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Emergency Rental Assistance: Landlord Journeys

Understand what to expect when you or your tenant applies for emergency housing payment assistance
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Landlord Journey: What to expect when your tenant applies for assistance​

Landlord journey when a tenant applies for housing assistance.

  • START​

  • Tenant begins gathering application materials: If your tenant is applying for assistance, they may reach out to you to gather required documentation (e.g. proof of current housing, verification of arrears. These documents are required for an application to be processed and for assistance to be awarded.​

  • Tenant submits application which is routed to processing agency: Once your tenant submits the application through the centralized application, it will be routed to your local Regional Administering Agency (RAA) or the Rental Assistance Processing (RAP) center who will process the application. ​

  • Notification of application submission: If your tenant provides your email address, both you and your tenant will receive a notification with the application ID and assigned processing agency within 15 minutes after an application is submitted. Save this information in case further action on the application is needed. If email addresses are not provided, the processing agency will notify the landlord and tenant about the application via phone and/or mail. Timing of this notification varies by processing agency. ​

  • Gather and submit required landlord application materials: As the landlord, you will need to submit a Form W-9 and proof of ownership (i.e. deed) in order to complete the application. You and your tenant can upload documents and check which agency is processing the application here.​

  • Notification of missing documentation from processing agency: The application submission notification will prompt you to submit a W-9, proof of ownership, lease, and ledger. The assigned processing agency may also reach out to you or your tenant to provide other materials if they were not included in the initial application.​

  • Communicate with your tenant: Direct communication with your tenant is encouraged. Tenants must provide all required documents to the assigned processing agency in order for an application to be processed and approved, denied (tenant is ineligible), or timed out (missing documentation or unresponsiveness leading to incomplete application). ​

  • Notification of Approval, Denial, or Time Out: Once the application is processed, a determination is made and the application is either approved, denied, or timed out. Both you and your tenant will receive a notification by email (if an email address is provided) if the application is approved. Your tenant will be notified if the application is denied or timed out.​

  • Complete Landlord Terms of Agreement: Upon approval, both you and your tenant will be sent a copy of the approval letter with landlord terms of agreement by email or mail.​

  • Landlord Receives Rental Assistance: Upon approval, funds will be issued directly to the landlord either by direct deposit or by check, depending on the RAA. 

Refusing to accept rental assistance may be a violation of Massachusetts law that prohibits discrimination against persons with housing subsidies.​

Landlord Journey: What to expect when applying for assistance on behalf of an income-eligible tenant

Landlord journey when applying for housing assistance for your tenant

  • START​

  • Communicate with your tenant​: Ask your tenant if they’ve applied: If your tenant has already submitted an application for Emergency Housing Payment Assistance, please do not reapply for the same costs. This could delay the approval process.​

  • Ensure your tenant is income-eligible ​

  • Coordinate with your tenant(s) to gather required application materials​

    • Obtain a signed tenant consent form to apply for Emergency Housing Assistance Programs . 

  • Gather application materials needed to submit on behalf of an eligible tenant. Review the required application materials here.​

  • Submit an application which is routed to processing agency: If your tenant has not applied already, you may submit an application through the centralized application. The application will be routed to your local Regional Administering Agency (RAA) or the Rental Assistance Processing (RAP) center who will process the application. ​

  • Notification of application submission: If both landlord and tenant email addresses are provided on the application, then both will receive an email notification with the application ID and assigned processing agency within 15 minutes after an application is submitted. Save this information in case further action on the application is needed. If email addresses are not provided, the processing agency will notify the landlord and tenant about the application via phone and/or mail. Timing of this notification varies by processing agency. ​

  • Notification of missing documentation from processing agency: The application submission notification will prompt you to submit a W-9, proof of ownership, lease, and ledger if you did not already do so.  The assigned processing agency may reach out to you or your tenant for additional information or required documents if they were not included in the initial application submission. You and your tenant can upload documents and check which agency is processing the application here.​

  • Communicate with your tenant: Direct communication with your tenant is encouraged. Tenants must provide all required documents to the assigned processing agency in order for an application to be processed and approved, denied (tenant is ineligible), or timed out (missing documentation or unresponsiveness leading to incomplete application). ​

  • Notification of Approval, Denial, or Time Out: Once the application is processed, a determination is made and the application is either approved, denied, or timed out. Both you and your tenant will receive a notification by email (if an email address is provided) if the application is approved, denied, or timed out.​

  • Complete Landlord Terms of Agreement: Upon approval, both you and your tenant will be sent a copy of the landlord terms of agreement by email or mail.​

  • Landlord Receives Rental Assistance: Upon approval, funds will be issued directly to the landlord either by direct deposit or by check, depending on the RAA. 

Refusing to accept rental assistance may be a violation of Massachusetts law that prohibits discrimination against persons with housing subsidies.​​

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