Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Landlords and Utility Providers who received at least $600 from the Texas Rent Relief Program in calendar year 2021 will receive a 2021 Form 1099-MISC by February 2022.

Forms will be issued electronically by HORNE by 1/31/2022. If landlords or utilities need to update their email address, they will have to contact the Call Center at 833-989-7368 to request a change to that information no later than 5pm on Friday, January 21, 2022.

2021 IRS Forms 1099-MISC will not be sent to tenants who received funds directly from the Texas Rent Relief Program. Payments made to eligible households are not considered income to members of the household.

No. Emergency rental assistance payments made to eligible households are not considered income to members of the household.

No. Emergency utility assistance payments, including payments for utilities or home energy expenses, made to eligible households are not considered income to members of the household.

No. Emergency Rental Assistance payments made on behalf of an eligible household are not considered income to members of the household.

Yes. Texas Rent Relief payments are intended to help eligible households that require financial assistance to pay for rent, utilities, home energy expenses, and other related expenses, and the payments are excluded from income only for those households. Rental payments you receive as a landlord, whether from your tenant or from the Texas Rent Relief Program on your tenant’s behalf, are includible in your gross income.

Yes. Texas Rent Relief payments are intended to help eligible households that require financial assistance to pay for rent, utilities, home energy expenses, and other related expenses, and the payments are excluded from income only for those households. Utility payments your company receives, whether from a customer or from the Texas Rent Relief Program on the customer’s behalf, are includible in your company’s gross income.

Due to the total requests submitted exceeding the amount of funds available in the program, we closed the Texas Rent Relief application portal to new applications and additional funding requests. Submitting an application does not guarantee payment, but submitted applications currently being reviewed will continue to be processed until all program funds are used.

In November 2021, when the application portal closed, applicants had a 21-day period to complete and submit their applications, not to exceed November 26 at 5 p.m. Central Standard Time. However, that 21-day period has passed and at this point, applicants can no longer submit an application.

In March 2023, because total requests submitted during the portal reopening far exceeded the amount of program funds remaining available, applicants were not allowed to complete and submit applications that were incomplete when the application portal closed.

If you have already submitted your application and you are now facing eviction, please call the Texas Rent Relief call center at 1-833-989-7368 to update your pending application. Applications from tenants who have been sued for eviction are a priority group for review. These applications are being prioritized to decrease processing time and increase the likelihood of evictions being diverted.

Tenants and landlords may check their Texas Rent Relief program application status here or by calling 1-833-989-7368.

Hundreds of thousands of Texans applied for assistance, which demonstrates just how great the need is in Texas.

Over 30 Texas cities and counties also received emergency rent and utility assistance funding from the Treasury, and several of these programs are still accepting applications and are ready to assist. Use this Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) search tool to see if they serve your area: CFPB search tool.

For alternative assistance options, visit the Help for Texans webpage or call 2-1-1 Texas for information on organizations that are helping Texans with emergency rent and utility assistance. You may also reach out to your local public housing authority(ies) or city or county to know what other assistance is available.

To date, the total requests for assistance now exceed all Texas Rent Relief funds available. The tremendous response for this program demonstrates just how great the need is in Texas. Additional funding may become available in the future. If you would like to be notified of possible future opportunities to apply to the Texas Rent Relief program, please sign up here.

The Texas Eviction Diversion Program (TEDP) is established through a Texas Supreme Court Emergency Order. The current order runs through July 1, 2023 and may be found here: https://www.txcourts.gov/media/1456331/239024.pdf, or you can learn more about the Emergency Order Regarding the Texas Eviction Diversion program on the court’s TEDP webpage: https://www.txcourts.gov/programs-services/eviction-diversion-program/.

We will continue to process applications that were submitted prior to the application intake closure on March 16, 2023, until program funds run out. Applications from tenants who have been sued for eviction are a priority group for review. These applications are being prioritized to decrease processing time and increase the likelihood of evictions being diverted.

If you/your landlord has not received any assistance payment by your eviction court date, we highly encourage you to attend your eviction hearing and let the judge know you are seeking rent assistance. If you do not, you will lose the chance to tell your side of the case.

No. The request for initial assistance is separate from your Additional Funding Request (AFR). When seeking additional funds, an application must undergo the AFR process of review. This is a separate determination from your initial/first determination.

The Texas Rent Relief Program provides rental and utility assistance to qualifying applicants to prevent housing instability, potential eviction, utility disconnections, and financial hardships for tenants and landlords as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Renter households must have an income no more than 80 percent of area median income (AMI) AND one or more members of the household must attest in writing that they have either:

• qualified for unemployment benefits, OR
• due to or during the pandemic:
  • experienced a reduction in income,
  • incurred significant costs, or
  • experienced other financial hardship.
• AND one or more individuals within the household must demonstrate:
  • That they are at risk of experiencing homelessness or housing instability, which may include a past due utility or rent notice or eviction notice, OR
  • That unless they receive rental assistance, they would have to move to an unsafe/unhealthy environment like a shared living situation or emergency shelter.

Evidence of legal status is not required. The funding for this program is part of the Coronavirus stimulus bill passed by Congress; because it is emergency assistance, documentation of household legal status is not required.

For applications received during the first twenty-one (21) days the Program was open, before 11:59 pm Central Standard Time on March 8, 2021, the following applicants were given priority:

• Households with income at or below 50% Area Median Income (AMI), or
• Households where one or more household members were unemployed as of the date of application for assistance, AND one or more household members (this can be the same household member) were unemployed for 90 days prior to the date of application for assistance.

All applications meeting the criteria above that were received during the first twenty-one (21) days will be prioritized first during application review.

After the priority cases described above, applications from tenants who have been sued for eviction have the highest priority level for being reviewed. These applications are being prioritized to decrease processing time and increase the likelihood of evictions being diverted.

After all priority applications have been processed, the Texas Rent Relief Program will proceed with the review and processing of all other applications, including those submitted during the first twenty-one (21) days. All non-priority applications will be reviewed and processed on a first-come first-served basis until all funds are committed.

All applicants were allowed to apply during the first twenty-one (21) days, whether they met the priority criteria or not.

After all priority applications have been processed, the Texas Rent Relief Program will proceed with the review and processing of all other applications, including those submitted during the first twenty-one (21) days. All non-priority applications will be reviewed and processed on a first-come first-serve basis until all funds are committed.

Program funds may be used to provide up to eighteen (18) months of assistance for the following expenses:

• rent, past due rent and reasonable late fees (stemming from non-payment of rent),
• utilities and home energy costs, and
• past due utility and home energy costs

Each calendar month in which a tenant household receives assistance from TRRP will count toward the 18-month limit on assistance, regardless of the type of assistance provided. Applicants must reapply every 3 months and will only be assisted if funds are still available. The program cannot pay for food for households.

Rent and utility expenses are eligible for assistance starting March 13, 2020 (the date of Governor Abbott’s emergency declaration for Texas). Prorated requests for the month of March 2020 are allowed.

Rent may not exceed $4,600 per month. Units that exceed the limit are not eligible for assistance from the Texas Rent Relief Program. Tenants in such cases should look at other rental assistance programs.

Rent will be provided assistance up to $4,600 per month. Program funds may be used to provide up to eighteen (18) months of assistance.

No, a tenant does not necessarily have to be in arrears. However, to be eligible, households must have a past due utility or rent bill OR attest that if they do not receive assistance they would have to live in an unsafe or unhealthy environment during the pandemic, like a shared living situation or emergency shelter.

The household must attest that they have experienced or have been at risk of experiencing unsafe or unhealthy living conditions during the months for which they are requesting assistance. This may include an overcrowded shared living situation or emergency shelter where risk for COVID transmission may be heightened. A tenant’s current unit need not be unsafe/unhealthy and no inspection of current units will occur for this requirement.

We already have some tutorials available here https://texasrentrelief.com/forms-resources/ and will be adding additional ones as well in the same page.

For information specific to landlords and tenants, review the Landlord FAQs section and Tenant FAQs section on this page. Additional program documents can be found online at: https://texasrentrelief.com/forms-resources/.

Upon application approval, the tenant and landlord (if landlord is participating) first receive an approval email from a TRRP analyst providing a breakout of what months and costs are approved, and the estimated timeline to payment after approval of 7-14 days.

After this, the tenant and landlord are encouraged to monitor the payment status of their application via the Neighborly system.

The portal which will remain open and will accept applications until all funds have been committed to applicants was closed to new applications on Friday, November 5, 2021, once the total amount of funding requested by applicants exceeded the amount of funding the program had available. Applicants who had started their applications (including Additional Funding Requests) before November 5 were notified that they would have until November 26, 2021 to complete and submit their applications. The portal was closed to all applications on November 26, 2021.

