Many landlords looking at options to avoid evictions

OKLAHOMA CITY (KOKH) — Many eviction notices, sitting at county courthouses in Oklahoma, until sheriff's offices start serving them again.

Ryan Gentzler, the director of Open Justice Oklahoma, said there are 1,625 to be exact.

“The problem here, really, is that they’re all going to be coming at once,” Gentzler said.

He said that presents a potential health concern with crowded court houses and homelessness. He said a suspension on being able to file an eviction should be considered.

“I think that makes sense," Gentzler said. "I think people don’t need the extra stress of not knowing if they’re going to have a home in the coming weeks.”

But landlord lawyer Conner Helms said landlords are trying to work with tenants through the difficulties they might be experiencing.

“Most of our clients who are commercial landlords have been working with the tenants because one, they don’t want to get rid of them and have all these vacancies," Helms said. "And two, it’s just the right thing to do in this point in time.”

He said many are trying to prevent eviction.

“I think the good in people will come out and the good in business people will come out,” Helms said.

Gentzler said every assistance for tenants should be on the table.

“They of course passed the $1,200 stimulus for each person," Gentzler said. "That’s simply not going to cut it to keep people in their homes and keep them financially afloat.”

There is also currently a 120-day moratorium of evictions of any property that receives a federal loan.