This Database Allows DC Renters To Look Up Whether Their Landlord's Mortgage is Deferred

• June 26th 2020

by Nena Perry-Brown

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UPDATE: Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have extended their multifamily mortgage forbearance and tenant eviction moratoriums for up to an additional three months.

The emergency COVID legislation that the DC Council passed in April required mortgage lenders to offer deferrals to property owners, and for those property owners to be transparent and pass that same relief on to their renters. Now, new databases are available to help renters find out whether their landlord is getting a deferral.

The Department of Insurance, Securities, and Banking (DISB) has debuted resources that allows renters to search their address to see whether their landlord has a deferred mortgage, and during which months. 

The locator includes commercial mortgages, condominium units, and owner-occupied housing. While the DC COVID law requires a minimum of up to 90 days of mortgage deferment, the extent is also up to the discretion of each loan provider.

The emergency law required that mortgage servicers create a system to allow mortgagees financially impacted by the public health crisis to apply for deferment. Approved mortgagees then have to report the proportion and duration of their deferral to DISB, notify tenants, and permit affected renters to also secure the same proportion of rent relief. However, later iterations of the COVID bill supplanted the mortgage deferment course of rent relief with mandatory payment plan options for tenants. 

DISB's Mortgage Deferment Locator also includes a link to look up addresses of federally-backed mortgages, which are currently covered by an eviction moratorium. If your address is listed on the database and your landlord denies your request for rent relief, contact DISB at mortgagerelief@dc.gov or 202-727-8000.

Correction: The article has been updated to reflect the new status of the mortgage deferment, as the proportional rent relief option was replaced with the payment plan requirement.

This article originally published at https://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/where-dc-renters-can-look-up-whether-their-landlords-mortgage-is-deferred/16997.