Louisiana REALTORS® Rental Assistance Update

Louisiana REALTORS • January 19, 2021

In late December 2020, federal legislation was passed to allocate $25 billion nationwide to be utilized for rental and utility payments for those adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. These dollars are not yet available as there are still several details that need to be worked out by both the federal and state government regarding how to disperse the funds. 

Louisiana REALTORS® is in consultation with Governor John Bel Edwards’ office to ensure property owners’ positions are communicated as the program to disperse these funds is developed, and LR will serve as a resource to the administration moving forward. The Governor’s office has assured Louisiana REALTORS® that its focus will be on providing rental payments rather than utility payments (which is authorized by the federal legislation).

Louisiana anticipates receiving $308 million of the $25 billion, according to guidance from the U.S. Treasury Department. According to Gov. John Bel Edwards' office, the state's share of the money will be administered by the Louisiana Housing Corporation in less populated areas and by local government where there is a parish population of 200,000 or more. Those parishes include Orleans, Jefferson, St. Tammany, East Baton Rouge, Lafayette, Caddo and Calcasieu. 

The U.S. Treasury Department released a helpful document on January 19, 2021, to address many frequently asked questions about the program. Please see below. While this gives beneficial information, there are still many unknowns about how the program will work.

Please check back here regularly; we will provide updates on this topic as useful information is made available.

  • The statute provides that ERA funds may be used for “utilities and home energy costs.” How are those terms defined?

    Utilities and home energy costs are separately-stated charges related to the occupancy of rental property. Accordingly, utilities include separately-stated electricity, gas, water and sewer, trash removal and energy costs, such as fuel oil. Telecommunication services (telephone, cable, Internet) delivered to the rental dwelling are not considered to be utilities. Utilities that are covered by the landlord within rent will be treated as rent.

  • Must a beneficiary of the rental assistance program have rental arrears?

    No. The statute does not prohibit the enrollment of households for only prospective benefits. Section 501(c)(2)(B)(iii) of Division N of the Act does provide that assistance to reduce rental arrears, if any, must be provided before prospective rental benefits may be provided. The statute also provides a limitation on prospective benefits of three months at one time.

  • Must a grantee pay for all of a household’s rental or utility arrears?

    No. The full payment of arrears is allowed up to the 12-month limit established by the statute if the arrears can be shown to be due to COVID-19. (Grantees may provide assistance for an additional three months if necessary to ensure housing stability for a household.) However, a grantee may structure a program to provide less than full coverage of arrears. When structuring their program, grantees should consider how to best minimize any incentives for the non-payment of rent or utilities by potential beneficiaries of the program.

  • What outreach must be made by a grantee to a landlord or utility provider before determining that the landlord or utility provider will not accept direct payment from the grantee?

    Grantees must make reasonable efforts to obtain the cooperation of landlords and utility providers to accept payments from the ERA program. Outreach will be considered complete if a request for participation is sent in writing, by certified mail, to the landlord or utility provider, and the addressee does not respond to the request within 21 calendar days after mailing; or, if the grantee has made at least three attempts by phone or email over a 21 calendar-day period to request the landlord or utility provider’s participation. All efforts must be documented. The cost of the mailing would be an eligible administrative cost.

  • The statute limits eligibility to households with income that does not exceed 80 percent of area median income as defined by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) but does not provide a definition of household income. How is household income defined for purposes of the ERA program? How will income be documented and verified?

    The statute provides that grantees may determine income eligibility by reference to either (i) household total income for calendar year 2020 or (ii) sufficient confirmation of the household’s monthly income at the time of application, as determined by the Secretary of the Treasury (Secretary).

    With respect to each household applying for assistance, grantees may choose between using the definition of “annual income” as provided by HUD in 24 CFR 5.609 and using adjusted gross income as defined for purposes of reporting under Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Form 1040 series for individual Federal annual income tax purposes.

    For determining annual income, grantees should obtain at the time of application source documents evidencing annual income (e.g., wage statement, interest statement, unemployment compensation statement), or a copy of Form 1040 as filed with the IRS for the household.

    For determining monthly income, grantees must obtain income source documentation, as listed above, for at least the two months prior to the submission of the application for assistance. If an applicant qualifies based on monthly income, the grantee must redetermine the household income eligibility every three months for the duration of assistance.

  • In addition to providing an attestation in writing, must applicants document that they have experienced a reduction in income, incurred significant costs, or experienced other financial hardship due to the COVID-19 outbreak?

    Yes, to the extent administratively feasible, grantees must require applicants to document that they have (i) qualified for unemployment benefits or (ii) experienced a reduction in income, incurred significant costs, or experienced other financial hardship due directly or indirectly to COVID-19 that threaten the household’s ability to pay the costs of the rental property when due.

