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Category Archive : Rentals

Washington DC Capitol

President Pushes COVID-19 Relief Talks to After Election; Move Could Impact Las Vegas and National Economy, Evictions

LAS VEGAS, NV – According to reports, President Trump – fresh off a brief stay at Walter Reed Military Medical Center for successful treatment of his recent COVID-19 infection – announced via Twitter that he had instructed his aides to cease all negotiations with Democrats over a new Coronavirus relief bill until after the election, an act that surprised many who were expecting a new bill to hopefully be signed soon.

The move will delay additional stimulus measures such as federal unemployment insurance and stimulus checks, and could spell additional economic hardship for millions who have lost their jobs or were furloughed due to the ongoing pandemic. People who have already been fighting to stay in their homes – and landlords who haven’t been getting paid rent – and were relying on the passage of another wave of financial relief will now face a potentially grim reality until government-mandated eviction moratoriums eventually end.

In Las Vegas, Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak signed an extension to the moratorium on residential non payment of rent evictions related to COVID-19 through October 15, however, an additional extension signed by Trump back in September increases eviction protections until the end of the year for non payment of rents. So, while tenants that are unable to make their rent obligations could potentially be safe until 2021, landlords – who face their own financial obligations – will likely be left out in the cold, as the cessation of any relief negotiations until after the election will only mean that rents will continue to not be paid.

Trump has blamed House Speaker Nancy Pelosi for the stalled negotiations, with the two parties far apart on the final numbers of the bill and the amount of support needed. The President stated via Twitter that “after I win the election, I will sign a massive Stimulus Bill that focuses on hardworking Americans and Small Business.”

However, some have seen this announcement – which is proving to be unpopular – as a potential blow not only to the president’s hopes for re-election, but those of GOP House and Senate members as well.

“Waiting until after the election to reach an agreement on the next COVID-19 relief package is a huge mistake,” said Republican Senator Susan Collins of Maine, who is up for re-election in November. “I have already been in touch with the Secretary of the Treasury, one of the chief negotiators, and with several of my Senate colleagues.”

Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell warned this week that the country’s economic recovery is still in a fragile state and requires additional economic stimulus.

Shelter Realty is a Real Estate and Property Management Company specializing in the areas of HendersonLas Vegas and North Las Vegas, NV. Feel free to give us a call at 702.376.7379 so we can answer any questions you may have.

Lawsuit

Nevada Landlords Join National Lawsuit Against Trump COVID Anti-Eviction Executive Order

LAS VEGAS, NV – An executive order recently signed into effect by U.S. President Donald Trump that prevents evictions until December 31 for Americans directly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic has been challenged by a lawsuit filed in federal court. The New Civil Liberties Alliance, a public interest pro bono law firm, has filed the suit on behalf of numerous landlords nationwide, including the members of the Nevada State Apartment Association, according to recent reports.

Filed this week, the lawsuit is challenging President Trump’s executive order, which currently enables the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) the authority to prevent evictions based the increased risk of exposure and transmission of COVID-19 by individuals and families that may find themselves homeless due to financial issues encountered as a result of the ongoing pandemic.

Trump’s order puts the brakes on any evictions of U.S. citizens who are experiencing financial issues due to COVID, provided they meet certain criteria and sign a declaration form.

The lawsuit filed by the New Civil Liberties Alliance states that Trump’s order has unfairly placed a financial burden on landlords and does not provide renters and landlords with any financial assistance. One of the plaintiffs listed in the lawsuit is the Nevada State Apartment Association, which is a member of the National Apartment Association.

Nevada State Apartment Association executive director Susy Vasquez stated that her members are reaching the very end of their collective financial rope by being forced to provide free lodging for tenants while still expected to carry out regular maintenance duties.

“We have been able to provide housing through this entire pandemic, but it is not sustainable,” she said. “There is a point where we can’t continue to provide free housing.  The Nevada State Apartment Association supports court mediation, financial aid, payment plans and other resources as solutions.”

