This story originally published on September 23, 2021, and includes reporting by KQED's Carly Severn and the Associated Press. COVID-19 rental debt is rent andother payments required under the rental agreement,like utilities or parking fees, that came due between March 1, 2020 and September 30, 2021. The department operates off a prioritization list, and your application could be considered sooner if youre in an emergency situation. Keep reading for what renters need to know about applying for rent relief, or skip to rent relief advice for property owners. Find details in the FAQs about 2022 SPSL from the California Department . AB 832 also allows tenants to access rental funds directly if their landlord chooses not to participate and ensures landlords can receive compensation even if their otherwise income-qualified tenants have already vacated a unit. tenant for COVID-19 rental debt in small claims. introducing new eviction protections for renters starting April 1, get your application in as soon as you can, report out earlier this month from the National Equity Atlas, tool to look up local organizations and aid groups in your county offering assistance for renters, the average wait time is much longer four months, on average, community organizations and nonprofit legal services agencies that assist tenants, you can also apply to have your utilities paid for, Property owners can issue a three-day notice to pay or quit,. Find out what free food or EBT cards to buy food you may be eligible to get. Learn the steps to pause or reduce your mortgage payments at Help for homeowners. 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The law protects tenants from eviction for not paying COVID-19 rental debt due between: March 1, 2020 and August 31, 2020, if the tenant gave their landlord a COVID-19-Related Declaration of Financial Distressby the 15-day Notice deadline, September 1, 2020 and September 30, 2021, if the tenant gave their landlord a COVID-19-Related Declaration of Financial Distressand paid 25% of their COVID-19 rental debt by September 30, 2021. Only 16% of nearly half a million renters who applied for rent relief from the state of California have been paid, according to a new analysis released today. This means that, as of October 1, 2021, property owners in many places in California could once again evict tenants for not paying their rent. Since the official eviction moratorium expired on Sept. 30, 2021, renters affected by COVID hardship could prevent an eviction from moving forward if they presented their pending relief application as a defense in court. If youre uninsured or need medical care, there are free or low-cost options to get the help you need. If the tenant can prove that they are waiting on determination for their rent relief application, or waiting for funds to be distributed, they can use that as a defense in eviction court proceedings through March 31. Will it be enough? You can also email the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP): [email protected]. The state is no longer accepting applications for COVID-19 rent and utility bill relief. OAKLAND - California Attorney General Rob Bonta today issued a consumer alert reminding California's tenants and homeowners of their rights and protections amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. If youve had a COVID-19 hardship and you earn less than 80% of your countys area median income, you can also apply to have your utilities paid for. Thats backed up by a report out earlier this month from the National Equity Atlas, which found that a year into the states rent relief program, only 16% of applicants have received any money, largely due to bureaucratic delays. Stay in touch. Under AB 832, California will significantly increase cash assistance to low-income tenants and small landlords under the states $5.2 billion rent relief program, making it the largest and most comprehensive COVID rental protection and rent relief program of any state in the nation. In September 2021, Heimerich of the Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency said the agency had hired more staff to go through the applications and process payments more quickly. We urge you to continue contacting the Housing is Key program if you were approved but have not yet received payment, or if your application has been pending since 2021. In just six months, we have provided essential assistance to more than 44,000 households to keep families safely housed, said Governor Newsom. The COVID-19 Tenant Relief Act - SB91 (Act) was signed into law January 29, 2021. And remember: After March 31, you won't be able to apply for rent relief. Find out what youre eligible for now, and how to apply. Howard recommends finding a local legal aid group that can help you advocate for yourself. AB 128 by Assemblymember Philip Ting (D-San Francisco) Budget Act of 2021. Through March 31, landlords would be blocked from evicting tenants over non-payment of rent through Sept. 30, 2021, if they had applied for rent relief from the state. California received $5.2 billion from the federal Emergency Rental Assistance Program in March 2021 to protect tenants whose incomes were 20% or more below average and whose jobs and finances were . That remains true for renters whose applications have been approved. Contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline: Text START to 88788 for 24/7 free help in English and Spanish, Test positive for COVID-19 and need to isolate, Were exposed to COVID-19 and need to quarantine. You also can use the following state map to see whether you're eligible for state or local rent assistance, or both: Is the rent relief a loan? Find out what financial and daycare benefits are available for families with children. However, the Western Center on Law and Poverty's Madeline Howard says if you were denied and you believe you should qualify, you should call your local legal aid group with the denial from the state, and they can help you file an appeal. The QC Team has reviewed your application and approved it for payment. SACRAMENTO Governor Gavin Newsom today signed legislation to extend the states eviction moratorium through September 30, 2021 and clear rent debt for low-income Californians that have suffered economic hardship due to the pandemic. If you need legal help, you can find legal resources in your area at LawHelpCA.org. You and your tenant can apply in the same place, at HousingIsKey.org. This 18-month