    Grantees must also require applicants to demonstrate a risk of experiencing homelessness or housing instability, which may include past due rent and utility notices and eviction notices, if any, as part of the application process.

  • Is there a requirement that the eligible household have been in its current rental home when the public health emergency with respect to COVID-19 was declared?

    No. However, payments under ERA are to be provided to households to meet housing costs that they are unable to meet as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak. There is no statutory requirement for the length of tenure in the current unit.

  • What data should a grantee collect regarding households to which it provides rental assistance in order to comply with Treasury reporting and recordkeeping requirements?

    Treasury will provide instructions at a later time as to what information grantees must report to Treasury and how this information must be reported. At a minimum, in order to ensure that Treasury is able to fulfill its quarterly reporting requirements under section 501(g) of Division N of the Act and its ongoing monitoring and oversight responsibilities, grantees should anticipate the need to collect from households and retain records on the following:

    • Address of the rental unit,

    • 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,

    • Amount of outstanding rental arrears for each household,

    • Number of months of rental payments and number of months of 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.


    Grantees should also collect information as to the number of applications received in order to be able to report to Treasury the acceptance rate of applicants for assistance.

    Treasury’s Office of Inspector General may require the collection of additional information in order to fulfill its oversight and monitoring requirements.* Treasury will provide additional information regarding reporting to Treasury at a future date. Grantees will need to comply with the requirement in section 501(g)(4) of Division N of the Act to establish data privacy and security requirements for information they collect.


    *Note that this FAQ is not intended to address all reporting requirements that will apply to the ERA program but rather to note for grantees information that they should anticipate needing to collect from households with respect to the provision of rental assistance.

  • The statute requires that ERA payments not be duplicative of any other federally-funded rental assistance provided to an eligible household. Are tenants of federally subsidized housing, e.g., Low Income Housing Credit, Public Housing, or Indian Housing Block Grant-assisted properties, eligible for ERA?

    An eligible household that occupies a federally-subsidized residential or mixed-use property may receive ERA assistance, provided that ERA funds are not applied to costs that have been or will be reimbursed under any other federal assistance.

    If an eligible household receives a monthly federal subsidy (e.g., a Housing Choice Voucher, Public Housing, or Project-Based Rental Assistance) and the tenant rent is adjusted according to changes in income, the renter household may not receive ERA assistance.

    If a household receives rental assistance other than the ERA, the ERA assistance may only be used to pay for costs, such as the tenant-paid portion of rent and utility costs, that are not paid for by the other rental assistance. Pursuant to section 501(k)(3)(B) of Subdivision N of the Act and 2 CFR 200.403, when providing ERA assistance, the grantee must review the household’s income and sources of assistance to confirm that the ERA assistance does not duplicate any other assistance, including federal, state, and local assistance provided for the same costs.

  • May a grantee provide assistance to households for which the grantee is the landlord?

    Yes, a grantee may provide assistance to households for which the grantee is the landlord provided that the grantee complies with the all provisions of the statute and this guidance and that no preferences beyond those outlined in the statute are given to households that reside in the grantee’s own properties.

  • May a grantee provide assistance for arrears that have accrued before the date of enactment of the statute?

    Yes, but not before March 13, 2020, the date of the emergency declaration pursuant to section 501(b) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C. 5191(b).

  • May a grantee provide assistance to a renter household with respect to utility or energy costs without also covering rent?

    Yes. A grantee does not need to provide assistance with respect to rent in order to provide assistance with respect to utility or energy costs. The limitations in section 501(c)(2)(B) of Division N of the Act limiting assistance for prospective rent payments do not apply to the provision of utilities or home energy costs.

  • May a grantee provide ERA assistance to homeowners to cover their mortgage payment, utilities, or energy costs?

    No. The statute requires that ERA assistance be provided only to eligible households, which is defined to include only households that are obligated to pay rent on a residential dwelling.

  • The statute provides that ERA funds may be used for “other expenses” as related to housing incurred due, directly or indirectly, to COVID-19, as defined by the Secretary. What are some examples of these “other expenses”?

    The Secretary has not made such a determination at this time.

