LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — There’s extra stress these days for some people waiting for unemployment payments. Some are living in extended stay apartments and worry about eviction.
The Carmacks' have called home for nearly a year at the Siegel Suites in east Las Vegas. But the pandemic has cost them their jobs and they’re still waiting on their PUA payments.
“We were told first in and first out. That’s not the case because being claim eight thousand something, I should have been in and out,” Jessica Carmack said.
Rent is becoming an issue for them and they don’t want to get evicted.
Resources for renters in Nevada worried of eviction
“We kind of have it figured out until the end of the month, but after that, we’re not quite sure what to do,” she said.
She says thankfully property management has been understanding and is working with them despite getting notices about payments.
However, at other Siegel Suites, tenants have reached out to 13 Action News saying managers are trying to threaten them with no-cause evictions as they try to work things out.
Trial attorney Al Lasso says the state and federal CDC eviction moratoriums can still cover people living at extended-stay apartments.
“As long as they have been a tenant for 30 days. If they have been a tenant for 30 days or more, they have established residency, and therefore they are covered,” Lasso said.
He does say the federal moratorium doesn’t contain language regarding residency but argues the same standards should apply.
“It’s safe to say that the federal government would not be arguing the description of what a tenant is based on Nevada law,” he said.
Federal eviction moratorium bringing challenges for landlords
Lasso urges renters to fill out a CDC declaration form so they are covered under the federal moratorium. It has specific qualifications. They need to get that to their landlord.
“A tenant must fill out a declaration form that their income has been substantially reduced, but they are making a good faith attempt to pay the rent,” he said.
For now, the Carmacks' say they want to see their unemployment payment issue resolved, so they won’t have to go through the process of preventing an eviction.
“We deserve what we should have gotten and that’s what we feel and that’s what’s frustrating right now,” Joshua Carmack said.
13 Action News reached out to Siegel Suites for comment but didn’t hear back by the time of this story originally aired.