Vasquez also noted that the Nevada’s own eviction moratorium, which was recently extended to October 15 by Governor Steve Sisolak, has created financial hardship for landlords across the state. The CDC is required to respond to the lawsuit by Friday, Oct. 2.

Shelter Realty is a Real Estate and Property Management Company specializing in the areas of HendersonLas Vegas and North Las Vegas, NV. Feel free to give us a call at 702.376.7379 so we can answer any questions you may have.

Entrance to the State Legislature of Nevada in Carson City

Nevada State Officials Promise Aid for Both Landlords and Tenants Prior to October 15 End of Eviction Moratorium

LAS VEGAS, NV – With the controversial extension of the Nevada eviction moratorium issued last month by Governor Steve Sisolak due to finally come to an end come October 15, state officials have announced that ample aid for both landlords and tenants beleaguered by difficult circumstances brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic will be made available as soon as possible.

A second batch of funding – a total of $60M – has been granted to Clark County, with both tenants and landlords eligible to get a cut, officials recently revealed. However, according to State Treasurer Zach Conine, that funding – while significant – nonetheless amounts to a mere band-aid as it relates to the ongoing financial distress many are in due to the pandemic.

“Sixty million dollars is a big number, but let’s be clear: we think the problem is a lot more significant than that,” he said. “Our goal for these new assistance programs as we roll them out is to make sure they have a lot of people involved for bandwidth, and try to make the program as quick and effective as possible.”

In order to keep aid coming, Conine noted that state officials are continually lobbying Congress for more assistance. In addition, the State Treasurer’s office will lend aid to the Nevada Supreme Court as it relates to new mediation programs, which will attempt to help landlords and tenants to come together and work out payment plan options for back rent and/or mortgage payments.

Governor Sisolak, in recent interviews, has expressed hope that the state will be able to make the additional rental assistance funding available to Nevada residents affected by COVID-19 in time for the current eviction moratorium deadline of October 15.

However, some Nevada landlords have expressed a lack of confidence in state government’s ability to roll out the promised assistance in time, citing numerous delays with previous rounds of rental assistance as well as state’s continuing backlog of unemployment claims. 

Shelter Realty is a Real Estate and Property Management Company specializing in the areas of HendersonLas Vegas and North Las Vegas, NV. Feel free to give us a call at 702.376.7379 so we can answer any questions you may have.

Desert Wind Ranch

American Homes 4 Rent Announces New 28-Home Desert Wind Ranch Community in Las Vegas

LAS VEGAS, NV – American Homes 4 Rent (AH4R) has announced that they are opening a community of 28 brand-new single-family homes in Las Vegas, dubbed Desert Wind Ranch; the development marks AH4R’s third such community in the Las Vegas marketplace, with the first two located in the neighboring Big Buffalo and Cactus Cliff communities.

The residences in Desert Wind Ranch range from three-to-four bedroom homes, varying in size from 1,600 square-feet to 2,200 square feet, with leasing starting at approximately $1,600 per month. Included in the rent payments are scheduled front and back yard maintenance, which AH4R states will allow residents to “enjoy their weekends” without having to worry about time-consuming yard work.

Design concepts for all Desert Wind Ranch homes across the board, AH4R notes, include granite countertops, stainless-steel appliances, luxury vinyl plank flooring, elegant bathrooms, quality fixtures, central heating and air conditioning, and two-car garages. All homes in the community utilize upscale finishes and popular floor plans and incorporate pet-friendly yards and desert landscaping.

Desert Wind Ranch is also located conveniently nearby local job centers, dining, shopping and entertainment, making it an ideal place for new families to live, AH4R said.

AH4R is also touting the company’s virtual tour technology – called “Let Yourself In” – for prospective tenants to remotely view the interior and exterior of homes they are interested in, providing a safe environment for homebuyers during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Multiple homes are currently available for lease, AH4R said, with more on the way soon, eventually resulting in a full community of 28 homes upon completion of construction.

