At last, the Spanish Government has established certain measures on rent assistance during COVID-19. It includes those people who “have temporary problems to meet the partial or total payment of their rent“. In addition, it benefits those “who prove to be in a situation of economic and social vulnerability as a result of COVID-19.”
Who can benefit from this financial rent assistance during COVID-19?
This measure differentiates between:
- people with serious financial problems and a lack of income
- those who are victims of gender violence,
- people affected by a situation of eviction from their regular residence,
- homeless and,
- other particularly vulnerable people.
What is meant by “people with financial difficulties”?
Regarding people with financial hardships, in order to apply for this rent assistance they must, in any case, be unemployed and registered under a Temporary Employment Regulation File (ERTE).
If they are entrepreneurs, they must have reduced their working hours due to healthcare and, in general, have suffered a significant loss of income due to the situation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
In no case will be eligible for this financial rent assistance those people who are relatives in a first/second degree of consanguinity (including those who live with them) of the tenant, who are their business partners, or who participate in the entities with which they have signed the rental contract.
How to prove the situation of financial difficulty and access this rent assistance?
Mostly, in the case of unemployment, it will be necessary to provide the corresponding certificate issued by the entity managing the benefits. In the case of entrepreneurs, a certificate issued by the State Tax Administration Agency or the competent body of the Autonomous Community, as the case may be, verifying the declaration of cessation of activity, among other documents.
If you do not have this documentation, a declaration of liability could be submitted by the interested party stating that they comply with the legal requirements, however, after the end of the State of Alarm, they will be required to present them.
In any case, the request must be accompanied by a complete copy of the current lease contract, which includes the means and form of payment of the rent and proof of payment of the last three monthly payments, unless the contract is for a shorter term, in which case payment will be accredited from the beginning of the contract.
What is the amount to be collected due to financial difficulties?
The financial rent assistance for this group consists of grants of up to 900 euros per month and up to 100% of the rent or, if applicable, up to 100% of the principal payment and interest of the loan with which the regular residence payment has been made. The aid must be requested from the Autonomous Community corresponding to the place where you reside until September 30, 2020. The main issue is that the Autonomous Communities have not yet established or indicated how to request this aid.
This rent assistance may be granted for a period of up to 6 months from April 2020.
In the event that the tenant had already accessed the temporary financing or loan that was offered in accordance with the provisions of Royal Decree-Law 11/2020, the aid may reach a maximum amount of 5,400 euros and will be used for the loan amortization. Only when the entire loan has been paid off can it be used to cover the payment of new monthly rent installments.
Who are the particularly vulnerable groups that can access this rent assistance?
This group includes people who are victims of gender violence, people who have been evicted from their regular residence, homeless people, and other particularly vulnerable people.
Those who are owners of a house or have the right of usufruct cannot be beneficiaries of this aid, except when they do not occupy said properties due to divorces, separations, or situations of disability, among others.
In these cases, the Autonomous Communities may make publicly owned housing available to this group, or assign its use to a public or even private Administration, appropriate to their circumstances in terms of size, services and location.
What is the amount that can be collected?
The amount of this rent assistance for vulnerable groups may reach up to 600 euros per month and up to 100% of the rent payment. In cases of special protection, the aid could reach up to 900 euros per month.
Likewise, additional help may be provided of up to 200 euros per month to meet maintenance, community, and basic supplies expenses, as well as 100% of these fees.
These grants may be given for a maximum period of five years.
Any doubts?
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