Austin, TX — Today, Mayor Steve Adler issued Order No. 20200724 extending protections for residential tenants in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The moratorium on evictions is now  extended through September 30, 2020. 
 
Effective immediately and continuing through September30,2020 - unless terminated or modified by a subsequent order - Mayor Adler’s order prohibits the issuance of Notices to Vacate and the removal of property of a tenant by a property owner. The order also states it is in the public interest to prohibit the seizure of a tenant's nonexempt property subject to a lien created under Texas Property Code Section 54.041. This Order supersedes Mayor's Order No. 20200507-10. 
 
The orders do not forgive rent payments. Rather, they each give renters an extended period of time to pay overdue rent. 
 
On July 22, 2020, Travis County Judge Sam Biscoe issued County Judge Order No. 2020-15 relating to Notices to Vacate and Eviction Proceedings in response to COVID-19. This order also extended the prohibition of eviction proceedings to September 30, 2020.  
 
There are eviction prevention and homeless programs for City of Austin residents that support low-income tenants with legal assistance, emergency grants for rent or utilities, alternate housing, short-term motel vouchers, or placement in a local shelter. 
 
Travis County has numerous online resources for tenants facing eviction, as do the county’s Justice of the Peace Precinct Offices. The Travis County Sheriff’s Office provides a concise brochure for Evictions and Lease Terminations. A more extensive description of tenant rights in Travis County can be found through the Travis County Law Library and Self-Help Center. While not a substitute for consulting an attorney, the site provides kits for appealing an eviction, filing appeal bonds, and the record expungement process.  
 
The Austin Tenant's Council offers counseling to prepare for and understand the eviction process, including reviewing the notices tenants have received and assisting tenants with preparing for court if necessary. This service is also offered in Spanish. 
 
The City of Austin has passed a Tenant Relocation Assistance ordinance to ensure landlords have provided appropriate and timely information to tenants in the event of the demolition of a multifamily building of five or more units, rezoning, or the redevelopment of a mobile home park.  For more information about the ordinance and the notification requirements, visit the Tenant Relocation Assistance Policy website.