COVID-19|

City of Los Angeles Emergency Renters Relief Program graphic

The application period for the City of Los Angeles COVID-19 Emergency Renters Assistance Subsidy Program has closed. Unfortunately, due to the economic impact of COVID-19 on Angelenos, the demand for rental assistance exceeds the available funds.

Program Information and Frequently Asked Questions

Background

To assist LA’s tenants and landlords affected by the current COVID-19 health pandemic, and prevent displacement of renters, the citywide Emergency Rental Assistance Subsidy Program was created by LA City Council President Nury Martinez, the City Council and HCIDLA, with the support of Mayor Eric Garcetti. The program will provide a temporary rent subsidy for tenants in the City of Los Angeles who are unable to pay rent due to circumstances related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The program allocates $103,000,000 to provide a rent subsidy to Los Angeles City renters impacted by the COVID-19 health pandemic and is anticipated to assist 50,000 Los Angeles households. The Los Angeles Housing + Community Investment Department (HCIDLA) is charged with the implementation of the Emergency Rental Assistance Subsidy Program (ERAS).

About The Program

Information and Eligibility

The Los Angeles City Emergency Renters Assistance Subsidy Program will provide a temporary rent subsidy for eligible residential tenants in the City of Los Angeles who are unable to pay rent due to circumstances related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The subsidy will provide a grant of up to $1,000 per month to cover the monthly lease rent (based on the rent paid as of March 1, 2020), with a maximum of $2,000 per household. The rent subsidy will be paid directly to the tenant’s landlord on the tenant’s behalf. This program will be available to renters of multifamily rental housing who meet the following eligibility criteria:

  1. Residents of the City of Los Angeles, regardless of immigration status. To verify if you live in the City of Los Angeles, go to: neighborhoodinfo.lacity.org;
  2. Households that can provide proof of tenancy;
  3. Household annual income at or below 80% of Area Median Income (AMI) level prior to the COVID-19 crisis; and
    Household SizeIncome Limit
    1 Person$58,450
    2 Persons$66,800
    3 Persons$75,150
    4 Persons$83,500
    5 Persons$90,200
    6 Persons$96,900
    7 Persons$103,550
    8 Persons$110,250

    A tenant whose income is 80 percent or less of the Area Median Income, as adjusted for household size, as defined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. (Effective April 24, 2019)

  4. Households that can provide documentation of loss or reduction of income due to COVID-19 after March 13, 2020.

Check your application status here:

To check your application status over the phone, call 1-844-944-1868; 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

TTY line (for hearing or speech impaired): 1-844-325-1398

Frequently Asked Questions

Tenants FAQs

Unfortunately, the rent subsidy program was approved by the City Council with the goal of preventing tenant displacement. Applications were reviewed and approved based on the information provided for a specific rental unit and at a specific Los Angeles City address and for a specific landlord. We do understand the hardships many Angelenos are facing at this time but we are unable to transfer the rent subsidy to a different rental property address.

No. A maximum of $1,000 can be applied towards one month’s rent, and the remaining $1,000 to be applied to the following month for a total payment of $2,000.

  1. Loss of income due to workplace closure or reduced hours.
  2. Loss of income or increased child care costs because daycare or schools are closed.
  3. Medical costs for you or a household member who is ill with COVID-19.
  4. Loss of income due to government-ordered emergency measures after March 13, 2020.

If your total gross household income, including income of all adults, 18 years of age or older, living in the home, is at or below the dollar amount for the household size listed in the chart below, you may qualify:

Household SizeIncome Limit
1 Person$58,450
2 Persons$66,800
3 Persons$75,150
4 Persons$83,500
5 Persons$90,200
6 Persons$96,900
7 Persons$103,550
8 Persons$110,250

A tenant whose income is 80 percent or less of the Area Median Income, as adjusted for household size, as defined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. (Effective April 24, 2019)

Due to the high volume of traffic, some applicants received an application confirmation number and others did not receive an application number; however, all applicants will be able to look up the status of their application online. Applicants can use their application confirmation number to check their status. Or if you did not receive a confirmation number, you can check your application status by checking a combination of your email address & zip code or phone number & zip code. Applicants can check their status by entering their application confirmation number by clicking here.

If there are more than two homes on a single parcel, the property is considered multifamily and eligible for the program. However, if there is only ONE home on the property, that property is not eligible.