For applications received during the first twenty-one (21) days that do not meet the priority criteria and/or applications received outside the first twenty-one days, applicants should expect that it may be several weeks before they are informed of the status of their application.

The priority status deadline was extended because of power outages during Winter Storm Uri that prevented many from being able to apply.

The landlord is encouraged to start a tenant’s request in the system so that it is clearly and correctly associated with the property and landlord. The system will then send an email to the tenant asking them to provide any missing documentation, including income documentation, and electronically sign the application.

For tenants without an email address, landlords can print the application form, obtain a physical signature, and upload the application and related income documents on the tenant’s behalf. If needed, a program representative will contact tenants to assist with gathering necessary information and documents to complete the tenant profile. Alternatively, a landlord or property manager may work with a tenant to create an account and complete the online application on behalf of the tenant.

A tenant may also apply on their own, without the assistance of the landlord, in which case the landlord will be notified and asked to participate. A tenant electing to apply directly does not remove the program’s obligation to still seek to pay the landlord first.

Complete an online application at TexasRentRelief.com OR call a program representative at (833) 9TX-RENT (toll free) to apply over the phone. The toll free number offers assistance in multiple languages.

Landlord

• When applying online, landlords can create a profile, list all properties under their management, and identify all tenants for whom they are requesting assistance.
• The system will automatically email all identified tenants and prompt them to complete their tenant profiles.
• For tenants without an email address, landlords can print the application form, obtain a physical signature, and upload the application and related income documents on the tenant’s behalf. If needed, a program representative will contact tenants to assist with gathering necessary information and documents to complete the tenant profile. Alternatively, a landlord or property manager may work with a tenant to create an account and complete the online application on behalf of the tenant.

Tenant

• If your landlord is willing to participate, you can apply directly and your landlord will be contacted for additional information.
• If your landlord chooses not to participate in the program, you may still apply for rental assistance by completing the online application or by calling the toll-free number listed above to apply over the phone.

You can monitor the status of your application through the online dashboard or by calling (833) 9TX-RENT (toll free) to speak with a call center program representative. We will notify you if we need more information to complete your application. The call center is available Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. CST. Help is available in multiple languages.

Applicants can appeal eligibility decisions. Appeal instructions are available at TexasRentRelief.com. Also, we recommend that you call 211 for a list of other resources for assistance.

Yes. Rent and utility expenses are eligible for assistance starting March 13, 2020 (the date of Governor Abbott’s emergency declaration for Texas). Prorated requests for the month of March 2020 are allowed.

Program funds may be used to provide up to eighteen (18) months of assistance for the following expenses:

• rent, past due rent and reasonable late fees (stemming from non-payment of rent),
• utilities and home energy costs, and
• past due utility and home energy costs
  

While applicants may be assisted for up to 18 months, the Program will not commit funds for prospective (future) rent for more than a 3-month period at a time. Applicants must reapply every 3 months and will only be assisted if funds are still available. The program cannot pay for food for households.

Rent and utility expenses are eligible for assistance starting March 13, 2020 (the date of Governor Abbott’s emergency declaration for Texas). Prorated requests for March 2020 are allowed.

The Texas Rent Relief Program covers all 254 Texas counties. Applicants in every area of the state can apply.

The Emergency Rental Assistance program makes available $25 billion from the U.S. Department of the Treasury to assist households that are unable to pay rent and utilities due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The funds are provided directly to States, U.S. Territories, local governments, and Indian tribes. Grantees use the funds to provide assistance to eligible households through existing or newly created rental assistance programs. More information is available here: https://home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/cares/emergency-rental-assistance-program.

As part of this program, the State of Texas received approximately $1.3 billion to assist landlords and tenants through the Texas Rent Relief Program. Local communities in Texas with populations greater than 200,000 had an opportunity to receive roughly $700 million in additional direct allocations of these funds.

The Texas Rent Relief Program (TRR) is available to renters and landlords across the entire state. The TRR program allows for up to 15 months of assistance, applicants apply directly to the state, and the program is funded by the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

The Texas Emergency Rental Assistance Program (TERAP) is only available in the 44 cities and counties participating in the program. The TERAP program allows for no more than 6 months of assistance and applicants apply directly to their local participating city/county. The TERAP program is funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) with Community Development Block Grant CARES (CDBG CARES) funds allocated to the state.

TDHCA does not have program-specific information for all of the local areas offering other rental assistance.

Yes. The program may share a copy of the tenant, landlord or utility provider certification with the tenant applicant, a user approved by the tenant, an associated landlord or utility provider.

If you feel your application has incorrectly been determined ineligible or you disagree with the amount of assistance you were approved for, you may appeal the decision within 30 days from the date that your application denial or approval letter is sent. To submit an appeal, you must complete the Appeal Request Form available on the Forms and Resources page of the TRR website and submit it along with any associated supporting documentation via email to appeals@texasrentrelief.com or via U. S. Mail. The TRRP will review any appeal request within 30 days from the date of receipt.

If the landlord is not willing to provide that information, you can contact the Call Center at 833-989-7368, provide the tenant case ID and ask whether there is an associated landlord.

The applicant and landlord (if applicable) should receive an email identifying what information is missing. If, after checking their spam/junk folder, the applicant has not received any communication, they should contact the Call Center at 833-989-7368.

An application may be denied for several reasons including:

• Not providing sufficient documentation to establish that you met all of the eligibility criteria for TRRP.
• Having income higher than the program limit.
• Not being able to prove that you rent.
• The rental unit is not located in the state of Texas.
• Not providing legible identification as part of the application.

The specific eligibility criteria you did not meet and any missing documentation will be included in the notification you receive when your application is denied.

If you believe you were denied in error, you have 30 days to appeal the decision. Information on how to appeal is included in the denial notification and is available on the TexasRentRelief.com website.

The TRRP cannot provide any advice or guidance about a tenant’s credit or the implications or consequences of being sued for eviction. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau provides information related to credit reports and score repair. For more information, visit https://www.consumerfinance.gov/consumer-tools/credit-reports-and-scores/ for more information.

Applicants may contact the legal aid clinic providing services in their community for advice on paying debt or addressing a credit report record.

After an application is submitted, it is reviewed and based on the information and documentation received, it is generally approved or denied. Reviewers may need to request additional documentation or information from the applicant before making a determination. If applicants do not respond to requests for information within 21 days, the application will be denied.

If an application is approved, a payment for the approved amounts will be processed and sent to the landlord or tenant, if the landlord is not participating. Starting on October 10, 2022, all utility assistance payments are issued directly to tenants. The tenant is then expected to pay the utility provider on their own behalf, per program rules.

If an application is denied, the applicant has 30 days to appeal. Details about how to appeal are included in the denial notification or are available on the TexasRentRelief.com website.

Applicants should not submit a complaint in the following instances and instead follow the recommended steps, better suited to solve these scenarios:

• Call 1-833-9TX-RENT (1-833-989-7368) to:
  • Check your application status
  • Update your application if you have been sued for eviction
  • Request help upload missing documentation
  • Request other assistance related to your application
• To check your application status, click here.
• To report suspected fraud, waste, or abuse of TRR funds, call 833-61-FRAUD (833-613-7283).
• If you have questions about the application portal closing, click here.
• If you need assistance with a payment for an approved application, please contact the TRR payment team at support@texasrentrelief.com.

As a Texas Rent Relief program applicant, you may submit a complaint if:

• You have had negative interactions with program staff, or
• You find that an action taken by program staff does not align with the expectations established on the TRR website.

Texas Rent Relief Public Complaints Submission Form
TRRP has a process to investigate and address program complaints. To report concerns or issues not covered by the specific recommendations listed above, please submit a complaint here.

Once all required documentation is submitted and the application is approved, payment should take approximately 14 days.

For applications received during the first twenty-one (21) days that do not meet the priority criteria, applicants should expect that it may be several weeks before they are informed of the status of their application.

If the landlord is participating in the program, completes a landlord profile with all required documents found in the Landlord checklist and submits ACH payment information when requested, the payments will be made to the landlord using ACH deposit.

A TRR payment process guide is available here.

If the landlord does not participate in the program, does not provide the required documentation or does not provide the payment information, the payment will be made to the tenant via mailed check who will in turn pay the landlord.

ACH descriptions will specify the tenant’s first initial and last name. The invoice number is listed on the ACH/direct deposit or paper check. The tenant Case ID can be found after the letter “L” when the landlord receives payment.