As of June 30, 2020, AH4R owns 53,000 single-family properties in 22 states. In addition to Desert Wind Ranch, American Homes 4 Rent owns more than 1,000 homes in the Las Vegas area, including those communities of Big Buffalo and Cactus Cliff.

Shelter Realty is a Real Estate and Property Management Company specializing in the areas of HendersonLas Vegas and North Las Vegas, NV. Feel free to give us a call at 702.376.7379 so we can answer any questions you may have.

Steve Sisolak

Governor Steve Sisolak Extends Nevada Residential Eviction Moratorium by 45 Days

LAS VEGAS, NV – On the eve of the Sept. 1 deadline of the residential eviction moratorium originally put into place as a response to the rampant unemployment and financial crisis gripping the state of Nevada, Governor Steve Sisolak on Monday extended the moratorium for an additional 45 days, according to recent reports.

Sisolak, at a news conference held Monday, indicated that he was extending the protections for those who are having difficulty making their rent or mortgage payments due to COVID-19-related financial issues. The reasoning behind his decision, Sisolak said, was to allow additional time for local municipalities to disperse rental assistance funds, allow the state to make headway into its backlog of unemployment claims, and to give a proposed mediation program for landlords and tenants approved by the Legislature in August time to be fully developed and carried out.

“We will allow more time for these programs to be fully implemented and give assistance to those who need it most during this difficult time,” Sisolak said, while noting that “we can’t keep continuing this moratorium forever.”

Sisolak stated at the conference that an additional $10 million in CARES Act money would be put towards the state’s rental assistance program that eligible renters could apply for; the funds, if approved, will to be paid directly to landlords.

If the moratorium was allowed to lapse, approximately 249,700 Clark County residents could have faced eviction proceedings. Originally, the moratorium was put into place by Sisolak on March 29 amid the economic collapse brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic; Sisolak issued a decree in June, stating that the moratorium was to be lifted and residential evictions allowed again as of Sept 1.

Nevada’s leading real estate association, Nevada REALTORS, issued a statement stating their opposition to Sisolak’s 45-day extension, saying that they sympathized with people who had lost their income due to the pandemic but that the extension will cause tremendous hardship for property owners throughout the state.

“On behalf of Nevada REALTORS and our more than 18,000 members throughout the state, we are very disappointed in Gov. Sisolak’s decision,” they wrote in the statement. “Many of them will now have no recourse or way to cover their own expenses.”

Shelter Realty is a Real Estate and Property Management Company specializing in the areas of HendersonLas Vegas and North Las Vegas, NV. Feel free to give us a call at 702.376.7379 so we can answer any questions you may have.

STAX STUDIOS

Stax Studios: Affordable Studio Apartments Now Available in Downtown Las Vegas

LAS VEGAS, NV – According to recent reports, a new series of affordable, fully renovated studio apartments are now available in downtown Las Vegas, an area of the city that has been sorely in need of such accommodations.

Stax Studios is located at 501 South 10th Street – near Las Vegas Boulevard and Fremont Street – featuring over 44 completely renovated units with a number of convenient amenities. The facility is being marketed towards those who are seeking an “urban lifestyle,” according to a statement put out by property management company WestCorp Management Group, and as such will fit in with the overall renovation of downtown Las Vegas.

The apartments seek to take advantage of the recent spurt of new jobs in the area as well as allowing tenants to take advantage of easy access to local entertainment, retail and dining options just a hop, skip, and a jump away.

Stax Studios makes two studio floor plans available to prospective tenants, with the smaller apartment option coming in at 285 square feet and the larger one at 400 square feet. Leases start at $899 per month, and insurance, trash, and water are included at those prices. In addition, all apartments come complete with laminate flooring, private patios, stainless steel appliances, free wi-fi internet access, quartz countertops, and private parking.