Unfortunately, renters who receive Section 8 housing choice voucher, Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) or live in project-based Section 8 or public housing are not eligible to participate in the program.

The rent subsidy is paid directly to the landlord. The rent subsidy will not be paid to the landlord unless the tenant has been qualified by providing documentation to prove eligibility and the landlord also agrees to participate in the program.

In order for a landlord to receive the rent subsidy the landlord will be required to comply with federal, state, and local governing law including:

  • Not to charge any interest or late fees for rents owed.
  • Not to impose a rent increase during the repayment period, which covers one year after the end of the Emergency Declaration.
  • Provide ID, a completed W-9 form and signed Landlord Agreement.
  • Provide timely information for processing the payment.

A tenant will be required to provide:

  1. Proof that they are a resident in the City of Los Angeles, such as an identification card, etc.
  2. Proof of tenancy, such as a rental agreement/lease, or a notice issued by your current landlord, etc.
  3. Proof of household income, such as a tax return, 1099 or employer contact information, etc.
  4. Documentation of loss or reduced income after March 13, 2020, due to COVID-19, such as layoff letter, etc.

No, there is no reimbursement or backpay. The subsidy is intended for rent-burdened tenants and will apply to current or future rent payments.

No, you are not eligible for the rent subsidy. This program is designed to provide relief to tenants who were low-to-moderate income prior to COVID-19 and financially impacted by COVID-19.

Household income is total household income earned, so the household’s income must be at or below this amount before taxes, depending on the number of people in the household.

Yes, just as they are taxed for their regular rental income. Landlords will be required to submit a IRS-1099 form.

No, a renter does not need to be behind in rent but does need to have a reduction in reduced income related to COVID-19 and meet household income eligibility requirements.

A subtenant is eligible to apply for the program. However, the subtenant, like all applicants, must have income at or below 80% of AMI and must have a reduction or loss of employment due to COVID-19 since March 13, 2020.

Household income is based on the total income of all members (related & unrelated) living in the same rental unit, so the total household income of all the roommates must be at or below 80% of AMI prior to March 13, 2020. If one of the roommates has a significant loss or reduction in income, they may apply.

Condominiums located in the City of Los Angeles are eligible for the program.

Yes, you can still apply. Enter the total number of months you need assistance paying. The subsidy will provide a grant of up to $1,000 per month to cover the monthly lease rent (based on the rent paid as of March 1, 2020), with a maximum of $2,000 per household.

A tenant is not required to pay back the subsidy, it is a grant. The rent subsidy will be paid directly to the landlord on the tenant’s behalf.

Yes, the subsidy can be used towards future rent. The subsidy will provide a grant of up to $1,000 per month to cover the monthly lease rent (based on the rent paid as of March 1, 2020), with a maximum of $2,000 per household.

No, the program is open to all renters, regardless of immigration status.

Applications are now closed and passwords will not be reset. All available funds have been allocated.

Unfortunately, you did not respond timely to submit missing documentation. If more funding becomes available we will contact you via email and/or phone.

Effective December 2, 2020, the City Council amended the ERAS program rules to pay tenants directly if their landlord refused to participate in the program or the landlord did not timely respond to notifications to participate in the program. In these cases, eligible tenants will be paid the subsidy directly, while funds are available. Due to funding limitations, not all eligible tenants will receive a rent subsidy. If additional funding becomes available, we will contact you via email and/or phone.

Tenants approved to receive the direct rent subsidy will have the status PENDING RENT SUBSIDY TO TENANT or CLOSED TENANT PAID. Tenants will receive a notification when their check is mailed to their rental unit address on record. Once the status is CLOSED TENANT PAID, please allow 14 days for processing.

The one-time $2,000 grant is to be used to pay rent, utilities or other housing related charges.

Your status will be “Closed Landlord Paid.” To look up your status you can click on this link https://cityoflaprod.service-now.com/eras?id=status_lookup

If your status has been in this stage for more than 14 days, please email us at hcidla.eras@lacity.org, and provide your application number to look up the payment details. 

No, the program will provide a one-time rent grant to eligible tenant households and those households will not need to provide an IRS-1099 or other tax form to qualify. This is because disaster-related payments made pursuant to a federally-declared disaster are excluded from income under IRC Section 139. Participants should contact a tax advisor or attorney with any specific questions.

