NJAA News

The New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency (NJHMFA) recently announced the reopening and expansion of the Small Landlord Emergency Grant Program (SLEG) to assist small rental property owners of 3 to 30-unit properties and their tenants during the COVID-19 emergency. The program was previously limited to 3 to 10-unit properties. The program will support landlords and renters by reimbursing small landlords for missed or reduced rent payments due to COVID-19 that occurred between April and July 2020.

Under the program, landlords who receive funding will be required to forgive back rent and late fees that their tenants have accrued during the April to July period. Additionally, applicants must certify that if their application is successful, they will not begin eviction proceedings based on rental payments missed by tenants in SLEG-reimbursed units. Furthermore, applicants must also certify that they will not seek repayment of outstanding back rent accumulated between April and July 2020 by tenants in SLEG-reimbursed units.

The program will be administered by the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency (NJHMFA). Applications are now being accepted, and will continue to be accepted until Tuesday, October 13 at 4 p.m. Please see below for additional information regarding program eligibility and the application process.

Program Eligibility

To apply for the program, applicants must be the Primary Property Owner of a residential rental property in New Jersey and be registered with the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs’ (NJDCA) Bureau of Housing Inspection.

Additional eligibility requirements for the applicant and the applicant’s rental property include the following:

  • Property has at least 3 but no more than 30 total housing units.
  • Property is NOT a seasonal or vacation rental property.
  • NJHMFA will screen the property for outstanding life safety code violations in NJDCA’s Registration Inspection Management System (RIMS).
  • Applicant’s property contains at least one non-vacant “COVID-impacted” unit with a net rent deficit between April and July 2020.
  • Applicant is NOT a government entity or public housing authority.
  • Applicant is current on all state and local tax obligations.
  • Must have rent levels affordable to low- and -moderate income households. (Please refer to the to the table on the information page by clicking here).
  • Additional eligibility requirements may be applied, including restrictions on the duplication of benefits for applicants that have already received federal assistance and requiring an applicant to further demonstrate their negative impacts from COVID-19.

As mentioned above, applicants must certify that if their application is successful, they will not begin eviction proceedings based on rental payments missed by tenants in SLEG-reimbursed units. Furthermore, applicants must also certify that they will not seek repayment of outstanding back rent accumulated between April and July 2020 by tenants in SLEG-reimbursed units. A material breach of this certification may result in NJHMFA seeking repayment of the grant.

Application Process

The application period is now open and will close on Tuesday, October 13 at 4 p.m. Eligible and complete applications will be reviewed and awarded in a computer-randomized order to give each applicant an equal chance of being funded.

To submit an application and to visit the Small Landlord Emergency Grant Program website, please click here.

For more details about eligibility requirements, and what information and documents are needed to apply please review the Application Checklist.

For an instructional video which provides more information on the application process, please click here.

To learn more about the SLEG Program, please see the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document, by clicking here.

Questions regarding the program can be directed to the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency (NJHMFA) toll-free hotline at 866-280-9756 or sleg@njhmfa.gov.

For a copy of the press release announcing the program expansion, please click here.

For an in-depth overview of the Small Landlord Emergency Grant Program presented by the NJHMFA, please click here.

To view a recent NJHMFA webinar on the Small Landlord Emergency Grant Program, please click here.

Should you have any questions or need further information, please contact a member of the NJAA Government Affairs team:

Nicholas Kikis – Nicholas@njaa.com or 732-992-0605

Andrew Musick – Andrew@njaa.com or 732-992-0610