Social spaces are also provided where tenants are able to gather with one another, such as an outdoor barbecue space with fire pit, hammocks, and covered seating areas. Stax Studios is also pet-friendly and even features an on-site gated dog park.

With the COVID-19 pandemic slowly coming to pass and the local Las Vegas economy starting to rebound, many young professionals are looking for affordable apartment options in the middle of the downtown area; Stax Studios offers such an option, with studios situated adjacent to legendary Las Vegas Boulevard, allowing easy access to jobs as well the plethora of entertainment options that “the Strip” has to offer.

Shelter Realty is a Real Estate and Property Management Company specializing in the areas of HendersonLas Vegas and North Las Vegas, NV. Feel free to give us a call at 702.376.7379 so we can answer any questions you may have.

Rental Complex

Las Vegas Apartment Rents Back Up After Pandemic; Expected to Further Increase, Reports Say

LAS VEGAS, NV – According to reports, after an initial drop in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, Las Vegas apartment rents have remained strong in the second quarter of 2020 while vacancy rates were stabilized due mainly to Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak’s moratorium against residential evictions.

While Vegas rents showed definite signs of rebounding after the initial outbreak, they nonetheless have grown at a slower rate than before COVID-19 hit; local rents increased 2.2 percent during the second quarter, which while positive, nonetheless pales to the 7 percent rent growth year over year, reports say.

The average vacancy rate for local apartments was 6.8 percent during this period, representing a .4 percent increase from 2019 but a decrease of approximately 11 percent during the midst of the mid-2000’s recession.

Las Vegas rents in the second quarter of 2020 have averaged $1,105 per month, which represents a $25 increase from the same period of time in 2019 but only a 5 percent increase from the region’s peak levels before the recession; from 2015 through 2019, rents in Vegas grew at a steady and regular rate.

Governor Sisolak’s moratorium against residential evictions, combined with numerous forms of governmental assistance on the federal, state, and local level, have enabled approximately 90 percent of renters in Nevada to make their monthly rent; however, with the cessation of federal enhanced unemployment benefits at the end of July, along with the end of the moratorium come September, experts expect rental numbers to take a potentially drastic turn in the third and fourth quarters of 2020.

Another factor contributing to vacancy rates is the increased development of apartment complexes prior to the pandemic in order to satisfy the growing demand for housing options in light of Las Vegas’ blooming economy and job market. Currently, Las Vegas has 3,117 apartment units under construction as of the second quarter of 2020, and upon completion, this will also drive up vacancy rates correspondingly.

Shelter Realty is a Real Estate and Property Management Company specializing in the areas of HendersonLas Vegas and North Las Vegas, NV. Feel free to give us a call at 702.376.7379 so we can answer any questions you may have.

eviction

Ten Percent of Clark County’s Population Could Be Evicted in September, Reports Say

LAS VEGAS, NV – According to reports, despite an eviction moratorium and numerous sources of governmental financial assistance being made to local residents, September – when the moratorium is due to expire – could see a record-number of people in Las Vegas removed from their homes and apartments, as months of unpaid rent will finally take their toll.

Due to the current financial crisis and widespread unemployment that is still hitting Southern Nevada due to the COVID-19 pandemic – a crisis that the region is recovering from, but not fast enough – the high number of renters that call Vegas home are facing a very real possibility that they may be homeless in the near future, especially with the $600 federal unemployment benefits having expired at the end of July.

Reports indicate that roughly ten percent of the population of Clark County – approximately 249,700 people – may be out on the streets when the eviction freeze ends. This is an unfortunate situation no matter how you look at it, and one that is unprecedented in the modern era.

Of course, one has to look at this from the perspective of landlords as well, considering the fact that a tenant that is unable to pay rent – through no fault of their own – translates to monthly income that the landlord is no longer receiving. And things just got harder for them, as a recent new state law now gives courts the ability to delay an eviction for 30 days in an attempt to mediate the situation between the landlord and their tenant.

