To be eligible for the SLEG Program, the applicant and the applicant’s rental property must meet the following eligibility criteria:　

• The applicant is the Primary Property Owner of at least one small residential rental (i.e., not condominium or cooperative) property in New Jersey and is registered with NJDCA’s Bureau of Housing Inspection.
• NJHMFA will screen the property for outstanding life safety code violations in NJDCA’s Registration Inspection Management System (RIMS).　　
• The applicant is NOT a government entity or public housing authority.　　
• The applicant is current on all state and local tax obligations.　　
• The applicant’s property contains at least three and no more than 30 total housing units.　
• The applicant’s property is NOT a seasonal or vacation rental property.　
• The applicant’s property contains at least one non-vacant "COVID-impacted" unit with a net rent deficit between April and July 2020. This means that the total rent due from the tenant in this four-month period exceeds the amount paid by the tenant during this period.
• The COVID-impacted unit(s) for which the applicant is seeking rent reimbursement have low-to-moderate rent levels (i.e., have rents less than or equal to the amounts listed in the chart below). Maximum rents are based on rent levels that would be affordable to a household making 80% of area median income. Please note that if a unit has an above-threshold rent for its bedroom size, that unit is ineligible for assistance. No partial assistance will be awarded.

Additional eligibility requirements may be applied, which will be based on any applicable Federal requirements related to the federal CARES Act and may include, but not be limited to, a restriction on duplication of benefits that could exclude potential applicants that have already received federal assistance, as well as requirement that the applicant further demonstrate that it has had negative impacts from COVID-19.

In addition to meeting the eligibility criteria specified above, applicants must certify that if their application is successful, they will not begin eviction proceedings based on rental payments missed by tenants in SLEG-reimbursed units. Applicants must also certify that they will not seek the repayment of outstanding back rent accumulated between April and July 2020 by tenants in SLEG-reimbursed units. Any material breach of this certification may result in NJHMFA seeking repayment of the grant.

For COVID-19 updates and resources, visit the State of New Jersey's COVID-19 Information Hub.