(Camden, NJ) – Governor Phil Murphy and Lieutenant Governor Sheila Oliver announced today the creation of the Small Landlord Emergency Grant Program. The program will provide emergency grant funding to small property owners for COVID-19 related decreases in rent revenue for a four-month period between April and July 2020.
The program, to be administered by the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage and Finance Agency, is funded though the CARES Act. Awarded grant amounts will be generated based on the total amount of missed rental payments and the number of COVID-impacted rental units that serve low- and moderate-income tenants. Landlords who receive assistance will be required to pass along benefits to their tenants by forgiving back rent and late fees accumulated by COVID-19 impacted units.
“This funding will be absolutely critical to small landlords in Camden County and their families, while protecting tenants who may otherwise be at risk of losing their housing,” said Freeholder Director Louis Cappelli, Jr. “We are thankful for the Governor and Lieutenant Governor’s leadership on this important issue. Eligible applicants should visit the state’s website for more information before applications can be submitted on August 19.”
One-third of program funds will be reserved for applicants who are registered in DCA’s RIMS database as individual or family owners. Qualified applicants must meet the following specifications:
- Owners with properties that have at least 3 but no more than 10 total housing units;
- Owners with properties that are not seasonal or vacation rentals;
- Properties must have current fire inspection certificates as of March 9, 2020;
- Owners of properties with at least one non-vacant rental unit impacted by COVID-19 between April and July 2020; and
- Owners with properties that have low- to moderate-income rent levels or rent based on up to 80% of the median area income.
Applications must be submitted between Aug. 19 at 9 a.m. and Aug. 26, at 1 p.m. to be considered.
Grant funding will be allocated on a case by case basis, based on the number of COVID-impacted units, and the amount of missed rent. Applicants must be the Primary Property Owner of a residential rental property in New Jersey and be registered with DCA’s Bureau of Housing Inspection as of July 17, 2020. Applicants can check here to see if their property is registered.
For more information on the Small Landlord Emergency Grant Program, visit www.njhousing.gov/rentals/sleg.