Rental Assistance Program (RAP) Roles and responsibilities

When a household participates in the State Rental Assistance Program (RAP), you the tenant, the landlord, and the housing agencies all have specific duties to keep the housing subsidy active. Here is what is expected of everyone involved:

Your responsibilities (the tenant)
Sign a lease: You must sign a rental agreement with your landlord for at least one year. After the first year, your landlord may offer a new lease or allow you to stay month-to-month.
Pay your share: You are responsible for paying your portion of the rent and utilities on time.
Handle deposits: You must pay any security deposit required by the landlord. (Note: RAP does not cover security deposits).
Inspection: You must allow your unit to be inspected.
Maintain the home: You must keep your rental unit in clean, safe, and good condition according to your lease.
Report updates: You must immediately notify your housing agent if your household income changes or if someone moves in or out of your home.
Documentation: You must provide all documentation required by the Public Housing Authority (PHA) in a timely manner.


Your landlord's responsibilities
Provide safe housing: They must provide decent, safe, and sanitary housing at a reasonable market rent.
Pass inspections: The rental unit must pass an official safety inspection before you move in and must continue to meet State standards. The landlord must also work with the PHA for inspections as deemed necessary.
Maintain the property: They must handle property repairs and provide the specific utilities and maintenance services agreed upon in your lease and the State contract.
Have a valid lease: The landlord must maintain a valid lease with you at all times.


Your local Authority’s responsibilities
Local administration: They handle the daily operations of the rental assistance program in your town.
Eligibility: The Authority checks your eligibility and maintains the waiting list.
Program approval: They issue certificates and explain program rules to you.
Inspections: They inspect the rental unit at least once a year to ensure it meets federal Housing Quality Standards (HQS).
Subsidies: They check your family's income annually, calculate the correct assistance amount, and send monthly subsidy checks directly to the landlord.
Enforcement: They have the right to stop making monthly payments if a landlord fails to keep the property safe and up to code.
Compliance: They monitor RAP compliance and handle annual or interim reviews.

The Department of Housing’s (DOH’s) role
Rules and regulations: DOH designs the program's policies and monitors operations to ensure State rules are followed properly.
Program management: DOH contracts with J. D’Amelia & Associates (JDA) to run the program Statewide, who then subcontracts daily operations five local Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) and one Community Action Agency. They will also manage contracts and funding.
Contract management: DOH manages contracts and funding for the Rental Assistance Program (RAP).
Participant rights: DOH provides technical assistance to housing agents and protects tenant rights by offering administrative fair hearings if you disagree with an agency decision.


More resources
Return to the main Rental Assistance Program hub.
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