Governor says Utahns can defer rent until May 15, announces freeze on evictions

Gov. Gary Herbert speaks during a daily media briefing about COVID-19 at the Capitol in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, April 1, 2020. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News

SALT LAKE CITY — By the time April rent came due, Whitney Beaslin was out of work for more than two weeks.

Beaslin, a single mom and a server at the Cheesecake Factory in downtown Salt Lake City, said the COVID-19 pandemic cut into her livelihood even before it shut down dine-in service mid-March. She had begun self-imposed quarantine in her Sandy apartment after waiting on Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell, the Utah Jazz players later confirmed to have COVID-19.

With Utahns like Beaslin in mind, Gov. Gary Herbert announced Wednesday a 45-day freeze on new evictions in the Beehive State, an executive order that will also allow Utahns to defer rent until May 15.

“This is designed to help people that through no fault of their own have lost jobs or have lost income because of the COVID-19 virus,” the Republican governor told reporters.

Utah joins a growing number of states that have put a hold on evictions as millions of Americans have lost their jobs amid the pandemic.

Some advocates for renters cheered Herbert’s announcement but questioned how hundreds of eviction cases filed in recent weeks will be handled.

“This is an important move,” said June Hiatt, an organizer with Utah Renters Together. “But we certainly need to see some details and understand the specifics about the plan.”

Many evictions filed in March were likely tied to fallout from the coronavirus, and some in Utah lost their jobs up to a month ago, Hiatt said.

Herbert said he is focused primarily on residential renters, but the order was still being drafted Wednesday afternoon.

In Sandy, the 34-year-old Beaslin said the longer deadline allows her to relax, at least a little bit. She has filed for unemployment and hopes to receive some money from a fund her employer has set up.

“On one hand, I’m super excited because that takes a ton of stress off,” she said. “I’m just wondering, moving forward, when it’s all going to be due.”

Management at her apartment complex told her earlier in March it would work with her before the $1,172 rent came due on her two-bedroom apartment, but later reversed the promise about a week ago, she said.

Still, Beaslin remains optimistic as she keeps busy baking and painting with her daughter, who is almost 2 years old.

“I have to keep myself in check. I have a daughter that I can’t break down for,” Beaslin said as she whisked together ingredients for an angel food cake. “I have to be strong, regardless of how I am feeling.”

This story will be updated.

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