‘It’s a helpless feeling’: Eviction filings in Horry County spike with moratorium lifted
Tourists are beginning to return to the Grand Strand with beaches and businesses reopening, but Geoff Hudson is currently unable to take advantage of these vacationers at a pair of his rental properties in Cherry Grove.
The North Myrtle Beach property owner said he typically rents out his beachside properties on a monthly basis during the offseason, and he had seven such tenants this offseason, but two are now refusing to leave, and he’s only now been able to begin the legal process to force their removal.
A statewide moratorium on evictions was ordered in March in response to the coronavirus pandemic, preventing landlords from filing to remove tenants for nonpayment until it expired last Friday.
Though South Carolina Chief Justice Donald Beatty specified that his eviction stay order doesn’t mean renters can avoid paying rent, Hudson said he hasn’t received a dime from these two tenants since February, and now he’s having to cancel vacation reservations at his properties, where he charges about $3,500 per week May-August.
“It’s a helpless feeling,” Hudson said, noting that he still has to pay property taxes.
Since the moratorium expired, more than 200 eviction filings have been processed in Horry County, according to online public index records. In 2019, 52 such filings were processed during the same time period.
Douglas Zayicek, an attorney for Bellamy Law Firm that practices in landlord/tenant matters, said that increased volume will likely lead to a lengthier eviction process, particularly with courts limited in how many people are allowed in the courtroom at one time due to COVID-19 restrictions.
The entire process typically takes 20-45 days depending on whether the tenant fights the eviction, Zayicek said.
The length now could be impacted by where the landlord files, as some magistrate’s offices may be more overloaded than others, he said, noting that they can choose to file with any local magistrate office, regardless of where the property at issue is located. The Myrtle Beach Magistrate’s Office, with about 80 filings, received the most so far.
There likely would’ve been even more filings if not for a federal moratorium on evictions until Aug. 24 for properties backed by federal mortgages and subsidies.
Dylan Floyd, who filed to evict a tenant from his property in Loris, said he’s been waiting since early March, when he gave his renter a termination notice.
This is Floyd’s first tenant, he said, and he has another renter lined up when the unit is free, but he’s unsure how long it will take.
Zayicek primarily represents landlords in court cases, but he always advises tenants to speak with their landlords to try to work something out, as many eviction filings occur due to lack of communication.
Such is the case with Bill Robinson, who owns a dozen rental units in the North Myrtle Beach area.
Robinson, who often houses homeless individuals, said he has several tenants behind on their rent, but he understands their situations because they communicate with him. He filed to evict one tenant once the moratorium was lifted, he said, because of the lack of honest communication.
“It’s not about the money,” Robinson said. “It’s about communication.”
For tenants who are behind on rent payments due to financial hardships caused by the pandemic, assistance is available through Eastern Carolina Housing Organization.
ECHO, in partnership with Horry County, received about $622,000 from the U.S. Housing and Urban Development’s Emergency Solution Grant to temporarily expand its homeless prevention program.
The program helps pay back overdue rent for qualified candidates to remain in their housing units. Online applications are available at www.echousing.org/get-help or can be completed over the telephone at 843-213-1798.
Zayicek said landlords can choose to file collection suits for missed rent payments after the eviction is finalized, but some decide that isn’t a worthwhile option.
Hudson said he falls into that category.
“I’m just gonna pick myself up, dust myself off, and move on,” he said about his plans once the process is complete.
Hudson added that he’ll never put himself in this situation again and will instead opt to keep his rental properties empty during offseason months.
“I realize now that I can’t rely on the government to back me up,” he said.
