Call Your Legislators Today and Urge Them to Co-Sponsor the Permanently Protecting Tenants at Foreclosure Act

Representative Keith Ellison (D-MN) and Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) have introduced legislation in both the House and Senate known as the Permanently Protecting Tenants at Foreclosure Act. This legislation extends current protections for tenants whose landlords are in foreclosure and adds an important enforcement mechanism.

Act today! Join advocates across the country and call your Representative and Senators to urge them to co-sponsor the Permanently Protecting Tenants at Foreclosure Act.

BACKGROUND

Approximately 40% of families affected by foreclosure rent their homes. Prior to the May 2009 enactment of the Protecting Tenants at Foreclosure Act (PTFA), these tenants could be evicted from their homes with as little as a few days' notice. Thanks to the PTFA, bona fide tenants can now stay in their homes for the remainder of their lease or for at least 90 days, whichever is longer. However, the PTFA includes a sunset provision. Unless Congress takes action, the PTFA will expire on December 31, 2014.

WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT

The Permanently Protecting Tenants at Foreclosure Act would address the ongoing impact of the foreclosure crisis on renters by removing the sunset date. This ensures renters have a basic level of federal protections regardless of when their residence is foreclosed on. The bill also adds a private right of action for tenants whose rights under the PTFA have been violated. This enforcement mechanism would better ensure compliance with the law.

HOW YOU CAN TAKE ACTION

Call your Representative and Senators today! Encourage them to co-sponsor H.R. 3543 and S. 1761, respectively. 

You can find your legislators’ contact information by calling the Congressional switchboard at 877.210.5351, or visiting NLIHC's website and entering your zip code on the lower right hand side.

View a list of current co-sponsors of H.R. 3543: http://1.usa.gov/1gjuCYP

View a list of current co-sponsors of S. 1761: http://1.usa.gov/1l9il6q

You can also participate on Twitter! @NLIHC will be tweeting about the national call-in day. Retweet us or send out your tweets using #PTFA!

Questions/Comments

Please email outreach@nlihc.org with any questions. Please let us know which offices you call and about any feedback you receive.

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