing a new case, please contact Daniels Norelli Cecere & Tavel, PC.