The State of Colorado’s Rental Assistance
Tenants unable to pay their rent due to financial difficulties caused by COVID-19 may be eligible for rental assistance from either their county or the state. The state of Colorado’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) may be able to help with rent payments as far back as April 2020. A maximum of 15 months of help can be offered, with assistance covering past due, current, and two more months of rent.
The application process can be initiated by either the landlord or the tenant; however, to be eligible for assistance, paperwork must be submitted by both the landlord and the renter.
We cannot accept applications that are missing needed components; thus, please make sure that everything is in order and that you submit complete applications the first time.
Resources and Frequently Asked Questions
What requirements must renters meet to apply?
The majority of renters need only the following items:
- Email address and telephone number for the landlord
- A government-issued identification card is required for the primary applicant and all adults over 18 without income.
- Lease or other documentation showing that you reside on the property
- A statement or ledger detailing the amount of rent due.
- Verification of income for each adult member of the household
The following is an exhaustive list of the papers a renter may need when seeking assistance.
What are the requirements for landlords?
Most landlords frequently require the following items:
- Tenant’s name and contact information
- Tenant agreement or other proof that they are dwelling on your property
- Rent statement or ledger for tenants that displays how much money they owe
- Completed IRS Form W-9
A comprehensive list of documentation that a landlord may require when seeking assistance.
What is the highest income that an applicant can have to be considered for rental assistance?
It is required that the median income be no more than 80 percent of the median income of the area. You can get an exhaustive list of the counties in Colorado and the income cap that applies to each section of the state by downloading it as a PDF file.
What will your monthly rent payment be?
Up to a total of 15 months’ worth of rent, the state program will pay back rent that has been outstanding since April 2020, as well as the payment for the current month and rent for the next two months, bringing the total number of months covered by the program to a total of 15. You will not receive a refund from the program for any rent that you have already paid. The program is only able to pay up to 150 percent of the rent which is considered to be appropriate for the size of the apartment or house that you are renting. The Colorado Fair Market Rent Table for 2021 may be found here. It provides information regarding the fair market rent in each county. The rent paid for a property on which a mobile home is located is likewise eligible.
Where can I obtain a Colorado W-9?
The Colorado W-9 Form can be downloaded here.
How should I complete the Colorado W-9 form?
See the complete directions for completing the Colorado W-9 form.
What should I do if my tenant vacates without paying the rent?
The renter will only be eligible for the rental assistance provided by this program if they are currently residing at the property.
What are my options if my landlord does not want to fill out their portion of the application?
Tenants should fill out their applications and submit their landlord’s email address and phone number, as this is required information. We will get in touch with them and ask them to apply. You will have evidence that you have done everything in your power to qualify for aid, even if they continue to reject your invitation to join.
Additional questions about Colorado’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP)
Click here to see even more frequently asked questions about the ERAP.
Do you have any further questions regarding what occurs when you apply to ERAP?
More frequently asked questions regarding what happens when you apply can be found here.
How will I be paid?
Applications for rental assistance that are approved by the state after the 17th of August will have their reimbursements processed by a third-party payment processing company known as BIll.com beginning on that date. Bill.com is a payment software that utilizes firewalls, encryption, and bank-level security to safeguard any sensitive or personal data that may be entered. Visit https://www.bill.com/security if you have any additional inquiries or concerns regarding bill.com. This particular payment processor is an expert in sending both electronic payments and paper cheques to the correct recipients. It is important to keep in mind that the state works along with not-for-profit organizations to support the rental help program. If your application is selected to be reviewed and processed by one of those partners, the payment will be made by that particular organization.
The first step in the process of making a payment involves the application software called Neighborly, which is used by the state. You will get an email with the specifics once the application has been approved by the state and it has been completed on its whole. In a short while after that, Bill.com will send you an email encouraging you to set up your account so that you can make payments. You mustn’t go to Bill.com in advance and set up your own personal Bill.com account. The invitation email that you receive from Bill.com will include a one-of-a-kind URL that you can use to set up your account and register for ePayment. This email must not be sent to any other recipients, nor should it be circulated in any other way.
Remember that if a Landlord has numerous properties or has created multiple applications, Bill.com will send the Landlord an email for each property or application. If a Landlord has many properties or has created multiple applications, please keep this in mind. When creating a new account, landlords are required to use the one-of-a-kind link provided. Bill.com will only send the landlord one email if they only have one property and one application, and they will only need to establish one account if they only have one tenant.
You can get information from this link about how to create an account on Bill.com.
How can I create a Bill.com account?
When an application is finished and approved by the state, you will be notified by email. Bill.com will send you an email shortly after encouraging you to set up your account for payment. Please do not go to Bill.com and create your own Bill.com account first. The invitation email from Bill.com will include a unique link to create your account and sign up for ePayment. This email should not be distributed or forwarded to anyone else.
1. We strongly recommend ePayments because they reduce the risk of check theft by paying suppliers with digital payments made on your behalf via Bill.com. This method is faster, safer, and does not expose any critical information, ensuring on-time payments with no penalties.
**(To get a check for this loan, please call customer service at 1-888-480-0066. Please include your Landlord [or Tenant] name and ID, as well as the address where payments should be made when contacting support.)
2. The Bill.com email will include a one-of-a-kind link that will allow you to input banking details to which we will send payments. Remember that this bank account must be from an accredited financial institution that accepts deposits. If not, please follow the instructions in step one to get a check in the mail for accepted payments.
3. Please use the unique URL and do not forward it to anybody else or another email address. You may find step-by-step instructions for signing up for ePayments here: (LINK TO SOP for Bill.com). If you have any questions regarding this process, please call 1-888-480-0066 for real-time assistance when signing up.
4. There are no further procedures to take after opening your account and entering your banking information; your payments will be routed for processing.
Please remember that if a Landlord has numerous properties or applications, Bill.com will email the Landlord for each property or application. When a landlord creates an account, they must utilize the unique URL. If a landlord has only one property and one application, Bill.com will send them only one email and require them to form only one account.
Will Bill.com accept all payments?
The state also collaborates with non-profit organizations on the rental aid program. If one of these partners reviews and processes your application, payment will be made by that organization.
After August 17, the majority of checks will be issued by Bill.com. Some checks that have already been processed by the State will be distributed in August.
Ranking of application submissions by priority
When it comes time to determine the order of applications, the following criteria are taken into consideration:
– Families and households that have been notified of their impending eviction and have been given these notices.
– Households with an annual income that is either exactly equal to or less than half of the area’s median annual income (AMI).
– Families in which at least one member had been unemployed for at least ninety days before the date of application and acceptable evidence was provided.
Landlord 1099 Frequently Asked Questions
Click on this link to see frequently asked questions about this topic.
Angela Silva, a dedicated 42-year-old consultant specializing in government housing and rental assistance, hails from Sydney, Australia. She completed her education with a degree in Urban Planning from the University of New South Wales. Angela’s career has been marked by her relentless advocacy for affordable housing solutions, where she has worked extensively with both local governments and international agencies in Asia-Pacific regions. Her initiatives have led to the development of sustainable housing projects that cater to low-income families. Outside of her professional environment, Angela enjoys a peaceful life with her partner and their two adopted dogs, engaging in community gardening and urban sustainability projects.
