MBAA Participates in NAA Lobby Day

Myrtle Beach Apartment Association Participates in NAA Lobby Day

Members of the Myrtle Beach Apartment Association recently traveled to Washington, D.C. for the NAA Lobby Day to discuss federal housing policy issues impacting the rental housing industry.

As part of the visit, representatives met with Josh Ricken, Legislative Assistant for Russell Fry, to discuss the Respect State Housing Laws Act and ongoing concerns surrounding federal eviction notice requirements tied to the CARES Act.

The conversation focused on how the CARES Act, passed in March 2020, created a temporary eviction moratorium and a 30-day notice requirement for certain federally backed housing during the COVID-19 emergency. While intended as a temporary measure, confusion surrounding the long-term application of the notice requirement has continued in some courts even after the pandemic emergency ended.

Industry representatives shared concerns that the ongoing legal ambiguity creates uncertainty for housing providers, renters, and courts, particularly where federal requirements conflict with existing state eviction procedures. In many states, established eviction processes and notice timelines already exist to balance protections for both residents and housing providers.

The delegation also emphasized that professional housing providers prioritize communication and payment solutions to help residents remain housed whenever possible, with eviction used only as a last resort after other efforts have been exhausted. Continued uncertainty surrounding notice requirements can contribute to operational challenges, delayed resolutions, and unrecoverable rent debt, particularly for smaller and independent housing providers.

During the meeting, the Myrtle Beach Apartment Association expressed support for the Respect State Housing Laws Act, which would clarify that the CARES Act’s temporary 30-day notice requirement has expired and would restore eviction policy authority to the states.