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Louisiana Residents Encouraged to Use New LDI Tools to Prepare for Hurricane Season

By Louisiana REALTORS® • June 9, 2026
From the Louisiana Department of Insurance: During a press conference today with Governor Jeff Landry, Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple announced that registration for the next round of the Louisiana Fortify Homes Program (LFHP) will open at 8 a.m. on Monday, June 1, and will include 3,000 grants. The registration period for this lottery will be open for three weeks, closing at 5 p.m. on Friday, June 19.  During the press conference, Gov. Landry signed HB 1187 by Rep. Paul Sawyer, which will allow Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corporation to transfer $50 million in additional Katrina bond assessment funds to the LFHP. Combined with the $30 million in funding the program will receive through taxes and fees on insurance entities, the LFHP will receive a total of $80 million this year. “By lowering overall losses, we can reduce insurance and reinsurance costs, draw more insurers into the market, motivate existing companies to write additional policies and lower insurance premiums,” said Commissioner Temple. “That is exactly what the Louisiana Fortify Homes Program is designed to do.” The list of coastal parishes that are eligible to participate is expanding to include Acadia, Jefferson Davis and Lafayette parishes. Additionally, homeowners who live in the portions of Ascension, Calcasieu, Iberia, Livingston, St. Martin, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa and Vermilion parishes that were previously not included in the program will now be eligible to participate. A map showing the full list of eligible parishes is available on FortifyHomes.La.Gov . “Louisiana is the fastest growing state in the country for Fortified roofs, and that growth is not by accident—it is the result of strong support from Governor Landry and legislators like Chairman Talbot, Chairman Firment and Representative Sawyer, targeted program design, and a clear recognition that strengthening homes is one of the most effective ways to reduce insurance losses,” said Commissioner Temple. “At the end of the day, this program is about more than just roofs. It is about protecting families, it is about strengthening communities, and it is about putting Louisiana in a stronger position—both physically and economically—to face the challenges ahead.” To participate in the lottery, homeowners must register during the June registration period. Homeowners who registered for a previous round but were not selected must register again to participate. People who register on the last day of the registration period have the same chance of being selected as those who register on the first day, so there is no need to rush to register as soon as the period opens. When registering, homeowners will need to upload their homestead exemption, insurance policy declarations page that includes wind coverage, and flood insurance declarations page if the residence is in a flood zone. Homeowners who need assistance obtaining a copy of their homestead exemption should contact their parish tax assessor. Homeowners can contact their homeowners and flood insurance companies or agents for a copy of their policy declarations page. Homeowners are required to create a profile in the LFHP system before registering for the lottery and may do so by visiting the LFHP website and clicking the Login button. Homeowners who previously created a profile may use the same one for this and future rounds. Once the lottery registration period closes, the LFHP will randomly select 3,000 participants and send email notifications to registrants about whether they were selected to participate. These selection notices will be sent via email beginning on Monday, June 22. There are several program requirements that homeowners should be aware of before registering. Those interested in the program are encouraged to review eligibility information and frequently asked questions at FortifyHomes.La.Gov to determine whether their home meets the requirements for the program. If selected to participate in the grant program, homeowners will be financially responsible for having the home evaluated by a FORTIFIED-certified Evaluator as well as costs for the roof upgrade including permits, inspections and construction costs beyond the amount of the grant The LFHP provides grants of up to $10,000 for homeowners to upgrade their roofs to standards set by the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety. The program helps Louisiana homeowners strengthen their roofs to better withstand hurricane-force winds.
Educating prospective homebuyers on the true cost of owning a home

How to Talk to Clients About the True Costs of Homeownership in Louisiana

By Louisiana REALTORS® • June 9, 2026
Learn how real estate agents can educate buyers about Louisiana homeownership costs, including taxes, insurance, HOA fees, and maintenance.

