Gov. Cuomo Extends Commercial Eviction, Foreclosure Ban until January

For the fourth time since the COVID-19 pandemic hit New York in March, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said he will extend a moratorium on evicting commercial tenants, this time until Jan. 1, 2021. The most recent moratorium was set to expire on Oct. 20, and Cuomo’s extension for commercial tenants is in line with the eviction moratorium given to New York’s residential tenants during the COVID-19 pandemic. The governor can extend the ban only for 30-day periods, which means the latest order will need to be renewed again on Nov. 19.

The state said the extension gives commercial tenants more time to catch up on rent or their mortgage or to renegotiate their lease terms to avoid foreclosure in the future. “The health and economic impacts of this pandemic have been devastating, and we are continuing to do everything we can to support people who are suffering,” Cuomo said in a statement.

Like the rules governing residential evictions, the most recent iteration of the commercial eviction ban has some caveats. Commercial evictions initiated before March 17 have been able to proceed as of Sept. 4.