# What the Whole-Home Repairs Act of 2024 Actually Does

This bill creates a new federal program to help low-income homeowners and small landlords fix up their homes. The government would give money to local organizations in different states to distribute grants to eligible homeowners and loans to eligible landlords for repairs that make homes safer, more accessible, and more energy-efficient.

**Who gets help and what counts as repairs?** Homeowners qualify if their household income is at or below 80 percent of their area's median income (or meets other low-income thresholds). The repairs covered include accessibility improvements like grab bars and ramps for elderly people and people with disabilities, basic safety fixes to make homes livable, energy and water efficiency upgrades, and weatherization work. For landlords, the program works similarly but through loans instead of grants. These loans could potentially be forgiven after three years if the landlord follows the program's rules.

**What are the strings attached?** If you're a landlord receiving a loan, you'd have to agree to several conditions. You'd need to keep rents affordable—capping annual increases at 5 percent or inflation (whichever is lower) for at least three years after repairs are done. You'd also have to let current tenants renew their leases for at least three years after the work is finished, unless they fail to pay rent or violate lease terms. Additionally, landlords must have no serious violations of renter protections in the previous ten years.

**How does it work in practice?** The Department of Housing and Urban Development would award grants to between two and ten local organizations per year (with only one per state) to run these repair programs in their areas. These organizations would handle applications, verify that people qualify, oversee the actual repairs, and make sure work meets building codes. The program is set up as a pilot that would run until October 2029, giving Congress time to see if it works before deciding whether to make it permanent. The bill sets aside up to $25 million to get the program started.