2026 Legislative Session Scoop - Session Wrap-up

By Louisiana REALTORS® • June 5, 2026
The 2026 Regular Legislative Session has officially adjourned, and Louisiana REALTORS® closes the session with a strong record of legislative wins, defensive victories and meaningful progress on issues that directly impact property owners, homebuyers, housing providers and real estate professionals across Louisiana. This session touched nearly every major pressure point in the real estate market: insurance affordability, transaction transparency, appraisal certainty, leasing law, property taxes, blight redevelopment, litigation costs, consumer protection and private property rights. Louisiana REALTORS® successfully advanced several major policy priorities this session, including residential wholesaling reform, vacant residential land disclosure, appraisal certainty, security deposit reform, insurance mitigation funding and redevelopment tools for blighted property. At the same time, the association helped stop or reshape proposals that would have harmed housing supply, increased practitioners' liability, or created uncertainty for property owners and housing providers. Major Wins for You and Real Estate Residential Wholesaling Reform The signature victory of the session was HB 468 by Rep. Troy Hebert , Louisiana REALTORS®’ residential wholesaling reform bill. For years, residential wholesaling operated in a gray area of Louisiana law. HB 468 creates a clear statutory framework for residential wholesaling, strengthens consumer protection, increases transparency, and gives the Louisiana Real Estate Commission meaningful enforcement authority. The bill’s conference report passed unanimously in both chambers, with votes of 94-0 in the House and 35-0 in the Senate. This is a major structural reform for Louisiana real estate law. This bill will be state law effective August 1, 2026. Please note that the law does not affect any wholesale contracts between now and the effective date. Vacant Residential Land Disclosure HB 1166, by Rep. Kim Carver, passed the Legislature and has been sent to the Governor for his signature. The bill addresses disclosure gaps in vacant residential land transactions where buyers may discover late-stage issues involving access, utilities, drainage, flood risk, prior use or other material facts. HB 1166 creates a clearer process for buyers, sellers and real estate practitioners, and should help reduce failed transactions, disputes and closing-table surprises. As new industry forms and disclosures are developed, Louisiana REALTORS® will monitor the process closely and work to ensure the final requirements are practical, clear and consistent with sound industry practice. The Louisiana Real Estate Commission will complete the forms and disclosure process, with final implementation expected to be legally required for agents beginning January 1, 2027. Appraisal Liability Protections Louisiana REALTORS® secured two important appraisal-related wins. HB 1027 also by Rep. Troy Hebert , signed as Act No. 187 , clarifies that appraisers should not be held liable for compliance with obligations that belong to other parties in the transaction. HB 300 by Rep. Neil Riser , signed as Act No. 149 , addresses appraisal thresholds for bank-owned property. Together, these measures support greater transaction certainty and fairness in the appraisal process. The pair of these measures will take effect as law on August 1, 2026. Housing & Market Stability Security Deposit Reform HB 292, by Rep. Delisha Boyd and signed by Governor Landry as Act No. 63 , creates a more workable process for addressing damage discovered at the end of a lease and provides greater flexibility through written agreements regarding security deposit timelines. The measure offers practical clarity for housing providers, tenants and property managers when property damage is identified after move-out, allowing additional time to assess damage, obtain repair estimates and document costs before final security deposit accounting is completed. By creating a clearer statutory framework, the law helps reduce disputes and ensures that both landlords and tenants have a better understanding of their rights and responsibilities. Property managers can mark August 1, 2026, on their calendars, as that is the effective date for this legislation. Protections for Victims & Landlords HB 297, by Rep. Mandie Landry and signed by Governor Landry as Act No. 64 , expands Louisiana's early lease-termination protections to include victims of stalking and cyberstalking. The law recognizes that personal safety may require a tenant to leave a residence before the end of a lease term. To exercise these protections, a tenant must provide documentation from a qualified third party or other authorized evidence demonstrating that they are a victim of stalking or cyberstalking and that continued occupancy would present a safety concern. The measure also clarifies and expands who may serve as a qualified third party for purposes of supporting a tenant's request. These changes will take effect into law on August 1, 2026. Insurance Affordability and Mitigation Insurance affordability remained one of the most significant issues facing Louisiana homeowners and the real estate market. HB 1187 by Rep. Paul Sawyer , signed by Governor Landry as Act No. 416 , transfers an additional $50 million in Katrina bond assessment funds to the Louisiana Fortify Homes Program. Combined with other insurance-related funding, the program reaches approximately $80 million for the year. The Fortify Homes Program remains one of Louisiana’s most direct tools for reducing property risk, strengthening homes, improving market stability, and placing downward pressure on insurance costs over time. Several additional insurance measures did not reach final passage, including legislation on fortified roof endorsements, nonrenewal protections for homeowners who mitigate risk, and a pre-suit review process for residential property insurance disputes. These remain important long-term priorities. This became law and took effect upon the Governor’s signature. Blight, Redevelopment, and Property Taxes Louisiana REALTORS® supported policies this session aimed at returning neglected property to productive use and strengthening property-tax fairness. HB 214 by Rep. Chance Henry , now Act No. 272 with