total is the combined total of partial and full months of past-due, current, and future months (this includes all ERAP assistance payments). Homeowners and landlords who are having a hard time paying their mortgage may be able to get more time to pay. Please check with your local jurisdiction for more information. Program will be stood up to begin accepting applications in March 2021. Protects tenants from being evicted for just cause if landlord is shown to be really evicting the tenant for COVID-19 related nonpayment of rent. , You can get a one-time payment to help you:. Contact a local agency to get free rental housing counseling. Our program has been so successful that cities like Los Angeles decided to join efforts with the state to have an even greater impact.. Several statewide and local organizations offer free or low-cost legal help to renters. If a landlord chooses not to participate, the tenant can still apply for relief valued at 25 percent of unpaid back rent they owe for the covered period. The state is no longer accepting applications for COVID-19 rent and utility bill relief. For information about commercial (business), mobile home/RV, hotel/motel, transitional housing, animal, boat, or other non-residential evictions talk to a lawyer. The survey found that Californias most vulnerable tenants including non-English speakers, seniors, and people with informal leases continue to face the greatest hurdles to getting rent relief. GovernorNewsom Announces Appointments 2.28.23, Governor Newsom Marks End of Californias COVID-19 State of Emergency, Governor Newsom, Attorney General Bonta and CPPA File Letter Opposing Federal Privacy Preemption, GovernorNewsom Announces Appointments 2.24.23, 6 Ways California is Capturing & Storing Water from Storms. Does this mean I'm guaranteed to get 100% of my back rent? It's a defense in court if you tell your landlord you applied for rent relief within 15 business days of receiving a 3-day notice. What if my tenant hasn't been paying but has refused to participate in applying for rent relief? apply through the state's COVID rent relief portal, any landlord wanting to evict a tenant for failing to pay rent as a result of COVID hardship needs to first apply. The call center is open Monday through Friday, 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM. The Act includes the same eligibility and program rules as before including: For more information and resources, visit HousingIsKey.com, Biography of Lourdes M. Castro Ramrez, Secretary for BCSH. Some cities and counties have more eviction protections in place. SACRAMENTO Californias COVID-19 Rent Relief Program is reaching a significant milestone today by the end of the day, more than $1 billion in funding will be obligated meaning the money has either been paid or approved for payment and awaiting disbursement and will assist over 74,000 additional households. And the clock is ticking: Under state law, landlords will be able to evict tenants who failed to pay rent by April 1. SB 812 by the Committee on Governance and Finance Validations. (Read more about rent relief for property owners.) Check to see whether you qualify, and apply for help. Qualified tenants will also be able to access funds to cover 25 percent of prospective rent for the months of April, May, and June of 2021, subject to funding availability. But for most tenants in California, starting April 1, landlords will still be able to start eviction proceedings for any rent not paid after March 31. Check the status of your submitted application HERE. What should I do if the property owner is harassing me to leave because I haven't paid rent? Yes, you can still apply for rent relief even if you have only an informal or oral agreement, according to Howard. For additional information on your application status, call the CA COVID-19 Rent Relief Call Center at 833-430-2122. Most homeowners can pause or reduce their mortgage payments for a limited time if theyre struggling because of COVID-19. Can I get help with that? SB 810 by the Committee on Governance and Finance Validations. It is updated weekly as new payments are made to assist households. Official California State Government Website, Help for people experiencing homelessness, resources for homeless LGBTQ people in crisis, eviction protection for unpaid rent during COVID-19, Frequently asked questions about the COVID-19 Tenant Relief Act, small claims process for COVID-19 rental debt. There is a program that can help with the financial burden of this difficult time. What should I do? You can also call 866-675-6623. Check your status here. Prevents evictions for nonpayment of rent by tenants experiencing a COVID-19 hardship. You can always try our site search or check out one of the links below: Division of Consumer Financial Protection, Division of Corporations and Financial Institutions, Licensee & Financial Service Provider Search, Actions, Order and Administrative Hearing Decisions, Central Locations for Service of Legal Process, Office of Financial Technology Innovation, Foreign (Other Nation) Bank (Agency and Branch)Search, Foreign (Other State) Bank (Representative Office)Search, Trust Department of State Chartered Banks, Licensees and Industries Regulated by the DFPI, Actions, Orders and Administrative Hearing Decisions, Deferred Deposit Originator (Payday Lender) Search, Active Licensees Under Check Sellers, Bill Payers, and Proraters Law, Nonprofit Community Service Organizations, PACE (Property Assessed Clean Energy) Program Administrators. More than 44,000 households have been assisted and more than $1 billion paid or approved for payment, More than 243,000 applications have been received with more than $2.2 billion in rent and utility assistance requested. People are waiting. You also can be eligible for both. This has been corrected to say that an eviction can proceed if, after a landlord applies for rent relief, the tenant doesn't also apply within 20 days. Can I still apply? The Attorney General recognizes that families across the state may be facing difficulty affording rent and mortgage payments, including as the result of layoffs, reduced working hours, and other economic . Landlords with four properties or less can also request forbearance. He said Californias denial notices are too vague, dont tell applicants which of their documents led to denial, and make it difficult for denied applicants to appeal. 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