New Bill Could Keep Eviction Records During Pandemic Confidential

If you are one of the thousands of New Jerseyans -- and millions of Americans -- who would have been evicted during the COVID-19 pandemic if it weren't for temporary laws being passed, relax because help for the post-COVID-19 life is on the way.

There is a new bill being proposed that if passed, would keep eviction records confidential.

This means that eviction court records -- mainly nonpayment actions -- would not be revealed to landlords who are requesting for information related the period of time when New Jersey was in a State of Emergency.

The main reason: being evicted severely damages your credit and becomes a big stain on your background checks that can hurt when applying for future housing.

This new level of confidentiality would be part of the People's Bill which would also financially help those in desperate need due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Governor Phil Murphy passed an eviction moratorium during said State of Emergency which made it illegal for residents to be evicted or locked out of their homes through 60 days after the state of emergency is lifted.

Evictions could still be filed but you couldn't be kicked out on the street. Courts have started to hear some emergent evictions.

Say what you will but over the past six months or so, not thousands but MILLIONS of Americans lost their jobs due to the pandemic.

This means that millions of people found themselves in the financial nightmare of not being able to pay rent, mortgage or any of their bills for that matter.

Holding something against someone that happened during a State of Emergency is just not fair.

I hope this bill passes. If it doesn't, please don't hold something like this on someone's record against them. NO ONE could have ever predicted what we had coming our way in 2020.

We will keep you updated if the status on this bill changes.

But for now, take a look at the original article at NJ.com.