There are many rumors on social media regarding the process of evictions from property in Arkansas during the COVID-19 crisis we are all facing. One of the main rumors states that it is against the law for landlords to evict anyone right now.

While Governor Asa Hutchinson has stated that a “practical moratorium” on evictions is in place because the courts aren’t open and process servers are not actually going out to evict people, there is no actual order in place to keep landlords from serving tenants with an eviction notice.

Hutchinson says he’s spoken with many landlords who have said they’ll waive penalties and interest to make sure renters get their cash payment, whether that be unemployment or from the federal government.

Once you get that, Hutchinson says pay your rent.

“If you don’t pay the rent then, all of a sudden the landlord who has a mortgage can’t pay that and there’s mortgage foreclosure and it escalates down the chain,” Hutchinson said.

Hutchinson said when he sees a need for a moratorium on evictions in the state, he will order it.