The breakout of the tenant payment can now be found in the Landlord Account. Log in to your account Home Page (here: https://hornellp-tx.neighborlysoftware.com/texasrentrelief/Participant) and select “View” to the right of your Landlord account. Select the “Draws” tab. Under “Description,” you will find the breakout of months and amount per month, any late fees, and total months of assistance included in the received payment.

Absent any contrary requirement in state or local law or terms of the lease, if the tenant’s payment was made through their own financial resources, the landlord can post Texas Rent Relief assistance to the month it was requested for and apply the tenant’s payment to a future month (assuming that this future month does not also receive Texas Rent Relief Program assistance), or return the tenant’s payment to the tenant.

The Texas Rent Relief Program requires that direct payments to tenants are used to pay landlords/utility company the full amount. However, this is challenging to enforce and we strongly encourage landlords to participate in the program. If a tenant has accepted payment and has not paid their landlord/utility company, the TRR program will ask tenants to pay landlords/utility companies; if they do not do so, the TRR program will pursue recapture if not used for the intended purposes. The TRR program reports to relevant federal and state authorities for misappropriation of funds—tenants who do not use the funds for the intended purposes and do not return the funds to the program.

Property owners, landlords and tenants may pursue small claims or circuit court to recapture misappropriated funds that were correctly disbursed by the TRR Program.

Landlords may call the program at 1-833-989-7368 to request proof of e-payment or check payment to a tenant. Any protected banking information, however, will be redacted.

Yes, landlords may receive payments via a check, though the payment process will be fastest and most secure via ACH/direct deposit. Please see our Payment Guide here for more information.

• If you are receiving funds via paper check: the check will be sent by mail via U.S. Postal Service. Once received, it must be immediately attributed to the rent and/or utility costs and months it was approved for. Failing to immediately deposit the check puts the payment at risk of being voided. As written on the check, the check is voided after 60 or 90 days from the date of issuance. This means that if not deposited or cashed within 60 or 90 days from the date of issuance, it is no longer valid and will not be allowed to be deposited or cashed.In scenarios where checks are uncashed, TRR will double check application records and reach out to the payee as necessary to gather and correct information to re-issue the check, but if the program is unable to identify the reason why the check is not cashed or not able to reach payee, TRR will take it as an indication that the household no longer needs the assistance, and use the funds for other eligible households.If you have a check that you are having an issue depositing, please call us at 1-833-989-7368 for assistance as soon as possible.
• If you are receiving funds via e-payment: the payment will be deposited to the banking account you provided to the program (via Bill.com if prior to January 1, 2023, and via the Neighborly portal January 1, 2023 and onward). Once received, it must be immediately attributed to the rent and/or utility costs and months it was approved for.

All TRRP-issued checks have a verification number listed on the face of the check to contact the program to verify the validity of checks before cashing or depositing. To verify a check, call the number listed and follow the verification steps requested by the program representative. They will be required to provide, at a minimum, the name on the check, Case ID-Payment ID (listed on the face of the check), the check issuance date, and the check amount.

Tenants and landlords with other questions about TRRP-issued checks should call the TRRP call center at 1-833-989-7368 for assistance. Please note that the TRRP call center is not able to verify paper checks for purposes of depositing or cashing the check and will direct callers to take the payment to their financial institution of choice.

TRRP seeks the participation of landlords so that they may receive assistance directly if possible. Most landlords participating in the TRR program do receive assistance directly.

However, paying landlords who participate in the program is not always feasible.

Timing does not always align for when the tenant and landlords each complete a separate application, when the tenant and landlord applications are associated within the system, and when the program establishes tenant eligibility and issues approval letters and assistance checks.

If the association between the tenant and landlord applications has not been successfully established by the time the program establishes tenant eligibility and the tenant application is approved for assistance, a tenant receives the payment and is responsible for using the assistance to pay their rental obligation to their landlord, as they have agreed to do in signing the program’s tenant certification.

There is no federal mandate that specifies rental assistance must be issued to a landlord. The program’s landlord certification, which all participating landlords must sign before submitting an application, does not guarantee that the payment will only be issued to the landlord.

As of January 1, 2023, Texas Rent Relief has a new payment process and will no longer be processing payments through Bill.com. If you have a pending application, please watch for texts, emails or phone calls from the program, as we will reach out if we need more information to process your application. Tenants and landlords will need to log into the Neighborly application portal and provide updated payment information. Click here for instructions.

Only TRR applicants who previously registered with Bill.com will continue to have access to their Bill.com transaction and account history. We recommend downloading all transaction and account history to keep on file for future reference.

No – TRR can only pay landlords directly if they have their own approved application with valid payment information and a signed certification. This rule is in place for two reasons:

1. There are program requirements outlined in the certification (such as agreeing not to evict for nonpayment during the time assistance is provided) that your landlord must agree to in order for the program to pay them directly, AND
2. Payment made directly to landlords counts as taxable income. There is information your landlord is required to provide to TRR for tax purposes if they are going to be paid directly.

The best way to ensure your landlord receives direct payment in the event you are approved for assistance, is to encourage your landlord to submit an application when invited to apply.

TRR will only pay rental assistance directly to tenants if their landlord does not participate or if their landlord’s information cannot be validated before the tenant’s application is approved for assistance.

You must enter your own payment information into your Payment Profile.

Only for landlords.

Yes.

Entities cannot submit duplicate payment requests for the same households or the same units for the same months. All entities submitting as landlords must provide all requested information related to banking information and ownership.

As part of the Program application, the landlord must submit the following documentation so we can confirm eligibility:

• Government-issued or personal ID (Only if individual/sole proprietor)
• Copy of lease agreement. If no written lease agreement: landlord attestation regarding term and amount of rent.
• Completed IRS Form W-9
• Know that as the landlord you will be asked to sign a certification available at TexasRentRelief.com

By signing the landlord certification, the landlord or property manager submitting the application attests to being either the property owner or an authorized property owner representative.

One email address per household is acceptable. Please be sure the email address you provide for a household is a correct, functioning email address that the tenant regularly checks. Entering incorrect email addresses will delay approval and payment of applications.

Tenants who do not have an email or access to the online application may contact the call center at 1-833-989-7368 to submit tenant account registrations over the phone and then submit the required documentation by postal mail. Alternatively, a completed hard copy of the application and documentation will be accepted by postal mail at the following address:

ATTN: Texas Rent Relief Program
PO Box 580314
Houston, TX 77258

A copy of the application is found here: https://texasrentrelief.com/forms-resources/

No, you do not need to provide your ID if representing a company. This requirement is for landlords who are sole proprietors.

Yes.

The landlord certification is an acknowledgement of what the landlord is agreeing to by accepting the funds. The Landlord Certification is available at TexasRentRelief.com.

All landlords participating in the TRR program are required to submit a signed Landlord Certification as part of their application. If a landlord does not submit a completed application (including a Landlord Certification), they will not be considered program participants and any rental assistance payments will be made directly to their tenant(s).

Each application requires household-specific information. Landlords may enter multiple tenants at one time for a property, but each household must submit all required documentation. If a tenant is unwilling to sign the application, assistance cannot be provided.

No, only one tenant application per unit should be submitted. Applicants can add additional adult household members and their income within the tenant application.

Yes. For tenants who want to participate in the TRRP but cannot complete the online application on their own, landlords or other trusted third parties may complete and submit a tenant application on their behalf. To do this, they should follow these steps:

1. Print a “Tenant Application and Certification” and “Tenant Checklist” both found in this page:
   https://texasrentrelief.com/forms-resources/
2. Gather checklist documents from the tenant.
3. Register in Neighborly.
4. Start a new application by selecting “Tenant: Rental & Utility Assistance”.
5. Make yourself a “user” on the tenant’s account.
6. Complete all sections.
7. On the Submit page, select “No” for the question “Is this being submitted by the primary applicant?”
8. Enter your relationship to the tenant applicant and upload the signed certification.
9. Sign as “Authorized Signature,” date the application, and submit.

No. Landlords are encouraged to start a tenant’s request in the system so that it is clearly and correctly correlated with the property and landlord. The system will then send an email to the tenant asking them to provide any missing documentation, including income documentation, and electronically sign the application.

For tenants without an email address, landlords can print the application form, obtain a physical signature, and upload the application and related income documents on the tenant’s behalf. If needed, a program representative will contact tenants to assist with gathering necessary information and documents to complete the tenant profile. Alternatively, a landlord or property manager may work with a tenant to create an account and complete the online application on behalf of the tenant.

A tenant may also apply on their own, without the assistance of the landlord, in which case the landlord will be notified and asked to participate. A tenant electing to apply directly does not remove the program’s obligation to still seek to pay the landlord first.

If a tenant is unwilling to sign the application, assistance cannot be provided.

