AAWNC Meets with North Carolina Congressional Offices

In March, members of the Apartment Association of Western North Carolina joined housing industry leaders from across the country in Washington, D.C. for the NAA Lobby Day, advocating on key federal housing issues impacting apartment communities and residents throughout North Carolina.

As part of the meetings, AAWNC representatives met with staff from the office of Chuck Edwards, including staff member Dawson Conell, to discuss the Respect State Housing Laws Act and the ongoing concerns surrounding federal eviction notice requirements that originated during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The discussion focused on how the CARES Act, passed in March 2020, established a temporary 120-day eviction moratorium and a 30-day notice requirement for certain federally backed housing providers during the national emergency. While intended as a temporary measure, the language surrounding the notice requirement has continued to create legal uncertainty years after the pandemic emergency ended.

Housing providers and industry leaders expressed concerns that courts in some areas continue to interpret the CARES Act notice provision differently, creating inconsistencies between federal guidance and existing state eviction laws. In North Carolina and many other states, established eviction procedures and notice timelines already exist to balance protections for both residents and housing providers.

During the meeting, apartment industry representatives emphasized that professional housing providers prioritize communication, payment arrangements, and resident retention whenever possible, with eviction typically serving as a last resort after other efforts have been exhausted. Industry leaders also noted that prolonged legal ambiguity surrounding notice requirements can contribute to operational uncertainty, delayed resolutions, and unrecoverable rent debt — challenges that can particularly affect smaller and independent housing providers.

The AAWNC delegation shared support for the Respect State Housing Laws Act, which would clarify that the CARES Act’s temporary 30-day notice requirement has expired and would restore eviction policy authority to individual states. Representatives from Congressman Edwards’ office indicated agreement with the industry’s position during the discussion.

In addition to the meeting with Congressman Edwards’ office, members of the Apartment Association of North Carolina also met with the offices of Thom Tillis and Ted Budd as part of broader advocacy efforts during Lobby Day.

The meetings highlighted the continued importance of collaboration between the housing industry and elected officials on policies that impact housing stability, affordability, and the operational realities of providing rental housing across North Carolina.