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By: Staff Reporter

Governor Andrew Cuomo signed on Thursday, August 20th, 2020, an executive order extending the state’s moratorium on coronavirus-related commercial evictions and foreclosures an additional month, until Sept. 20.

This measure extends protections already in place for commercial tenants and mortgagors in recognition of the financial toll the pandemic has taken on business owners, including retail establishments and restaurants. The extension of this protection gives commercial tenants and mortgagors additional time to get back on their feet and catch up on rent or renegotiate their leasing terms to avoid eviction proceedings and foreclosures moving forward.

Cuomo first announced a state moratorium on residential and commercial evictions on March 20 to ensure no tenant was evicted during the height of the public health emergency. The commercial eviction and foreclosure moratorium was extended through Aug. 20 by an executive order, and Cuomo signed the Tenant Safe Harbor Act and additional legislation to protect residential renters and homeowners from foreclosure or eviction due to a COVID-19 financial hardship. Cuomo also ordered additional protection for residential renters from charges for late payment of rent and to allow residential tenants to use security deposits to pay rent.