The New Jersey Small Landlord Emergency Grant Program will provide financial support for small rental property owners, and indirectly to renters, who are struggling due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a state press release.
The program will reimburse small landlords for rent payments that were missed or reduced in April, May, June, and/or July. Only properties with low-to-moderate rent levels are eligible.
To be eligible, the small landlord must be the primary owner of a rental property, registered with the N.J. Department of Community Affairs and on the Bureau of Housing Inspection’s registration database, and be current on state and local taxes.
The property must contain between three and 10 housing units, not be a seasonal or vacation rental property, and have a current fire inspection certificate, if applicable in the community where it is located. It must also contain at least one non-vacant COVID-19 impacted unit with a rent deficit between April and July.
Rents can be no greater than the maximum thresholds listed below for Atlantic and Cape May counties:
Atlantic County: $1,182, $1,266, $1,518, $1,754, $1,956, $2,159
Cape May County: $1,202, $1,288, $1,546, $1,785, $1,992, $2,197
Those who are awarded grants must pass the benefit on to their tenants by forgiving outstanding back rent and late fees for COVID-impacted units for the April-July period.
The application portal will open 9 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 19 and remain open until 1 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 26.
Applications will be reviewed and awarded in a computer-randomized order to give each application an equal chance of being funded. Applications will be evaluated for eligibility and completeness.
Call the SLEG toll-free hotline at 866-280-9756, email sleg@njhmfa.gov, or learn more at https://njhousing.gov/rentals/sleg/
