Overview

• Security deposits (first and last, if required)
• Pet deposits
• Advanced Rent required by the landlord
• Utility connection fees (electricity, propane, water, sewer, internet)
• Application and screening fees
• Reasonable costs associated with moving:
  • Truck Rental to move to new unit
  • Post Office Box Deposit
  • Settling cost for storage unit during dislocation due to the pandemic and loss of housing

• All reimbursements or payments must be accompanied by supporting documentation such as a bill, invoice, or evidence of payment to a provider for service(s).
• Only households that receive rent or utility assistance are eligible for Internet expenses (if there isn’t already a federal subsidy for internet costs).
• Best efforts will be made to compensate for Internet. If the specific Internet costs cannot be determined, VERAP approves a flat fee of $50 per month for Internet services provided after April 1,2020.
• Landlord and tenant must agree to a one-year lease term.

• An applicant must provide ReFrame a copy of the executed 1 YEAR lease before payment will be issued.

This allows for certain repairs that are deemed necessary to maintain safe and healthy living conditions.  Households must meet the Program eligibility requirements, and be approved for VERAP, to qualify for Other Expenses Related to Housing. Tenant does not need to be receiving rental or utility assistance to qualify.  If the tenant has reached the maximum benefit months (18), and it is more than 3 months since their last month of assistance, the tenant will need to recertify for continued eligibility.  All reimbursements or payments for Other Expenses Related to Housing must be accompanied by Supporting documentation such as an invoice/bill, receipt, or other evidence of payment for services.  These repairs are defined as:

• Water/sewer/plumbing repairs
• Lead paint Essential Maintenance Practices
• Mold abatement (including leak repair, ventilation, dehumidifier)
• Replacement of a red-tagged fuel tank
• Replacement of a red-tagged furnace/boiler or other essential heating equipment
• Bed-bug eradication
• Any other exigent repair approved by VSHA and AOA

Tenant/Landlord Procedure:

• Tenant or Landlord identifies necessary repair in the unit or building.
• Tenant or Landlord obtains inspection from town health officer or other qualified professional to provide documentation of need. (Need Document)
• Tenant or Landlord obtains a quote for the repair from a contractor (licensed or certified per state law) for given work provides to VSHA as documentation of expense. (Project Quote)
• Submit Need Document and Project Quote to VERAP along with tenant name (prospective or current). Please note tenants MUST be approved for VERAP to receive funding.
• For multifamily buildings at least one (1) unit/household will need to qualify for VERAP.
• Tenant/Landlord will provide invoice to VSHA showing work was performed and completed.

Work Scheduling/Past Payments:

• All new work must be completed within 90 days of Preliminary Approval. Requests for accommodation will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
• Retroactive repayment of a repair is possible. Work performed on or after 6/1/2021 with proper documentation and within program guidelines will be considered for repayment.

All new work MUST be approved by VERAP prior to the start date.

Application Process

• For Pre-Approved Items Applicants/Owner submit documentation to VERAP Portal. Applicant/Owner selects “Other Expenses Related to Housing” box in their application or Unit Certification. Clear explanation of habitability issues needs to be stated with the details of repair.
• Documentation MUST include:
  • Estimate or quote provided by a contractor or licensed professional; or
  • Others forms of documentation including verification of payment by landlord; approval of completed work and certificate of occupancy reinstated; before and after photographs.

Letter of Intent

• Applicant/Owner can request a Letter of Intent to use in payment negotiations with contractor(s) performing repair.

CONTINGENCY AND CHANGE ORDERS:

• Contingency can be no more than 10% of the total quote.
• Change orders need to be approved for any costs exceeding 10% of approved work.
• Regardless of the change orders and contingency funds cannot exceed maximum of $30,000.

Completion of work and Payment

• NO PAYMENTS MADE UNTIL WORK IS COMPLETE AND THERE IS AN ELIGIBLE VERAP TENANT APPROVED.
• An invoice marked paid and/or a receipt of payment is required to release.

Other Exigent Repair Details

• Repair must be necessary to maintain or return unit to a safe and healthy standard for rental units in the Town or City where unit is located and/or State of Vermont.
• Documentation of “exigent” repair is required.
• Inspection report from Town Health Officer, Department of Public Safety, Local Fire Department, Other official per local laws/ordinance.
• If the inspection comes from a contractor, then at least two (2) quotes for work will be required.
• If the repair is over $15,000 for a single repair item, we will need at least two (2) quotes from contractors
• Documentation of completion for payment MUST include:
  1. Verification of payment
  2. Inspection report from Town Health Officer, Department of Public Safety, Local Fire Department, Other officials per local laws/ordinance, or
  3. Before and after photographs

In situations where a homeowner is eligible for VERAP due to the obligation to pay rent to a park owner, and there are repairs that if not completed would result in the household being homeless, the household would be eligible for repairs. All other program guidelines and requirements need to be followed. 

For detailed information on applying please click here

• Direct payments to Court: In situations where a tenant has received court ordered payments the tenant, and/or their attorneys, can request that VERAP pay rent directly into court. These payments are paper checks that are mailed on the behalf of tenants directly to the courts in order to maintain their housing.  These benefits count toward a tenants benefit months.
• Attorneys Fees; Court Costs and Sheriff’s fees: In the event the tenant has received a court ordered signed stipulation, and there is a requirement to have fees paid in the stipulation, then VERAP will issue these payments as directed.  These payments do not count against the tenant’s benefit months and include, legal fees, court costs, etc..

The following information needs to be documented in the stipulation to process these payments.

1. DOCKET#:
2. Payment to:
3. Payment address of court:
4. Tenant name: First Last
5. Landlord name: Landlord name as it appears on Landlord’s Complaint
6. Dollar Amount:
7. Payment recurs monthly. Y/N
8. If RIC payment, date due in court:
9. Amount of Rent requested
   1. Amount of rent per month $
   2. Number of months this check
   3. Names of months this check
      1. Total rent: $
10. Amount of Other Expenses Related to Housing requested:
    1. 1. 1. Sheriff’s fees: $

For any contractor performing an Essential Maintenance Practice (EMP) project funded by VERAP, the following documentation is required:

• Certification and license expectations: See Vermont Lead Law Information sheet.
• Prior to October 1, 2022, provide a current U.S. EPA RRP Firm certification for the company that will perform the work and identify the RRP certified individual who will supervise the work.
• After October 1, 2022, provide a current Vermont Department of Health (VDH) RRPM Firm license for the company that will perform the work and the VDH RRPM Supervisor license for the individual who will supervise the work.
• Recent EMP report (completed in the past 90 days) performed by an EMP certified individual using the provided form to show the noncompliance OR 2) Notice of Violation from VDH. Photographs of the inspection area are encouraged. See EMP inspection form.
• Identify the WEEK/TIMELINE when the RRP work will be underway for potential Vermont Department of Health inspection of the jobsite for worker compliance.
• Notify VERAP if there is a change in the work week PRIOR to the work starting
• When the project is complete, provide the EMP Statement (or IRC Statement if after October 1, 2022) filing showing the building is now in compliance.
• Please note, a Vermont Department of Health inspector may ask for access to the building to insure the EMP or IRC statement is accurate.