While this new law represents a stay of execution for tenants, it also represents more frustration for landlords, many of whom have felt unfairly treated throughout the pandemic by essentially being forced to house individuals that are unable to – or simply refuse to, in some instances – pay them.

Nationwide, the COVID-19 pandemic has led to high levels of unemployment, and evictions across the country are looming for as many as 30 to 40 million people in the next few months if things do not improve. However, experts are reporting that Las Vegas could be one of the harder-hit areas due to its reliance on tourism, which has been greatly curtailed by the pandemic.

Currently, Las Vegas’ unemployment rate is hovering at about 18 percent, down from a high of 34 percent at the height of the pandemic; in February, prior to COVID-19, it was just 3.9 percent.

Shelter Realty is a Real Estate and Property Management Company specializing in the areas of HendersonLas Vegas and North Las Vegas, NV. Feel free to give us a call at 702.376.7379 so we can answer any questions you may have.

Home Warranty Dangers

Landlords Beware: Learn What Not To Do With Our Unfortunate Experience With Choice Home Warranty

LAS VEGAS, NV – Many landlords jump at the idea of spending around $550 for a home warranty that covers their property for repairs and replacement costs over a 12 month period. All that is required is an up front fee of usually $75 and the home warranty will send out a licensed contractor to assess the issue. If it was just that simple, I’m sure everyone would want a home warranty to ensure their home is protected against unexpected repair costs.

The reality is, Home Warranties are not all they’re cracked up to be. What they don’t tell you when they are trying to sell you their products is that many items aren’t covered so unless you ask specifically what is not covered before you sign up, they will tell you after the fact that it’s listed in the fine print when you have a repair issue that isn’t covered. What they also don’t tell you is that it can take up to 48 hours for their preferred vendors to even get assigned the work order. How would you like to have that conversation with your tenant, I’m sorry but the property has a home warranty so we have to use the vendor that is assigned but they can’t get to your home for 48 hours; that’s not going to go over well with the tenant.

Episode 140: Home Warranty Dangers by: http://www.evicttv.com (An excellent representation of issues with Home Warranty services.

Not every Home Warranty Company is awful, but I would definitely say to steer clear of Choice Home Warranty. Here is an example of a recent claim we filed with Choice Home Warranty for an A/C issue.

  • We placed a claim for our Landlord’s property on Saturday 6/27/2020  for the upstairs a/c unit, my property manager was on hold for almost an hour waiting to place a claim before they finally were able to speak with a representative.
  • We called the vendor they assigned on Monday since the tenants hadn’t heard from anyone yet to set up an appointment. When we spoke to the vendor, they said they never received a work order from Choice Home Warranty. So after sitting on hold for 1.5 hours we got through and Choice Home Warranty resent the work order. 
  • On 6/30/2020, their vendor arrived at 3 pm, completed a hard start on the a/c unit and left. The a/c stopped working again an hour later. We tried to place a recall on 6/30/2020 with Choice Home Warranty around 4pm and after 2 hours of waiting on hold and calls being dropped we opted for the call back option. My property manager waited around with her work cell phone until 10pm but never received a call back. 
  • On 7/1/2020 the property manager called the vendor to see if they could go back and they said we have to call Choice Home Warranty for a recall. My property manager called Choice Home Warranty and after waiting a total of 3 hours and 4 dropped calls later she finally got through and they placed a recall. My property manager called the vendor back to tell them a recall has been placed and now the vendor stated they don’t need to come back but they need Choice Home Warranty to approve a new compressor which will take approx. 2 weeks with shipping. My property manager calls Choice Home Warranty back and they say they are awaiting this information from the vendor. 
  • On 7/2/2020 my property manager calls Choice Home Warranty for an update, they say it’s been approved and it will be in within 2-3 weeks.
  • On 7/12/2020 the vendor calls my property manager and states that they received a condensing unit but it wont work with the old evaporator coils so they need an additional $4000.
  • On 7/12/2020 my property manager relayed this information to the landlords who subsequently called Choice Home Warranty for further explanation.
  • On 7/13/2020 a Choice Home Warranty case manager emails the landlord  a new condenser and “indoor unit” will be $2,875, no further explanation was given as to why or what was wrong. Over the next 10 days, my property manager and the landlord emailed, called and left voicemails for the case manager requesting further explanation but never received a response back from the case manager. When my property manager and landlord requested someone else to assist them, they were advised by other representatives from Choice Home Warranty that we have to speak with the assigned case manager.
  • On 7/24/2020 my property manager contacted the vendor to see if they had any further update from Choice Home Warranty and they advised that they just received an approval the day before for a new evaporator coil along with the condensing unit for $2,875.
  • On 7/24/2020 the landlord paid the $2,875.
  • On 7/25/2020 the vendor ordered the evaporator coils.
  • On 8/4/2020 the new system was installed.

