NY ERAP Program application issues

[Andre Taylor-Domville]

Hello All,

I have been having a very long struggle with the NY ERAP (emergency rental assistance program) and was hoping someone had some experience in successfully dealing with the program. For some context, my tenants applied to the program back in February and have since been provisionally approved to receive funds to cover their unpaid rent. I uploaded all required documents of me as the landlord several months ago and since then it has been essentially radio silence. I have called the program almost weekly and each time they tell me that my documents look good and I just have to wait for them to be reviewed and to call back at a later date.

This is especially frustrating because while this application is pending I can not proceed with my holdover case against the tenants to remove them from the property. Was hoping someone had a legal angle or some other suggestion to move my application forward. Thanks in advance and happy holidays everyone!

[Angelo Barlanti]

Unfortunately it is New York and I feel your pain. There is no fast forward in this state and there is no one in a hurry to push the process along. The only advice I can help you with is:

1. Find a good eviction attorney that knows the process and responds to your inquiries in a timely manner. This will not speed up the process but it will help you with answers to your ERAP and eviction questions and give you some pain relief.

2. Hard to do but (Have Patience)

3. Invest in landlord friendly states

I've been a landlord in NY for 25 plus years and it has been good but definitely not a cake walk and I'm no different than anyone who holds properties here. Evictions are always a battle here and I am ready to move my RE investments out of state. Not saying it will be easier but the eviction process will be. I wish you lots of luck and keep investing in RE.