For details, please watch the video “Landlord Assistance with a Tenant Application Tutorial” found on this webpage: https://texasrentrelief.com/forms-resources.

Unfortunately, if a tenant is unwilling to sign the application, assistance cannot be provided.

Unfortunately, if a tenant is unwilling to sign the application, assistance cannot be provided.

No. The program requires that the tenant provide their permission, receive current/forward rent on the unit , and indicate that the unit is currently the Tenant’s primary residence.

Any separately submitted applications will be joined in the system and the earlier date and time stamp will be maintained. Any application submitted by a tenant will still have the landlord notified at least three (3) times in five (5) days if notified by email, phone or text (or after 7 days if notified by regular mail) prior to any payment to a tenant occurring.

The full tenant application and household certification will be available from the “Program Documents” side bar within the application so that the landlord can print required documents and obtain a wet signature if needed. Alternatively, a landlord or property manager may work with a tenant to create an account and complete the online application on behalf of the tenant.

Tenant applications must be associated with a landlord application for the landlord to be paid rent assistance. If you log into your landlord application and do not see the tenants who applied listing you as their landlord, please contact 1-833-989-7368 for assistance linking applications. Have the landlord and tenant application IDs ready to provide to the customer service representative.

Applicants can apply for past due rent plus up to three months of current and future rent and can submit an “Additional Funding Request” after receiving assistance if funds are still available. Tenants can apply for three months of current and future rent payments as long as the cap of 18 months is not exceeded.

Program funds may be used to provide up to eighteen (18) months of assistance for the following expenses:

• rent, past due rent and reasonable late fees (stemming from non-payment of rent),
• utilities and home energy costs, and
• past due utility and home energy costs

While applicants may be assisted for up to 18 months, the Program will not commit funds for current and future rent for more than a 3-month period at a time. Each calendar month in which a tenant household receives assistance from TRRP will count toward the 18-month limit on assistance, regardless of the type of assistance provided.

Rent and utility expenses are eligible for assistance starting March 13, 2020 (the date of Governor Abbott’s emergency declaration for Texas). Prorated requests for March 2020 are allowed.

Assistance may be provided for current and future rent even if a household has no arrears. In cases where the applicant has not submitted a past-due rent notice, they would qualify by answering yes to the application question related to needing to move into unsafe/unhealthy conditions if not assisted and be otherwise eligible.

Yes, they can still apply. If a tenant never signed a lease, the landlord must provide an attestation regarding the term and amount of rent, OR if a landlord is not willing to attest, then a tenant must provide a rent receipt for the three most recent complete months paid by or benefiting the tenant. If a tenant had a lease that is now expired and they are living in the unit on a month-to-month basis, a lease indicating that tenant’s default to month-to-month is required, and the landlord must provide an attestation regarding the amount of monthly rent.

Rent for any months covered under a month-to-month provision must be equal to or less than the monthly amount for the expired or expiring lease or agreement. The landlord cannot end the lease or increase the price of rent during the period of assistance.

Please refer to the Required Documents Checklist document posted at https://texasrentrelief.com/forms-resources/ for a list of documents landlords need to apply for the program.

Prorated requests are allowed.

For example, if the rent for March 2020 was $800, divide $800 by the number of days in March (31) to determine the daily rate. In this case the daily rate is $25.81 per day. Multiply the daily rate by the number of days in March that are eligible under the program, in this case 19 days. In this example a total of $490.39 is eligible for assistance for March 2020.

No, but they must be able to provide a government issued or personal ID. Acceptable forms of ID include but are not limited to a driver’s license, state identification card, voter registration card, school registration form, library card, passport, student ID, social security card, military ID, naturalization certificate, lawful permanent residency card, or employment authorization document.

If the expense is in the rent amount in the lease, it can be requested. If the expense is a separate fee or penalty, it is not eligible.

All late fees stemming from non-payment of rent, not exceeding allowable amounts in the lease, and no older than March 13, 2020 may be requested on the application. Late fees must be compliant with all applicable laws and regulations. Landlords must attest that late fees are lawful pursuant to Texas Property Code § 92.019. Tenants and landlords are encouraged to request all late fees in their application. If late fees are not included in the application and the rent assistance is paid directly to the landlord, the Landlord agrees to waive the late fees and TRRP will not pay remaining fees at a later date, pursuant to the terms of participation as outlined in the Landlord Certification.

Court fees cannot be included in the request for assistance.

If the rent amount includes some utilities or internet access, the full amount of rent can still be requested and paid through the program.

Tenant applications must be associated with a landlord application for the landlord to be paid rent assistance. If you log into your landlord application and do not see the tenants who applied listing you as their landlord, please contact 1-833-989-7368 for assistance linking your landlord application with your tenant(s). Please have the landlord and tenant case IDs ready to provide to the customer service representative.

When setting up a landlord profile, landlords are asked to agree to this requirement. The certification requires that if such duplicate payments occur, landlords repay the program for the duplicated payment within 10 days.

Duplication of benefits means being paid more than one time for the same expense.

TDHCA is not denying applicants the opportunity to apply in parts of the state where other programs are operating because there is such a significant need for assistance. Applicants can apply to the Texas Rent Relief Program, to local programs, or to both. Applicants will be asked if they have received other assistance as part of the application.

If approved by multiple programs, applicants cannot accept assistance from multiple programs for the same months for the full amount of rent. However, they can use both programs for different months of assistance or for partial assistance not exceeding the full rent amount.

Landlords should ensure they do not accept payment more than once per unit for covered months. Other entities whose funds are considered a duplication of benefits include city or county funds, other federal or state funds, and funds from nonprofits or churches. TDHCA is working with local entities to identify all instances of duplication of benefits.

Example 1: A household has monthly rent of $750, and received $250 of rent assistance from a local church. The Texas Rent Relief Program can pay for the remaining $500 of rent not covered by the other provider.

Example 2: A tenant or landlord receives a full rent payment from a local rental assistance program for December 2020 and January 2021, then also receives payment for those months from the Texas Rent Relief program. In this case a duplication of benefits has occurred. Whoever received the duplicate payment must repay the Texas Rent Relief program (or the other program).

Yes, if the FEMA Individual Assistance is for the same period of time and the same expenses covered by the TRR Program it would qualify as a duplication of benefits.

Yes. Landlords are not required to participate in the program. Note that tenants can still apply for assistance, and if approved for assistance the program would first contact the landlord to seek their participation in the program. If the landlord does not want to participate, the payment will then go to the tenant.

All legal recourse related to whether a tenant is evicted will occur through the J.P. court or County Court at Law in a proceeding to which TDHCA is not a party. The Texas State Law Library has the following resources regarding the functioning of J.P. courts (https://guides.sll.texas.gov/small-claims) and the Texas Supreme Court currently has an Emergency Order that offers some protections against eviction under certain circumstances (https://www.txcourts.gov/media/1453714/229015.pdf). We encourage tenants to visit https://texaslawhelp.org/eviction-referral or call 855-270-7655 for help understanding their options and seeking free or low-cost legal assistance.

No, receiving program assistance does not require that leases must be extended beyond the month for which the current or future assistance is provided. If assistance is accepted for future months, the landlord must continue the lease for the months assisted or return the prospective amounts to the program.

Yes, the program can provide assistance for rent of a manufactured home and/or the rent of the land. The amount of rental assistance per month requested may not exceed $4,600.

Yes, Section 8 and Public Housing recipients may be eligible for assistance with the tenant-paid portion of their rent and utility costs effective April 21, 2021.

Yes. The program is not limited to affordable properties. Rents may not exceed $4,600 per month. Units that exceed $4,600 per month are not eligible for assistance from the Texas Rent Relief Program. Landlords and tenants in such cases should look at other rental assistance programs.

The program is not for dormitories or room rentals, but may be used for housing that is primarily occupied by students, where the student is on the lease. The student must meet all program eligibility requirements.

The A toolkit of flyers that can be printed and handed out to tenants or shared on social media is available under Forms and Resources.

Texas Rent Relief must be notified of ownership changes to change the landlord tied to any existing tenant application. The new owner must submit a Texas Rent Relief landlord application by calling us at 1-833-9TX-RENT (1-833-989-7368) Monday – Saturday – 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. The Texas Rent Relief representative will assist the new owner to complete a landlord application and submit a request for the tenant’s application to be transferred. This process will require verification of the change in ownership.

As outlined in the TRR Landlord Certification, to terminate participation in the TRR Program a Landlord must notify the program by calling 1-833-989-7368 from Monday to Saturday, 8 a.m. – 6p.m. CST.

