Fight over state eviction moratorium heads to court

A housing fight that has gained national attention is headed for a Boston courtroom.

At issue: should tenants be evicted during the pandemic?

AT ISSUE -- SHOULD TENANTS BEEVICTED DURING THE PANDEMIC?THE EYEOPENER’S TODD KAZAKIEWICHIS LIVE IN BOSTON WITH WHAT’S ATSTAKE TODAY.TODD, GOOD MORNING AGAIN.TODD: GOOD MORNING.RIGHT NOW, THERE IS A MORATORIUMIN PLACE TO PREVENT TENANTS FROMBEING EVICTED.IT IS ONE OF THE TOUGHEST IN THENATIONTHAT TOOK EFFECT BACK IN APRIL,AND LAST WEEK, GOVERNOR BAKEREXTENDED IT THROUGH OCTOBER.TODAY, A GROUP OF LANDLORDS WILLASK A SUFFOLK COUNTY JUDGE TOOVERTURN THAT EVICTION BAN.THOUSANDS OF RENTERS ACROSS THECOMMONWEALTH HAVE FALLEN BEHINDOR STOPPED PAYING RENT DURINGTHE PANDEMIC.LANDLORDS SAY THAT BLOCKING THEMFROM EVICTING THOSE TENANTSVIOLATES THEIR RIGHTS, REQUIRINGTHEM TO PROVIDE HOUSING WITHOUTCOMPENSATIONTHEY ARGUE THAT EVEN WHEN THEIROWN MORTGAGE PAYMENTS CAN BEDELAYED, THERE ARE OTHEXPENSES CONNECTED TO OWNING THEPROPERTY THAT CANNOT.AND THIS IS DEFINITELY GETTINGNATIONAL ATTENTION PIT IN FACT,THERE ARE SUPPORTING BRIEFSTHAT HAVE BEEN FILED BY DOZENSOF CTIES AND COUNTIES ACROSS THECOUNTRY, MOSTLY IN FAVOR OFKEEPING THE MORATORIUM IN PLACE.WE WILL KEEP YOU P