The Debate Over a 3-Year Ban on Evictions: Tenant Stability vs. Landlord Debt.

Small-property landlords in Oakland and neighboring San Francisco and Berkeley are protesting against the eviction moratoriums that have been in place for over three years, claiming that they have been saddled with debt and foreclosure worries while their tenants, who have jobs, live rent-free. The eviction moratorium in Oakland expires on July 15, and tenants must start paying rent in August in most cases, but cannot be evicted for back rent if their financial hardship was caused by the pandemic. Meanwhile, nationwide eviction filings have come roaring back since the bans ended, with filings topping 500 in May in California’s Alameda County, compared to 65 in April before the ban ended.