Landlords continue to navigate the pandemic and new restrictions when it comes to working with their tenants.

“You know there have been trying times but never like this last year,” said Marie Tesi, who owns several rental properties in Gloversville.

After eight months of not receiving rent from a tenant, the apartment was abandoned and destroyed. Tesi says it took months for her to evict the tenant due to a state moratorium on evictions.

What You Need To Know

  • New York lawmakers extended a moratorium on evictions through August

  • $2.3B in federal aid and $100M in state aid has been set aside for tenant relief

  • A tenant must be part of the application process, but a landlord can initiate the application

Tesi says she and other landlords are fed up with having their hands tied by the state.

“Normally I would at least I have the choice to be able to either keep them and listen to what they have to say, or take them to court,” she said.

Meanwhile, lawmakers in Albany recently extend the moratorium by four months.

“It’s intended to recognize that evictions, as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention noted, that evictions cause an increase in the spread of COVID-19,” said 26th District Senator Brian Kavanagh (D).

Kavanagh is leading the charge. He says the moratorium is not meant to be a barrier to evict a tenant.

“It’s not a rent holiday, tenants still have an obligation to their rent,” said Kavanagh. “Many tenants are struggling, using savings, borrowing trying to pay rent even though they lost their jobs.”

More than $2B was set aside in the state budget to assist some renters with back rent and utility costs.

“Under the federal law that allocates the money, the landlord can’t just send in their rent bills,” he said. “The tenant has to be part of the application but the landlord can initiate the application.”

Back in Gloversville, Tesi says she’s seen very little relief.

“If the tenants went to get the relief, it would trickle down to me,” said Tesi. “If the tenants don’t do their part, I don’t see any of it.”

Tesi says work has begun to transform this apartment to what it once was. Taking into count back rent, legal fees and renovation costs, she’ll be out about $20,000.

“They’re telling us that we have to pay taxes, but they’re not giving us the tools to be able to pay taxes,” said Tesi.