New bill ensures renters relief when facing eviction

DELAWARE – For Delawareans struggling with eviction the fight may have gotten a little easier.

A new bill is set to provide the necessary resources. For low-income renters having access to an attorney can make all the difference. That’s a promise Delaware legislators are making.

“Low-income people who are facing eviction will be able to have some sort of representation with them during the eviction process,” Mike Brickner, Executive Director of the Delaware American Civil Liberties Union said.

For low-income renters, an attorney can be a crucial asset when looking at that note on the door. Mike Brickner with the Delaware ACLU says many renters give up when faced with this hardship calling an upcoming law a needed resource. “Eviction processes are very complex they have a lot of different steps, and different rules attached to them and a lot of people who are low-income might have multiple jobs, they might have healthcare issues themselves,” Brickner said.

Brickner says in most cases the tenant loses in the end because an attorney is not easily attainable. “Right now in the system, only about 2% of renters have some sort of representation with them during evictions but 86% of landlords have representation so this will help to level the playing field and make the system more fair for low-income renters,” Brickner added.

However, Brickner says legislation ensuring an attorney be provided is not only a win for the tenant but the landlord too. “That that person will help to negotiate some sort of agreement between the landlord and a tenant so that the landlord is also able to continue to make money and get paid for providing that service,” Brickner said.

This legislation is now headed to Governor John Carney’s desk. Delaware now joins 4 other states in providing the right to representation for renters in both public and private housing.