News Alert: Los Angeles County Emergency Rent Relief Program Now Open
News Alert
Los Angeles County Emergency Rent Relief Program Now Open
By Janet M. Gagnon
Chief Corporate Affairs Officer & SVP Government Relations
As of today, December 17th, the Los Angeles County Emergency Rent Relief Program (“ERRP”) is now accepting applications for grant funding to pay past due rent owed by renters throughout Los Angeles County for renters impacted by the January wildfires, immigration enforcement activities and other emergencies resulting in financial hardship. Applications can only be submitted by rental housing providers who must provide specific documentation. The impacted renter must also provide some additional information after the application by the property owner has been submitted.
The program will cover up to 6 months of past due rent owed up to a maximum amount of $15,000. Funding is very limited and interested rental housing providers should apply as soon as possible, but only AFTER familiarizing themselves fully with the program requirements and potential implications of receiving funding. Applications can only be submitted online and the deadline to submit an application is January 23, 2026 before 5:00 p.m.
In addition, grant funding may be received by rental housing providers for rental units that remain vacant due damage caused by the January wildfires.
There are many specific requirements that are listed in the 31-page Program and Application Guideline document that is available on the County’s website at LACountyRentRelief.com. Below are a few highlights from it.
- The past due rent owed must cover the period beginning on or after December 17, 2024 through January 23, 2026.
- Priority will be given to property owners that meet one of the following criteria:
- Property owner owns 4 or fewer units,
- Property owner’s household annual median income (AMI) of 80% or less,
- Renter with past due rent has a household AMI of 80% or less,
- The property where the rent is owed is located within high or highest needs area per the County’s Equity Explorer tool
- Property owner agrees to waive all rent in excess of the past due rent that would be paid for by the grant for the full eligibility period. This waiver is NOT a requirement to receive grant funding. It is merely an additional method to qualify for priority status in processing the application for grant funding.
- Property owners can only submit one application per rental unit.
- Property owners must sign an attestation and provide relevant documentation.
The County’s Department of Consumer and Business Affairs (“DCBA”) is responsible for overseeing this program and has stated to AAGLA that an owner is free to withdraw their application at any time by contacting the case manager that is assigned to the application. Please note that DCBA has provided no information on how long a rental housing provider will have to wait to receive the grant funding after the award decision has been made.
Also, please be aware that property owners choosing to waive excess past due rent in order to receive priority status for grant funds could be waiving more than 6 months’ worth of additional past due rent depending on when the rent first became past due began to accrue and the specific reason for being owed and unpaid (e.g., wildfires, immigration enforcement or other emergency financial hardship by renter).
This article is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions regarding your property or specific leasing issues and the requirements of any legal changes described herein, please consult with an attorney.