RRP Tip Sheet
Tips when Applying for Rent Relief
Legal Aid (757-648-1299) offers assistance applying for the Virginia Rent Relief Program. However, if you choose to apply by yourself, here are some instructions and tips on how to best complete the application:
Register/log in at tinyurl.com/VARentReliefApp
If you have not applied for rent assistance before, select "new applicant." If you have started an application, select "returning user."
If you click "returning user," and fill in your username and password, if "user not found" pops up, it means your email is wrong. If this pops If "the username or password is incorrect" pops up, it means the password is wrong. Click "Forgot Password" to reset it.
Once logged in, start a new application by clicking the top right blue button "Start New Application."
To reopen an existing application, click the menu on the left, and click "drafts."
Section 1: Personal Information
There are 6 sections of the online application, Section 1 is "Personal Information." Fill in your info. Answer yes or no to income questions, your answer should reflect ALL forms of income in your ENTIRE household, not just yourself.
The "Third Party Release of Information" part allows someone other than yourself to discuss your application with the Rent Relief Program. If someone assists you completing your application, like Legal Aid application navigators (757-648-1299), or a translator, you can put their contact info here. If not, leave the checkbox at "no."
Section 2: Household/Income Information
Indicate whether you or your landlord received any help with rent from the Rent Relief Program or other organizations since March 2020. If you have, fill in the information. If not, leave the check box at "no."
Adding household information: Fill out this part for EVERY household member, individually, including children. After each individual household member, click the blue "Add household member" button to move on to enter the next person.
Enter in your preferred language. Then move onto the "self certification of COVID impact" part. Have you lost income due to COVID in SOME way? Click the dropdown list and select option(s). Have you had an increase in expenses like utilities (from staying home more often), food, childcare, or medical expenses (from COVID)? Enter that here.
Section 3: Rental Information
Answer whether you are in the eviction process. If you have gotten a paper saying you have "14 days to pay or quit" (pay or leave the house) then you ARE in the eviction process. Indicate whether you have a lease (lease is required), enter in the amount of bedrooms you have, and enter in lease start and end dates. You will also be asked to enter landlord information like name, email, phone number.
Ask your landlord for a copy of your lease and their personal info before you submit the entire application if you do not know your lease end/start dates or their personal info. If you have a court date coming up (and need to show proof of applying for RRP) and your landlord wont give you this information in time, put your best guess and submit, and ask your landlord for this information at court. For the box under "Landlord Information" that says "Property name," put n/a, unless you live in a named apartment/townhouse complex.
Section 4: Rental Information II
For the table, enter the monthly rent amount you missed for each past month in "Past Rent Due" column. Do not us the "current month's rent" column at all. Enter late fees for each month under "Other Fees" column. Under the table, you will be able to enter in the rent amount for the current month, if you anticipate or have already missed the current month's rent. If your lease extends at least 3 months in the future, and you upload that document, you will be automatically be awarded future rent if your application is approved. If you are on a month-month lease, you won't be eligible for 3 months future rent unless your landlord signs a 3-month lease extension.
Section 5: Upload Supporting Documents
You and your landlord both have to provide documents to RRP. From your landlord, you will need: Virginia W9, Signed/dated lease ledger, landlord/renter agreement (signed by you and your Landlord), and copy of lease (or bill summary for hotel tenants).
If your lease is expired, you will need a signed letter from your landlord certifying you still live in the property for the months you are requesting payment for, and how much your rent is.
The documents required from you will be: Landlord/Rental Agreement (signed by you and your Landlord), and income information for every member of your household. ALL income from EVERY household member must be proven. Examples of proof of income includeSNAP, TANF, SSI/SSID award letters (with name and date), pay stubs, bank statement. No bank account? Complete Cash IncomeVerification Form. Even if someone over 18 has zero income, they must prove income by submitting the Zero Income Certification sheet.All forms can be found at tinyurl.com/VARentReliefApp under the "documentation" tab.
This income proof is required UNLESS there is yellow text at the top of your application that says "Income information is not required ifyou household is 3 persons or less." If you do see this, you don't need to provide any proof of income.
If you need more assistance and support, reach out to Legal Aid at 757-648-1299!