Luckily, this property had (2) a/c units and only one was not working. We were able to have a portable a/c unit installed to help keep the property cooled while the tenant waited a little over 5 weeks for their a/c unit to be repaired. In addition to the $2,875 the landlord had to pay for the cost of the a/c repair, the landlord had to pay $25 a day for the portable a/c unit and give the tenant a credit towards their power bill as the portable a/c unit was a big draw on power and caused their power bill to go up significantly.

If you are a landlord and you decide a home warranty is worth the investment, be sure to research each and every Home Warranty Company as well as each and every covered item before purchasing your warranty so that you can hopefully avoid the issues that we have experienced with Choice Home Warranty.

Although Shelter Realty does not generally recommend a landlord to purchase a home warranty, we do have several landlords that have home warranties in place. If you would like any recommendations on what Home Warranties we do recommend, give us a call at 702.376.7379 and ask for Shelly, she would be glad to discuss Home Warranties with you.

Shelter Realty is a Real Estate and Property Management Company specializing in the areas of HendersonLas Vegas and North Las Vegas, NV. Feel free to give us a call at 702.376.7379 so we can answer any questions you may have.

Funding

Nevada Officials Report Significant Funds Still Available in COVID-19 Rental Assistance Program

LAS VEGAS, NV – According to reports, Nevada officials have announced that a large amount of federal funding made available to those impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic is still available via the state’s CARES Housing Assistance Program, which launched last Monday.

Since the program began on July 20, it has received 3,085 applications from residents whose finances have been negatively impacted by the pandemic and are seeking assistance with remaining in their homes. Most of the people applying for rent assistance are asking for up to two or three months of back-rent to be paid to cover missed rent payments during the eviction moratorium.

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused widespread financial hardship in Nevada, with record unemployment numbers dominating the economy amid mandatory business closures and stay-at-home orders issued to halt the spread of the dangerous virus. And while cases of COVID had dropped to levels that saw these mandates being lifted, the long-term financial issues – coupled with a resurgence of positive cases – has left many facing the very real prospect of homelessness.

The rental assistance program is being run by the Nevada Housing Division and in coordination with Clark County Social Services, the Reno Housing Authority, and the Nevada Rural Housing Authority. In addition, a network consisting of 14 community not-for-profits is administering the program in Clark County.

Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak recently announced the rental assistance program, available to Nevada residents who are experiencing financial insolvency due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, in the form of $30 million in federal CARES Act funding allocated to residential rental assistance, and an additional $20 million towards commercial rental assistance.

In order to apply for the rental assistance program, Nevada residents can visit housing.nv.gov. Successful applicants should begin seeing payments sent directly to their landlords over the course of the next two weeks, reports say. Funds will be dispersed on a first-come, first-served basis.

Shelter Realty is a Real Estate and Property Management Company specializing in the areas of HendersonLas Vegas and North Las Vegas, NV. Feel free to give us a call at 702.376.7379 so we can answer any questions you may have.