Be ready to provide your name, your Landlord case ID, and the Tenant name(s), Tenant Case ID(s) and contact information for any tenant(s)’ applications for which you are withdrawing/terminating/’opting out’ of. If you were participating in the Texas Eviction Diversion Program, you must also immediately inform the relevant eviction or appeals court.

Be advised that if the tenant qualifies for TRR rent assistance, TRR will initiate payment to the tenant directly when a Landlord terminates their participation.

If a Landlord accepts payment from the TRR program either via ACH deposit or paper check deposit, they have agreed to and are bound by the terms of the Landlord Certification. A Landlord cannot withdraw/terminate/‘opt out’ of participation in that tenant’s application after accepting payment. If the landlord wants to withdraw/terminate/‘opt-out’ their participation in any future assistance requests from the tenant they must do so by calling 1-833-989-7368 from Monday to Saturday, 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Application review time may vary significantly depending on application completeness and how quickly any missing documentation is received.

You may apply for back rent, current month and the prospective two future months in your initial application.

The request for initial assistance is separate from your Additional Funding Request (AFR). When seeking additional funds, an application must undergo the AFR process of review. This is a separate determination from your initial/first determination.

Prior to November 5, 2021, applicants were eligible to apply for additional assistance as long as the total number of months of rental and utility assistance they had received has not reached the program limit of 18 months, regardless of the type of assistance provided.

The Texas Rent Relief application portal closed to new applications and additional funding requests on November 5, 2021.

No, whether you moved to a new complex, rental home, or another unit within your initial apartment complex you will continue to use the same Case ID number, login and password you used for your first application. Within the “Additional Funding Requests” (AFR) application, you will be prompted to provide your new address, a copy of your new lease, and your new landlord’s contact information.

Program representatives are prepared to submit tenant account registrations over the phone. As part of this process, they will provide the following addresses to applicants to submit documentation by postal mail to P.O. Box 580314, Houston, TX 77258. Applicants who have the option to apply online are encouraged to do so since it is typically a faster process.

Tenants applying during the March 14-16, 2023 application period should consider the following:

• Applicants with access to a computer, tablet or phone are encouraged to submit their application online.
• Applicants who don’t have access to the internet can complete the application by phone and mail, first by calling the call center to complete the application, and then by mailing all required documentation. All required documentation must by March 16, 2023 11:59 am.
• Applications processed by phone and mail will take longer than those submitted online. Because applications will be processed in the order they are received, applicants submitting documentation by mail are encouraged to do so as soon as possible.
• Applications may also be delayed if applicants submit incomplete applications or are not responsive to additional requests for information. To avoid delays, we strongly recommend applicants complete all required fields, upload or mail all required documents, and respond promptly to any email, phone or text message from the program.

Applications are processed on a first come, first served basis.

A tenant may apply on their own, without the assistance of the landlord, in which case the landlord will be notified and asked to participate. A tenant electing to apply directly does not remove the program’s obligation to still seek to pay the landlord first.

The landlord is encouraged to start a tenant’s request in the system so that it is clearly and correctly correlated with the property and landlord. The system will then send an email to the tenant asking them to provide any missing documentation, including income documentation, and electronically sign the application.

For tenants without an email address, landlords can print the application form, obtain a physical signature, and upload the application and related income documents on the tenant’s behalf. If needed, a program representative will contact tenants to assist with gathering necessary information and documents to complete the tenant profile.

Apply using the tenant application only. Do not try to apply as a landlord.

You can still apply directly. A tenant may apply on their own, without the assistance of the landlord, in which case the landlord will be notified and asked to participate. A tenant electing to apply directly does not remove the program’s obligation to still seek to pay the landlord first.

You can review a checklist with all documents needed to apply on the Forms and Resources page on the Texas Rent Relief page.

Applicants will be contacted for any missing documents or information. If contact by phone is unsuccessful, the applicant will be notified by email. If the applicant does not provide the required documentation within 21 days, the application will be denied.

If your payment request is visible on your dashboard, you will not lose your place as we gather necessary documentation from you.

Documentation is not required to prove a loss of job or unemployment insurance eligibility if applicants attest to the financial hardship criteria stated by the TRRP. If applicable, applicants will confirm they have qualified for benefits by answering a related application question and certifying such information is true and accurate in the certification section of application.

Tenant does not need documentation for rent arrears; the attestation that is built into the application will suffice.

While income documentation is required for all individuals on a lease, if the household is eligible, the physical presence of all listed leaseholders in the unit is not required, although some household members must still reside there. The tenant can indicate in the application if someone listed on the lease is no longer a household member residing in the unit, in which case their income would not be included in the household calculation.

When a tenant submits an application, they sign an attestation which includes a statement that they meet the COVID-19 impact eligibility requirement.

Applications will be processed most efficiently when all landlord information is included. Including inaccurate or false information is not allowed, will slow application processing and likely lead to application denial. Tenants must contact their landlord and obtain the needed information, or they may use landlord information found within their lease.

If the application is in process, the tenant may contact the call center at 1-833-989-7368 to reopen the appropriate sections of the application to include the missed assistance and upload the required documentation. Tenants and landlords are encouraged to request all late fees in their application. If late fees are not included in the application and the rent assistance is paid directly to the landlord, the Landlord agrees to waive the late fees and TRRP will not pay remaining fees at a later date, pursuant to the terms of participation as outlined in the Landlord Certification.

If payment has already been received and the applicant has not surpassed the 18 months of assistance program limit, the applicant will be invited to submit an additional funding request. In the additional funding request, any eligible amounts for past due utilities or rent that were not included on the original application may be included.

The lease is requested on both the tenant and landlord application to establish the applicant’s primary residence, renter status, relationship with the landlord, and as verification of the rent expenses.

In the absence of a signed lease, the applicant must provide evidence of the three most recent complete months paid by the tenant to establish a pattern of paying rent through bank statements, check stubs, or rent receipts from landlord.

In the absence of a signed lease or evidence of the three most recent complete months paid by the tenant, the participating landlord that has submitted a profile in the system may also attest to the lease dates, monthly rent amount, and past due rent in the landlord application.

After a tenant receives initial program assistance, a tenant can apply for an additional funding request at any time after receiving an initial email invitation.

Yes. If applicants include a court case for an eviction and provide the docket, precinct and county information in the additional funding request, their application will be prioritized.

An application can be withdrawn if it has not yet been approved or denied. To withdraw an application, contact the call center at 1-833-989-7368 and provide your name and case ID. If you were participating in the Texas Eviction Diversion Program, you must also inform the relevant eviction or appeals court.

Income for all household members 18 years of age or older will be considered when calculating annual household income.

A household is defined as all persons occupying the same housing unit, regardless of their relationship to each other. The occupants could consist of a single family, two or more families living together, or any other group of related or unrelated people who share living arrangements.

Household income will be calculated based on the adjusted gross income as defined for purposes of reporting under Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Form 1040 series for individual Federal annual income tax purposes. Income reported for 30 days will be annualized based upon the provided 30 day documentation. When determining the number of household members and annual household income, keep in mind:

• Minor children are considered household members. Earned income of minor children is not considered as part of total annual household income.
• Minor children who are subject to shared custody agreements may be counted as household members if the minor child lives in the residence at least 50% of the time.
• Temporarily absent family members are considered household members and their income is considered in calculation of household income, regardless of how much the temporarily absent family member contributes to the household.
• Paid, non-related, live-in aides, whether paid by the family or through a social service program, are not considered household members. Income of live-in aides is not considered in the calculation of household income. Related persons do not qualify as live-in aides.
• Permanently absent family members, such as a spouse who resides permanently in a nursing home, may be considered a household member, at the discretion of the head of household/program applicant. If the head of household opts to include a permanently absent family member in the household, the income of the permanently absent household member will be counted in the calculation of annual household income. If the head of household chooses not to include the permanently absent family member as part of the household, the income of the permanently absent family member will not be considered in the calculation of annual household income.

Applicants can use either their total 2020 annual income or their most recent 30 days of income. Income provided for the 30 days is annualized, based upon the frequency of pay (hourly, weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly) for those 30 days. If using the most recent 30 days of income, any reapplication for funds must include a resubmission of income documentation. If using total 2020 income, no income documentation is required if reapplying for additional assistance.

AMI is Area Median Income, which is used to establish the income limits for program eligibility. AMI is based upon the median income for the county in which you reside and your household size. You can look what falls within the program guidelines of 0-80% AMI here: Area Median Income (AMI).

No. Certification is required, and auditing will be performed to identify fraud.