Governor Landry’s signature, will appear on the ballot as a constitutional amendment authorizing an optional property tax exemption for rehabilitated blighted or derelict property. HB 217, also by Rep. Chance Henry , is the enabling legislation for HB 214 and has received the Governor’s signature, becoming Act No. 422. Together, these measures would give local governments another tool to encourage private investment, neighborhood revitalization, and redevelopment. SB 180 , now Act No. 39 , will also appear on the ballot. The measure allows the surviving spouse of a deceased veteran with a service-connected disability to transfer an expanded property tax exemption. This is both a property-tax fairness measure and a homeownership stability measure for Louisiana veterans’ families. If passed in the fall election, the measures would take effect on January 1, 2027, as well as SB 180. Defensive Victories Some of the most important wins in this session came from stopping harmful legislation before it became law. Rent Stabilization Stopped Twice HB 472 by Rep. Alonzo Knox , the rent price control bill, was stopped after being involuntarily deferred. Louisiana REALTORS® opposed the bill and provided testimony in committee because rent-control policies can discourage investment, reduce housing supply, create uncertainty for housing providers and ultimately worsen affordability challenges. Knox brought the bill to the House Committee on Municipal, Local and Parochial Affairs twice due to the opposing testimony of our organization and opposition from the Home Builders Association and the Louisiana Apartment Association. Hidden Fees Bill Reshaped Yet Still Thwarted HB 617 by Rep. Mandie Landry , the hidden fees bill, raised concerns because it could have imposed liability on real estate professionals for fees they do not control, including those set by lenders, title companies, insurers, government entities and other third parties. Louisiana REALTORS® successfully negotiated a House-side amendment exempting real estate transactions from the bill’s scope. The bill later died in the Senate Commerce Committee. It is worth noting that the author agreed to include us in an amendment by Rep. Troy Hebert from the House floor, exempting real estate transactions. Automatic Renewal Bill Monitored HB 750, by Rep. Vincent Cox, addressing automatic renewal provisions, was closely monitored by Louisiana REALTORS® to ensure the legislation did not unintentionally apply to residential or commercial leases, property management agreements, association operations, nonprofit activities or standard real estate practices. Those concerns were successfully addressed through a Louisiana REALTORS® amendment offered by Senator Pressly during Senate consideration. When the bill returned to the House, Rep. Cox accepted the amendment and supported concurrence, preserving the bill's consumer protection goals while ensuring Louisiana's real estate industry, housing providers, associations and nonprofits were not subjected to unintended regulatory burdens . Missed Opportunities Two broader legal reform measures passed the House but stalled in the Senate Judiciary A Committee. HB 437, by Rep. Michael Melerine, addressing expert witness fees, and HB 1089, by Rep. Dennis Bamburg, establishing CARE Accounts, both reflected broader efforts to reduce litigation costs, improve Louisiana’s legal climate, and address cost drivers affecting insurance affordability and business competitiveness. Their failure to reach final passage was a missed opportunity, but the issues remain central to Louisiana’s long-term affordability conversation. Louisiana REALTORS® will continue to monitor these proposals and hope to see similar reforms return next session with a different outcome. What Comes Next The end of the session does not end the work. Louisiana REALTORS® will now turn to implementation, member education, ballot engagement and preparation for the next legislative cycle by directly engaging you, the driving force behind all of our efforts. The issues that shaped this session — housing affordability, insurance availability, redevelopment, legal costs, and private property rights — are not going away. Neither are we. Louisiana REALTORS® remain committed to serving as a consistent, credible and effective voice for property owners, homebuyers, housing providers and real estate professionals across Louisiana. Thank You As the Legislature adjourns, Louisiana REALTORS® expresses sincere appreciation to the leadership, members, public officials and advocacy partners who helped make this a productive and successful session for the real estate industry and property owners across Louisiana. We are especially grateful to Louisiana REALTORS® President Ginger Maulden, President-Elect David Favret, Treasurer Misty Ingersoll, Legislative Committee Director Keary Coffin, Outside General Counsel Eric Landry, LARPAC Chairwoman Marsha McGraw-Barbera, the Louisiana Real Estate Commission Commissioners and Executive Team, and the members of the Louisiana REALTORS® Legislative Committee for their leadership, guidance, resources and engagement throughout the session. We also extend a special thank you to those who attended this session’s REALTOR® Day and helped strengthen our presence at the Capitol. Your participation amplified our ability to advocate with one united voice when it mattered most. We further extend our appreciation to the legislators and partners who worked alongside us this session, including Rep. Troy Hebert, Rep. Kim Carver, House Commerce Chairman Daryl Deshotel, Rep. Delisha Boyd, Rep. Stephanie Hilferty, Rep. John Wyble, Sen. Beth Mizell, Sen. Greg Miller, Speaker Phillip DeVillier, Senate President Cameron Henry and Governor Jeff Landry for their leadership, accessibility and commitment to addressing issues impacting housing, property rights, insurance affordability, redevelopment and Louisiana’s economic future. Strong policy outcomes are only possible through collaboration, professionalism and sustained engagement. Louisiana REALTORS® remains grateful for the relationships and partnerships that helped move meaningful legislation across the finish line this year. Please view the session wrap-up tracking report provided by our lobbying team over at Harris, DeVille and Associates.
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