Cortez

State Senator Cortez Masto Announces Housing Assistance Available for Nevada Residents Affected by Pandemic

LAS VEGAS, NV- The COVID-19 pandemic has touched all Nevadans particularly hard resulting economic hardship in one form or another for the vast majority of residents. With Governor Steve Sisolak’s moratorium against residential evictions due to end in September, many people are scrambling to secure funds to stay in their homes as landlords dealing with unfortunate tenants unable to meet their rent are about to be forced into making a very difficult decision.

In order to provide a measure of relief for many involved in the current financial crisis, State Senator Catherine Cortez Masto recently announced that help is available for Nevada residents in the form of $30 million in CARES Act funding allocated by Governor Sisolak to residential rental assistance and an additional $20 million towards commercial rental assistance.

The CARES Act funding, an addition to several other forms of assistance – both via the government and select not-for-profits – is available to Nevada residents who are experiencing financial insolvency due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, be it a loss of employment or major reduction in income due to a decrease in work.

Among the various programs and organizations that can help Nevada residents make up their rent deficits is the Nevada Housing Division’s CARES Housing Assistance Program, which not only offers funding to people unable to make their rental or mortgage payments, but also to landlords and property owners who are currently not receiving payments from tenants due to COVID-19.

In addition, up to three months of rental assistance can be provided to qualified city residents by the City of Las Vegas Housing Assistance Program, payable directly to the landlord; the city of North Las Vegas is offering both short-term and long-term rental assistance to lower-income households to eligible individuals and families; and various charities in Northern Nevada are offering housing assistance, including Catholic Charities, the Nevada Rural Housing Authority and the Reno Housing Authority.

Finally, the Legal Aid of Southern Nevada is offering an online FAQ that residents can consult to find out how the end of the residential moratorium will affect them, as well as information about further housing assistance that are out there that they may be able to utilize.

Shelter Realty is a Real Estate and Property Management Company specializing in the areas of HendersonLas Vegas and North Las Vegas, NV. Feel free to give us a call at 702.376.7379 so we can answer any questions you may have.

Eviction Notice

Clark County Attempts to Set Up Eviction Protections, But Are They Reasonable to Landlords?

LAS VEGAS, NV – According to recent reports, Clark County officials are attempting to set up an ordinance that will offer a degree of protection to those facing losing their home or apartment in September, when a mandate by Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak to prevent evictions due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is set to expire Sept. 1.

However, critics are arguing that these proposed protections introduced last week may lean too far in favor of tenants, leaving landlords, who have also been suffering financially – as hundreds of thousands in the state have from the widespread economic damage caused by the pandemic – out in the cold.

The proposed ordinance, in part, would charge landlords with a misdemeanor if they discriminated against an individual by refusing to rent, negotiate, or make a property available to them on the basis of their source of income, or if they had a previous eviction on their record that was related to the pandemic.

Clark County Commissioner Justin Jones noted that the proposed ordinance was created in response to the financial hardship suffered by Las Vegas residents, many of whom have lost their jobs in light of mandatory stay-at-home orders issued by Governor Sisolak in order to curb the spread of COVID-19.

“Clark County is doing everything in its power to keep people in their homes,” he said. “We know that this is a difficult time so we want to take every action that we can.”

Part of this ordinance stems from a rental assistance program that Clark County is planning on rolling out; officials have said that some landlords may be reluctant to rent to potential tenants receiving assistance from the program, fearing the sigma that Section 8 housing programs often bring with them.

Shanta Patton, a regional vice president of the National Association of Real Estate Brokers, noted that she does not support any ordinance that does not allow a landlord their right to make a decision on who to rent to based on a background check that would include a tenant’s income source and eviction history.

The ordinance is expected to be publicly heard Aug. 4.

Shelter Realty is a Real Estate and Property Management Company specializing in the areas of HendersonLas Vegas and North Las Vegas, NV. Feel free to give us a call at 702.376.7379 so we can answer any questions you may have.