Eviction Ban Extended for Renters Until July 31, 2021

The temporary ban on rental evictions has been extended through July 31, 2021 by the Biden administration to prevent further spread of COVID-19. The temporary ban makes it illegal to evict any individual who qualifies from a residential property for nonpayment of rent, but does not relieve the tenant's obligation to rent and fees.

• Renters: Learn if you qualify for eviction protection — and how to notify your landlord if you do — below.
• Landlords: Find guidance on what the eviction ban means for you, along with information about how you can continue to receive rental payments. Click here to jump to landlord information. 
• Homeowners: This ban does not apply to mortgage holders. However, you can access detailed resources about avoiding foreclosure and applying for forbearance. We also encourage homeowners to sign up for updates about future mortgage assistance here.

Guidance for Renters

Determine If You Qualify For Eviction Protection

Please note! If did not qualify for eviction protection previously, you may now. Be sure to check the updated qualifications below.

You may be eligible for eviction protection if you meet all of the following qualifications:

• You have made your best effort to obtain all available government assistance for rent or housing;
• You either (a) earned no more than $99,000 in Calendar Year 2020 (or $198,000 if filing jointly), or (b) expect to earn no more than $99,000 in annual income for Calendar Year 2021 (or no more than $198,000 if filing a joint tax return), or (c) were not required to report any income in 2020 to the IRS, or (d) received an Economic Impact Payment (stimulus check);
• You are unable to pay the full rent due to substantial loss of household income, loss of compensable hours of work or wages, a lay-off, or extraordinary out-of-pocket medical expenses;
• You are making your best effort to make timely partial payments that are as close to the full payment as your circumstances may permit, taking into account other non-discretionary expenses; and
• Eviction would likely lead to homelessness — or force you to move into and live in close quarters in a new shared living setting — because you have no other available housing options.

Please click on the links below for additional guidance and specific information for:

• Families Living in AHFC Public Housing
• Families Receiving Housing Choice Vouchers

declare your eligibility to your landlord

If you meet the above qualifications, you need to contact your landlord directly to declare your eligibility. 

• If you already submitted a declaration to your landlord, you do not need to submit another to qualify under the extended order.
• To declare your eligibility, provide a completed and signed copy of a declaration with the qualifications listed above to your landlord, owner of the residential property where you live, or other person who has a right to have you evicted or removed.
  • The CDC provides a Declaration Form, which you can download here.
  • You can complete the Declaration Form translated into any other language. You may also use any written document in place of the Declaration Form if it includes the required information from the form, is signed, and includes a perjury statement, which means that the information you are submitting is true. 

• Email, mail, or hand your declaration to your landlord in a way that allows you to get proof that the landlord received them. Make sure you keep a copy for yourself.

Understand What eviction protection is — and isn't

• You may not be evicted for non-payment of rent solely on the basis of the failure to pay rent or similar charges at any time during the effective period of the order. 
• You will still be required to pay rent owed per the terms of your lease, and may be subject to fees, penalties, or interest in accordance with their rent or lease agreement. 
• You may be evicted for reasons other than not paying rent. Learn more here.

Find assistance Paying Rent

In addition to eviction protection, you may be eligible for assistance with your rent through one or more of these rent relief opportunities made available by AHFC. 

Anchorage Housing Choice Vouchers
Housing Choice Voucher assistance is a subsidy paid by AHFC on behalf of low income families to owners of rental units in the private rental market. Learn more here.

Safety Net
AHFC has implemented a special hardship process to provide immediate rental relief to our families affected by income loss due to COVID-19. Families enrolled in a qualifying Public Housing program and have demonstrable income loss due to COVID-19 are encouraged to apply for Safety Net.

Alaska Housing Rent Relief
Alaska Housing Rent Relief provides up to 12 months of rent and/or utility relief ​​​​​​to eligible Alaskans who have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

• The application period has closed but we encourage you to check your eligibility and get added to the waitlist for future assistance.
• If you already applied, you can check the status of your relief payments here.

more Information for Renters

Get details on the eviction process in Alaska, what to do if you don't qualify for eviction protection, how to set up a repayment plan with your landlord, and more in For Renters: Eviction Guidance.

Guidance for Landlords

Just as renters are grappling with the financial effects of COVID-19, so too are their landlords. While the eviction protection is in effect, rental property owners are encouraged to: 

• Familiarize yourself with the details of the CDC order and your rights as a landlord. For example, landlords may continue to charge rent and accept partial payments from tenants during this time. In addition, to work toward collecting back rent payments that have accumulated, you may also agree to a repayment schedule with tenants.
• Encourage your tenants to check their eligibility for rent assistance through opportunities such as Safety Net and Anchorage or Statewide Housing Choice Vouchers. 
• Make sure that AHFC has your information so direct payments can be made on behalf of your tenants who have already applied for Alaska Housing Rent Relief. 

More Information for Landlords

• Find out how your tenants can set up a repayment plan here.
• Learn more about evictions and get help paying the mortgage on your own property in For Landlords: Eviction, Foreclosure, and Forbearance Guidance.
• Sign up for updates about future mortgage assistance for homeowners.

The full order from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is available here.

Editor's note: On May 14, 2021 a District of Columbia federal judge issued a stay of her ruling to end the CDC’s moratorium on rental evictions. Her previous ruling — which was announced on May 5, 2021 — declared that the federal government overreached in enacting the moratorium. A stay will allow the ban on evictions to continue while the Justice Department appeals the decision. AHFC is closely monitoring the federal ruling and appeal. We will share details on how this may impact Alaskan renters as soon as we have more information.