All applicants, regardless of unemployment status, must be at or below 80 percent AMI. If a household’s annual income from their 2020 W-2 forms exceeds 80 percent AMI, the household may still meet the income test based on the past 30 days. If the last 30 days show an income below 80% AMI, the household meets the requirement for income eligibility. Income documentation for the past 30 days is required to meet this criteria.

All applicants, regardless of unemployment status, must be at or below 80 percent AMI. If a household’s annual income from their 2020 W-2 forms exceeds 80 percent AMI, the household may still meet the income test based on the past 30 days. If the last 30 days show an income below 80% AMI, the household meets the requirement for income eligibility. Income documentation for the past 30 days is required to meet this criteria.

Yes. The requirement is that a household has been impacted by the pandemic directly or indirectly and has experienced a reduction in income, incurred significant costs, or experienced other financial hardship.

Yes. You must meet all eligibility requirements.

The program will look at your 2020 tax return, regardless of how you calculated income.

All applicants, regardless of unemployment status, must be at or below 80 percent AMI. If a household’s annual income from their 2020 W-2 forms exceeds 80 percent AMI, the household may still meet the income test based on the past 30 days. If the last 30 days show an income below 80% AMI, the household meets the requirement for income eligibility. Income documentation for the past 30 days is required to meet this criteria.

As many as needed to provide a full picture of the household’s income.

Applicants facing eviction can certify that their household income is below the program limit. No additional income documentation is required.

It may, depending on your which benefits you are receiving:

• Households with 6 or fewer members may provide documentation dated on or after January 1, 2020 showing that the household receives benefits from one of the following programs:
  • Head Start, LIHEAP/CEAP utility assistance, or SNAP
  • SSI, TANF, or Tribal TANF for head of household
  • VA Disability Pension, Survivor Pension, Enhanced Survivor Benefits, or Section 306 disability pension (not standard VA pension)
• Households with 3 or fewer members may provide documentation dated on or after January 1, 2020 showing that the household receives benefits from WIC
• If a household is living in a rent-restricted property or receiving tenant-based rental assistance (such as a Housing Choice Voucher), the tenant or landlord can provide evidence of the household’s most recent tenant income certification (TIC) as long as it is no older than one year from when they apply for assistance.

In addition to providing one of the documents from the list above, the household must certify that their income does not exceed 80% of AMI at the time of application.

Households in an affordable property can use a TIC as their income documentation if:

• The TIC is less than one year old at the time of application, AND
• The household certifies that their income does not exceed 80% of AMI at the time of application.

No. Falsification of documents is subject to criminal penalties.

An Income Certification for Self-Employment or Zero Income or Cash Income is required. The certification is available online and is integrated into the online application.

The program will pay rental assistance to your landlord on your behalf via an ACH deposit, unless the landlord does not agree to participate in the program. The program will make 3 attempts via email, text, and/or phone to the landlord over 5 days, before making payments directly to a tenant. Payments to tenants, once approved, will be issued via check mailed to the home address provided in your application. Once your check is issued, it will be delivered within 7-10 business days.

Starting Oct. 10, 2022, all utility assistance payments are issued directly to the tenant in the form of a mailed physical check, to ensure timely and accurate utility assistance payments. The tenant is expected to pay the utility provider on their own behalf, per program rules.

A TRRP payment process guide is available here.

Assistance provided to a household from the Texas Rent Relief Program shall not be regarded as income and shall not be regarded as a resource for purposes of determining the eligibility of the household or any member of the household for benefits or assistance, or the amount or extent of benefits or assistance, under any Federal program or under any State or local program financed in whole or in part with Federal funds.

No. As long as no duplicate assistance is received, this is not a loan and requires no repayment.

If you are requesting rental assistance and your rent exceeds $4,600, you will not be eligible for rent assistance. However, if you are only requesting utility assistance and your rent exceeds the limit, you can seek utility assistance.

Yes. Utility or home energy costs are eligible, even if you do not apply for rent assistance.

Yes. Whether applying online or over the phone, there is an opportunity to request utility assistance in addition to rent.

Eligible utilities include electricity, gas, water and sewer, trash removal and energy costs, such as fuel oil. Telecommunication services, such as telephone, cable, and internet service costs are NOT eligible for assistance, except that if Internet is a fee noted in the lease, the program will allow a request for internet payment as an allowable fee.

No. Only those who rent their homes are eligible.

The Federal Housing Finance Agency provides resources for homeowners who may need help with their mortgage payments or utility bills.

You may be eligible for assistance if you are living in a hotel or motel and meet all other program eligibility requirements. You must provide a written lease or proof of your three most recent complete payments to the hotel, or your landlord (in this case, the hotel/motel) must attest to your expenses. A month-to-month agreement with verbal or written confirmation of continued residency from hotel/motel management is acceptable for a tenant to receive assistance for past-due and current months.

Without a signed lease, tenants in hotels/motels are not eligible for assistance for future months. However, they may be eligible for the maximum amount of assistance for past-due months and the current month.

All rental units are allowed.

The assistance you request must be for the unit you currently occupy. There is no requirement for the length of stay in a rental unit to be eligible to receive assistance.

Yes. If you already applied for assistance through the Texas Rent Relief program and your landlord has since filed for eviction, your application may be prioritized through the Texas Eviction Diversion Program. To be prioritized, contact our call center 1-833-989-7363 and provide the following important information: Court Docket Number, Justice of the Peace precinct and county of the court. Your application will be prioritized, and once we begin reviewing your application, our team may contact you if we have questions or need more information.

Landlords cannot receive TRRP funds for rent and then pursue eviction related to the time period covered by TRRP funds, except for actions or breaches of the lease that are related to criminal activity, property damage or physical harm to others. The terms of participation in the Texas Rent Relief Program are outlined in the Landlord Certification available here: https://texasrentrelief.com/forms-resources/

In general, when a participant suspects fraud, waste or abuse (including breaking the expectations of the TRR Landlord or Tenant Certification), TRRP encourages them to report it the program at (833) 61-FRAUD or (833) 613-7283. If a landlord has accepted funds without following the terms of the certifications, the TRR program will investigate and in some cases seek to recoup funds.

Attorneys can help you understand your rights when you are facing eviction. Visit https://stoptxeviction.org, https://texaslawhelp.org/, or call 855-270-7655 (Texas Legal Services Center) for help understanding your options and seeking free or low-cost legal assistance.

All legal recourse related to whether a tenant is evicted will occur through the J.P. court or County Court at Law in a proceeding to which TDHCA is not a party. The Texas State Law Library has the following resources regarding the functioning of J.P. courts (https://guides.sll.texas.gov/small-claims) and the Texas Supreme Court currently has an Emergency Order that offers some protections against eviction under certain circumstances (https://www.txcourts.gov/media/1453714/229015.pdf). We encourage tenants to visit https://texaslawhelp.org/eviction-referral or call 855-270-7655 for help understanding their options and seeking free or low-cost legal assistance.

No. If the landlord does not participate in the program, the program cannot require that the landlord waive fees or stop eviction cases already in progress.

You can find a copy of the Tenant Certification (PDF) on the Forms & Resources page.

No. TRRP funds cannot to pay for relocation expenses like security deposits or moving expenses.

No. If you move after you submit an application and would like to request rent or utility assistance for the new unit you have relocated to, you may submit an additional funding request with the information on the new unit and lease once you receive an invitation to apply for additional funding.

We highly encourage communication between the landlord and tenant in this scenario, because payment may only be used for the approved months and amounts on the unit listed on the application. If the landlord refuses the payment, the tenant cannot pay for relocation expenses, like security deposits or moving expenses; they must return the payment to the TRR.

Yes, applicants may request the current month and up to two months of future assistance. In most cases, the amount approved for future months of utility assistance will be based on the current month’s bill amount.

Yes. If TRRP has approved you for utility assistance and you have since switched utility companies, you may use the funds to cover your arrears balance to the previous utility company you listed on the TRRP application and then return the remainder of the funds to TRRP.

Applicants may log in and directly monitor their status through the portal 24/7: https://hornellp-tx.neighborlysoftware.com/texasrentrelief/Participant.

Applicants and utility companies may call to check an application status 1-833-9TX-RENT (1-833-989-7368) Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. CST.

Once an applicant has received an approval email, this may be used to demonstrate to the utility company that payment is expected within 7-14 days.

For additional documentation requests, please call the program at 1-833-9TX-RENT (1-833-989-7368) and be ready to provide your tenant Case ID.

No. Applicants have to be renting to be eligible for the TRRP. The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) has several other available programs that may cover mortgage and utilities. Available programs can be identified by county through the TDHCA website.

