As reported by Fox 5, Nevada renters who would be facing eviction may have another solotion.
The clock is ticking until the end of Nevada's legislative session, and the rush is on to get bills signed into law.One bill heading to Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak's desk is a tenant protection bill, and it aims to prevent a widespread eviction crisis. The bill is expected by many to be signed into law.
Assembly Bill 486 would pick up where the state eviction moratorium leaves off when it expires at the same time midnight.
If signed, Nevada property owners temporarily won't be allowed to evict tenants in court for not paying rent if it can be shown they've applied for rental assistance, and if their status is pending. If or when the bill is signed, it will go into effect immediately.
Sisolak previously expressed praise for the bill. "This proposed legislation will help ensure federal rental assistance makes its way to the tenants and landlords who need it," he said.
But landlords we spoke to worry the legislation will put them at continued risk for financial ruin.
"Some of the tenants, they come and tell us they're in the CHAP program, but that doesn't mean anything, we haven't received the payments for months!" said Sanje Sedera, owner of Zenith Realty Group.
Susy Vasquez, director of the Nevada State Apartment Association, a coalition of landlords, said the bill would "essentially [extend] the eviction moratorium." She said some smaller-scale Nevada landlords, especially, are facing foreclosure from these continued tenant protections and delays in back-end assistance from Clark County's Cares Housing Assistance Program (CHAP).
"We want rent assistance. Give us the rent assistance, and then eviction isn't a question," said Vasquez.
While recently making progress, CHAP currently has a backlog of 9,000 applicants, and Clark County said only 400 applications have been approved this year.
It's important to note, however, than an amendment to A.B. 486 resulted in the time window for this eviction pause to be limited to 30 days.