Because the rental grant is a one-time payment, it will not have consequences under the public charge regulations. The Public Charge Rule focuses on cash assistance for income maintenance and a one-time cash grant is not considered income maintenance. Participants should contact an immigration attorney with any specific questions.

Please direct your landlord to this information page so they can better understand how to apply the rent subsidy. For additional questions, you may email hcidla.eras@lacity.org.

Landlords FAQs

The rent subsidy must be applied to the tenant’s rent beginning no earlier than September 2020. Any leftover money must be applied as a credit to the tenant’s account to apply to a future month’s rent.

No, a landlord must agree to waive any late fees, interest or other fees. Landlords should also be aware of the COVID-19 emergency renter protections that prohibit charging interest or late fees on unpaid rent due to COVID-19. Learn more here: hcidla.lacity.org/covid-19/renter-protections

Yes, IRS rules will require a 1099 to be issued for rent subsidy payments.

A landlord must agree to comply with federal, state, and local governing law including:

  1. Not to charge any interest or late fees for rents owed.
  2. Not to impose a rent increase during the repayment period, which covers one year after the end of the Emergency Declaration.
  3. Provide ID, a completed W-9 form and signed Landlord Agreement.
  4. Provide timely information for processing the payment.

The landlord will receive one payment of $2,000 maximum.

Yes, the Housing Rights Center (HRC) is the City’s contracted vendor processing the payments to Landlords. A direct deposit is the quickest way to obtain the payment. However, if you prefer, a paper check will be issued.

Once the documents are reviewed, you will receive further instructions. Please be sure you have provided an email where we can contact you and continue checking your email including your spam folder and/or your phone for further instructions.

Emails were sent to the email address your tenant provided when they applied for the rent subsidy. Please check your spam folder for the email that contains your username and password. Both the username and password are case sensitive. You must log in using a computer, not a smartphone, and cut and paste the username and password into the login screen to avoid typing them incorrectly. You will then be prompted to create your own unique password. If you cannot locate the email, please email us at hcidla.eras@lacity.org, provide your phone number and tenant’s rental unit address to assist us in locating your application. If you know your username, you can also reset the password by clicking on FORGOT PASSWORD. Click here for instructions.

The username may not be your current email but our records do have your correct email on file. You must use the original login username that was created since it is linked to your tenant’s application.

You can check the status of the specific application number online here and it will tell you which of your tenants have been paid out. Also, we expect to send emails to all landlords and tenants that have been paid soon.

If the rent subsidy check has the incorrect payee, please email us and include the application number and correct payee to hcidla.eras@lacity.org.

If you have not received a one-time $2,000 direct deposit or check by mail, please email us the application number along with the tenant name and rental unit address to look up payment information at hcidla.eras@lacity.org.

Yes, if you received the one-time $2,000 and your tenant moved out during this time, you can apply the funds to their account. Any remaining funds must be returned; please email us at hcidla.eras@lacity.org.

Disclaimer

Please be aware of scammers. City employees will not ask you for personal information, such as your Social Security Number, over the telephone related to this Initiative. Please use a secure means to transmit personal contact information to the City for this Initiative.

Any personal information provided to the department may be considered public records subject to public disclosure by requesting parties, pursuant to the California Public Records Act, though certain confidential information may be redacted prior to disclosure to requesting parties.

The City of Los Angeles is not responsible for any damages that may arise from the use of, the inability to use, or misuse of the web site and/or materials contained on the web site, or that result from mistakes, omissions, interruptions, deletion of files, errors, defects, delays in operation, or transmission, or any failure of performance.

References

Emergency Rental Assistance Subsidy Program Fund. Ordinance No. 186605

City of Los Angeles Emergency Renters Relief Program. Donate Today!

City Of Los Angeles Emergency Renters Assistance Fund

Your donation will help low-wage workers who are facing extreme economic hardship due to COVID-19. Donations to this fund will assist renters in the City of Los Angeles to be able to stay in their homes.

Donate by clicking here.

COVID-19

To assist residential renters who have been economically impacted by the Coronavirus, the Mayor and the City Council have adopted tenant protections on evictions and rent increases in the City of Los Angeles.

COVID-19 Resources

COVID-19 Renter Protection

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