Additional Funding Requests (AFR) are put in line for review, as of the date of the submission, along with submitted initial applications. Given the high volume of applications currently under review, it may take several months for the review. Remember when you are tasked with providing missing information, once you upload the requested information/document, to select “Submit” for your information to be received. We recommend that you keep your landlord informed of requested information and status updates.

For alternative assistance options, visit the Help for Texans webpage, this Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) rental assistance search tool, or call 2-1-1 Texas for information on organizations that are helping Texans with emergency rent and utility assistance. You may also reach out to your local public housing authority(ies) or city or county to know what other assistance is available.

If your application is approved, provide your utility provider with your approval email notification for them to delay disconnection pending payment.

If your application has not been approved, and you are in urgent need of electric, gas or propane assistance, use this link: https://www.tdhca.state.tx.us/texans.htm to find TDHCA’s Comprehensive Energy Assistance Program provider for your area. Select “Utility Bill Payment Help” and enter in your city or county.

The tenant must have moved out of the unit voluntarily or the lease have reached its end with the landlord electing to not renew to be able to apply for arrear assistance.

TRRP cannot pay for arrears if the tenant moved out of unit where they are requesting arrears assistance after receiving an eviction judgment or writ of possession.

No. Utility providers will not necessarily be aware of a pending application.

No. Tenants may request late fees and/or disconnect fees as part of their utility arrears.

If a landlord is assisting a household with their application, the landlord can also make the request for utilities assistance, provided that all required documentation is provided and the tenant is aware that the request is being submitted. Starting October 10, 2022, all utility assistance payments are issued directly to the tenant.

No. Starting on October 10, 2022, utility providers cannot register to directly receive payments from TRR.

Starting on October 10, 2022, all utility assistance payments are issued directly to tenants to ensure timely and accurate utility assistance payments. The tenant is then expected to pay the utility provider on their own behalf, per program rules.

Prior to October 10, 2022, utility providers were contacted by the program to provide banking information, an EIN, an email address, and a utility provider certification to be considered to receive direct payments from TRR.

As of October 10, 2022 TRRP is no longer accepting Utility Vendor Certification Forms.

You can find an example of the previously used Utility Vendor Certification Form on the Forms & Resources page.

To ensure timely and accurate utility assistance payments, starting on October 10, 2022, all utility assistance payments are issued directly to tenants. The tenant is then expected to pay the utility provider on their own behalf, per program rules.

Tenants must sign a Tenant Certification and attest to non-duplication of assistance. The certification requires that if such duplicate payments occur, the Tenant repay the program for the duplicated payment within 10 days.

TDHCA realizes that a Utility Provider may not always know they have received duplicate payment before it happens.

No. No reporting is required from the utility vendor.

As of October 10, 2022 TRRP is no longer accepting Utility Vendor Certifications.

Prior to October 10, 2022 utility providers were asked to agree to a utility vendor certification. The certification required that if such duplicate payments occurred, utility providers repay the program for the duplicated payment within 30 days. An example of the previously used utility vendor certification can be found on the Forms & Resources page.

The Texas Eviction Diversion Program (TEDP) was created by the Supreme Court of Texas, Texas Office of Court Administration, and TDHCA to help eligible tenants stay in their homes and provide landlords with an alternative to eviction. A portion of the Texas Rent Relief Program funds are reserved for this activity.

The TEDP uses a special court process that allows courts to put eviction lawsuits on hold and divert them to the TEDP. Both the tenant and the landlord must agree to participate and meet the requirements. Lump sum payments are made to landlords in exchange for allowing tenants to remain in their homes, and diverted cases are dismissed and made confidential from public disclosure.

The landlord and tenant need to apply to the program on their own through the website.

Because the TRRP submission, review and payment process is not immediate, and applications are reviewed in the order they are received, we highly recommend that tenants submit their rent assistance application as soon as they identify the need for assistance, prior to an eviction hearing. The court will also discuss the Texas Eviction Diversion Program and TRRP rent assistance during the hearing and refer tenant and landlord to apply.

Both the tenant and landlord must apply through the TexasRentRelief.com or 1-833-989-7368, and the tenant will include the court docket number, and court precinct number and county on the tenant portion of the application.

More information about the eviction court process is available on the Texas Judicial Branch website is found here: https://www.txcourts.gov/programs-services/eviction-diversion-program and by calling 855-270-7655 (Texas Legal Services Center).

The application process can be started by either the landlord or the tenant. Apply at TexasRentRelief.com. There is a section in the tenant application where an applicant who is undergoing eviction proceedings can provide their case information, including court docket number, Justice of the Peace Precinct number and County. Entry of the court docket number places the applicant’s case in the TEDP set-aside.

Eviction diversion applications will be first prioritized for review.

No.

The eviction diversion program is now available statewide in all 254 counties. Any prior distinction is no longer applicable.

All individuals under eviction proceedings with a local court should apply through the statewide program at TexasRentRelief.com. All eviction citations will include a statement about TEDP and the program brochure. At the hearing, the Justice of the Peace will discuss the Texas Eviction Diversion Program with the landlord and tenant. Both the landlord and tenant must agree for the eviction to be diverted. Note, however, that the tenant can still apply for assistance.

TDHCA cannot give guidance relating to the legal steps a landlord may elect to take with their tenants. If you proceed with filing the eviction with the court, and the tenant subsequently applies for the program and gets approved but you still choose to evict, you may not accept the funds. Tenants may request assistance for the current month and two future months. The tenant may not be evicted during months in which a landlord accepts assistance.

A landlord may not evict while also receiving assistance for the household from the Texas Rent Relief Program. TDHCA cannot give legal guidance on whether a landlord can or cannot evict a tenant with a CDC declaration, nor can TDHCA tell a landlord whether they can evict if the lease is up.

TDHCA cannot give guidance relating to the legal steps a landlord may elect to take with their tenants. Please note that Texas Rent Relief Program can pay for up to 15 months of back rent, so long as the request is not for rent that pre-dates March 13, 2020 and it meets all other eligibility criteria.

The program may share a copy of the tenant, landlord or utility provider certification; the months/amounts/types of assistance that has been approved; and proof of payment via check or ACH (if applicable, with banking information redacted) with the tenant applicant, a user approved by the tenant, an associated landlord or utility provider. To share any application information with anyone outside of these parties, including attorneys, TRRP must first have a release of information signed by the party within the application period.

To request such documentation, contact the Call Center at 1-833-989-7368. Given the volume of requests, it may take a week or so to receive the documents.

For any applicant with a pending TRR application who is now facing eviction and has a court docket number, we recommend you call the TRR contact center at 833-989-7368 to update your pending application. Applications from tenants who have been sued for eviction are a priority group for review. These applications are being prioritized to decrease processing time and increase the likelihood of evictions being diverted.

If you/your landlord have not received any assistance payment by your eviction court date, we highly encourage you to attend your eviction hearing and let the judge know you are seeking rent assistance. If you do not, you will lose the chance to tell your side of the case.

YES. If you/your landlord have not received any assistance payment by your eviction court date, we highly encourage you to attend your eviction hearing. If you do not, you will lose the chance to tell your side of the case.

At the hearing, explain to the judge and your landlord that you are interested in participating in the Texas Eviction Diversion Program and having your case delayed while you pursue the rent assistance. Learn more about how that works here: https://texasrentrelief.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/TRR-Eviction-Diversion-Program.pdf.

Attorneys can help you understand your rights when you are facing eviction. Visit https://stoptxeviction.org, https://texaslawhelp.org/, or call 855-270-7655 (Texas Legal Services Center) for help understanding your options and seeking free or low-cost legal assistance.

Yes. In general, a tenant who has received a TRRP rent payment directly must then directly pay their landlord, but if the tenant is appealing an eviction, they may pay that rent payment into a justice court or county court registry. Because the TRRP submission, review and payment process is not immediate, and applications are reviewed in the order they are received, we highly recommend that tenants submit their application as soon as they identify the need for assistance, prior to an eviction hearing.

Legal fees or court fees, however, are not eligible uses of TRRP rent payments.

The Texas Rent Relief Program cannot give legal advice. Any concerns about non-compliance with the Texas Supreme Court orders should be elevated to the Office of Court Administration.

The Texas Eviction Diversion Program is administered in partnership between the Texas Rent Relief Program and the Texas Courts. Funding available through the Texas Rent Relief Program for participants in the Texas Eviction Diversion Program will remain available until all funds are expended. Information related to the Texas Supreme Court Emergency Orders related to the Texas Eviction Diversion Program may be found here: https://www.txcourts.gov/programs-services/eviction-diversion-program/.

