How it works
The Houston-Harris County Emergency Rental Assistance Program can only accept applications for renters with active eviction cases (with a cause number) or a notice to vacate due to nonpayment of rent.
We encourage landlords to enroll in the program so that eligible tenants can be considered for eviction intervention rental assistance.
- Landlords may enroll in the program at any time.
- Tenants choose their landlord from the landlord directory when applying for assistance. If a tenant’s landlord is not already enrolled, the landlord will be contacted and asked to enroll.
- Once a tenant’s application is approved, the landlord will be asked to confirm the amount of the tenant’s past-due rent and accept any prospective payments for future months.
- After confirming, the tenant and landlord will receive a ‘confirmed pledge’ email indicating the amount of rental assistance approved.
- Program administrators will pay the ‘confirmed pledge’ amount via electronic payment (ACH) to the landlord’s bank account. The landlord must then credit the tenant’s account within 5 business days.
- Landlords and tenants will be asked to refund payments for months that are paid by other rental assistance programs, including Texas Rent Relief.
Funding Availability
Funding is available for past-due rent from April 2020 onward, and for two months forward. Total support cannot exceed 15-18 months of rent (depending on eligibility and availability of funding) and cannot be accepted for months that have already been covered by rental assistance. The landlord must confirm the months requested.
Landlord Enrollment
Landlords register by completing a landlord enrollment form, agreeing to Landlord Terms & Conditions, and uploading supporting documents, including a signed W-9 and a canceled check or ACH payment instructions. To review all of the Landlord Terms & Conditions, please go here.
Landlords who participated in the 2020 BakerRipley COVID-19 Rental Assistance Program can continue without the need for re-enrollment but should be aware that the Landlord Terms and Conditions have been modified. Landlords who need to update any of the information on their enrollment form should email [email protected].
If a tenant applies for the program and their landlord is not yet enrolled, the landlord will be contacted and asked to enroll.
Landlord Guidelines
Participating landlords agree to:
- Give the tenant credit for any partial payments
- Waive all late fees, penalties, and interest related to past-due rent
- Not pursue enforcement of any judgements, writs of possession or other litigation until a final decision is made on the tenant’s application
- Rescind or cancel any prior notice to vacate, dismiss any eviction suit, and rescind or cancel any writ of possession based on non-payment within five business days of payment if the tenant’s application is approved
- Not interfere with the tenant's possession of the rental unit/property
Program Eligibility
Landlords with residential property located within the City of Houston or Harris County are eligible to participate.
Note: Guidelines listed here correspond to grants funded by the US Treasury Emergency Rental Assistance Program, the primary source of funding for this program. Guidelines for funding from other sources may vary slightly.