TRR cannot provide legal assistance to applicants facing eviction, but there are legal aid organizations available in all parts of Texas that provide free civil legal services to eligible households experiencing housing insecurity, including:

• Housing stability clinics to assist COVID-impacted low-income households with legal advice
• Legal information and representation for low-income households in COVID-related eviction proceedings in Justice of the Peace and County Courts for eviction appellate matters

To access legal help with COVID-related housing issues and find a legal aid organization in your area, visit: https://texaslawhelp.org/eviction-referral.

Print tenant flyers from the tool kit on the website. Tell clients about the program. If clients do not have access to a computer or phone, offer them computer access. If they are not sure of the documentation requirements, help them be sure they have the needed documents (for income, their lease, etc.).

The Texas Rent Relief Program is operated entirely by the state with no local subrecipients. Applicants apply directly to the statewide program at TexasRentRelief.com or by phone at 1-833-9TX-RENT.

At this time, the bill authorizing these funds and subsequent guidance from the U.S. Department of the Treasury require the following information be gathered. TDHCA is expected to report quarterly.

Data to be collected about the program:

• the number of applications received;
• the number of eligible households that receive assistance from such payments;
• the acceptance rate of applicants for assistance;
• the type or types of assistance provided to each eligible household;
• the average amount of funding provided per eligible household receiving assistance;
• household income levels served broken down by income brackets; and
• the average number of monthly rental or utility payments that were covered by the funding amount that a household received, as applicable

Data to be collected about each household:

• Address of the rental unit

Following data to be collected as an aggregate of all households:

• Name, address, social security number, tax identification number or DUNS number, as applicable, for landlord and utility provider,
• Amount and percentage of monthly rent covered by ERA assistance,
• Amount and percentage of separately-stated utility and home energy costs covered by ERA assistance,
• Total amount of each type of assistance (i.e., rent, rental arrears, utilities and home energy costs, utilities and home energy costs arrears) provided to each household,
• Number of months of rental payments and utility or home energy cost payments for which ERA assistance is provided,
• Household income and number of individuals in the household, and
• Gender, race, and ethnicity for the primary applicant for assistance.

Program performance data will be available on the Texas Rent Relief and TDHCA websites.

Chrome and Firefox are the recommended browsers.

If you are unable to access your account or are having trouble with the online application, please call us toll-free at 833-9TX-RENT (833-989-7368), Monday-Saturday, 8 a.m.-6 p.m.

We are upgrading the system to ensure tenants can invite landlords and for tenant/landlord pairing. All existing applicants will be transferred to the new system. It may not be until that time that a tenant and landlord can be paired together.

No. While a tenant or landlord can elect to no longer participate, there is no way to remove an invitation once sent.

Yes. Both tenants and landlords must create their own unique logins and passwords.

Both landlords and tenants will be able to track the status of an application.

No, to ensure the security of applicants’ information, TRRP is not accepting applications via email. Tenants who are unable to access the online application may call the call center to submit tenant account registrations over the phone. As part of this process, documentation will be accepted by postal mail at the following address:

ATTN: Texas Rent Relief Program
PO Box 580314
Houston, TX 77258

You will see these various status statements during the process:

• Application in Progress- not complete
• Application Submitted- received for review
• Application Under Review
• Pending Applicant Information
• Withdrawn
• Approved: Pending Landlord- email/call/phone contact regarding landlord participation
• Approved: Pending Payment
• Denied
• Paid
• Recertification Submitted

Yes. While corresponding tenant and landlord applications are linked in the system in order to be reviewed together, they are two separate applications and no tenant information beyond what is listed in the lease (e.g., the tenant’s name and address) will be shared with the landlord.

If you need to make account, profile, or payment request changes, please call toll-free at 833-9TX-RENT (833-989-7368), Monday-Saturday, 8 a.m.-6 p.m. As we proceed with system upgrades, this capability will be available.

You will be contacted for additional information.

Under B. Tenant(s) Information of the online application, you may now “Upload Tenant File” for batches of tenants. If you have already submitted your application and need to upload additional tenants, please contact the call center to “reopen” Section B.

If you see a payment request in your Dashboard you do not need to resubmit. You will be contacted and asked for any missing documentation.

Reasonable late fees stemming from non-payment of rent, not exceeding allowable amounts in the lease, and no older than March 13, 2020 are allowed. Landlords must attest that late fees are lawful pursuant to Texas Property Code § 92.019.

Late fees already entered in the system by existing applicants will be allowed. Existing applications that do not include late fees cannot be revised, but those applicants may submit a new request for eligible late fees after the March 8 effective date.

Court fees cannot be included in the request for assistance.

TDHCA has established data privacy and security requirements for certain information regarding applicants that:

• include appropriate measures to ensure that the privacy of the individuals and households is protected
• provide that the information, including any personally identifiable information, is collected and used only for the purpose of submitting reports to Treasury
• provide confidentiality protections for data collected about any individuals who are survivors of intimate partner violence, sexual assault, or stalking.

TDHCA contracts vendors who review all applications. All vendors are required to follow the same measures listed above to ensure data safety.

Anyone may file a complaint regardless of religion, race, immigration or documentation status, or national origin is safe to report fraud, waste and abuse. A person does not have to have been a participant in the program to share a concern of possible fraud, waste, or abuse.

Fraud is defined as the wrongful or criminal deception intended to result in financial or personal gain. Fraud includes false representation of fact, making false statements, or by concealment of information.

Waste is defined as the thoughtless or careless expenditure, mismanagement, or abuse of resources to the detriment (or potential detriment) of the U.S. government. Waste also includes incurring unnecessary costs resulting from inefficient or ineffective practices, systems, or controls.

Abuse is defined as excessive or improper use of a thing, or to use something in a manner contrary to the natural or legal rules for its use. Abuse can occur in financial or non-financial settings.

TRRP encourages anyone suspecting fraud, waste, or abuse (e.g. mismanagement of TRR funds) related to a TRRP application or payment to report these. Examples of reportable scenarios include:

• Any dishonest or fraudulent act, including providing false information to qualify for assistance or submitting fraudulent applications, or persons colluding to appear to be a landlord and tenant and in fact are not in a landlord/tenant relationship;
• Misappropriation of funds by tenants or landlords using the funds intended for rental or utility assistance for other ineligible purposes;
• Failure of the Landlord or Tenant to adhere to the terms of the program certifications;
• Inappropriate use of TRR information or records; and
• Any similar or related irregularities.

Hotline tips are incredibly valuable, and we appreciate any efforts to assist the TRR Program address fraud, waste and abuse.

Note: Unspecified, broad or unidentifiable information of potential wrongdoing cannot be investigated.

The TRR Program has several options for persons to report fraud, waste and abuse. Please report any concerns by:

• Leaving a detailed voicemail with the TRR Fraud Hotline: 1-833-613-FRAUD or 1-833-613-7283
• Mailing a written allegation to:
  Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs
  Attn: Texas Rent Relief Program Fraud
  P.O. Box 580314
  Houston, TX 77258
• Submitting complaints to the State Auditor’s Office website: (http://sao.fraud.state.tx.us)
• Submitting complaints to the U.S. Dept. of Treasury Office of Inspector General’s website: (Report Fraud, Waste, and Abuse | Office of Inspector General)

The more information that you provide and the more specific that information is, the more the TRR Fraud Team will be able to investigate the issue. Please have as much of the following information as possible when you contact the TRR Program:

• Case ID #, name of alleged offender(s), witnesses or victims;
• Provide clear details about the fraud, waste or abuse and how it is being done;
• Submit any documentation that you have access to; and
• Your name and your telephone number or email address (unless you are choosing to remain anonymous).

Reports of fraud, waste and abuse are recorded in our system of record, reviewed and investigated by a TRR Fraud Team member. A final disposition of the allegation will be determined by the TRR Fraud Team member.

If an investigation substantiates that fraud, waste or abuse has occurred by an applicant, landlord, tenant, or other party, recapture of funds will be pursued (if applicable), and the case will be referred to the Texas State Auditor’s Office or U.S. Department of Treasury, Office of the Inspector General. Restitution, civil and criminal penalties, including costs associated with the investigation may be pursued as well.

Once the complaint is assigned to a TRR Fraud Team member, a staff member may contact you if they have additional questions about your complaint.

No. In order to protect the identity of complainants and objectivity of the investigation, all information is confidential.

Yes. Falsification of documents or any material falsehoods or omissions in an application to this program, including knowingly seeking duplicate benefits, is subject to state and federal criminal penalties. Landlords and tenants are particularly put on notice that 18 U.S.C. §1001 provides, among other things, that whoever knowingly and willingly makes or uses a document or writing containing any false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or entry, in any matter within the jurisdiction of any department or agency of the United States will be fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned for not more than five years, or both.