Eagle County Housing and Development Authority (Housing Eagle County) has funded the Lease to Locals incentive program to unlock new rental housing opportunities for the local workforce. The program provides property owners generous one-time cash incentives to convert their underutilized properties into seasonal and long-term rentals.

Eligible Properties must meet the following requirements:

• Eligible Properties include single family homes, condominiums, townhomes, duplexes, modular homes or manufactured homes on a permanent foundation taxed as real property within the jurisdictional boundaries of Eagle County that are not currently encumbered by a deed restriction, right of first refusal, occupancy requirement, Land Use Regulatory Agreement, or similar program. New construction of single family homes, condominiums, townhomes, duplexes, modular homes or manufactured are excluded from the program. 
• Eligible Properties must provide safe and habitable living conditions, confirmed through a property inspection prior to securing tenants.
• Eligible Properties must have not already been leased as an existing long-term rental (including month-to-month and verbal agreements) in the past 12 months.
• The applicant must be the owner of the property or legally represent the owner or ownership group.

• Leases can either be seasonal (5+ months) or long-term (12+ months)
• Leases are not permitted to end between November 1 to March 31.
• Rental rates are subject to rent caps based on the unit size which is inclusive of utilities (water, sewer, garbage, electricity, and heat).
• Applications may be denied based on the physical condition of the proposed property or a determination that the Eligible Property is not in the best interest of the County or ECHDA. Program is subject to market conditions.

At least one member of the Household must meet one or more of the following criteria:

• A Household earns a living primarily in Eagle County by having worked an average of at least thirty (30) hours per week on an annual basis at a business with an office or job site physically located in Eagle County (multiple jobs in Eagle County may be combined to reach 30 hours per week); or
• The Household cumulatively earns at least 75% of the Household’s Gross Household Income in Eagle County; or
• Household has been hired for a job in Eagle County on a permanent basis to work at least thirty (30) hours per week; or
• A Household is over the age of sixty (60) and had earned a living primarily in Eagle County prior to his or her retirement; or
• Household includes a Disabled Person who had been a full-time employee in Eagle County immediately prior to his or her disability or has been granted an exception to the minimum of 30 hours per week in order to continue with a federal or state disability benefit program, if the person works the maximum number of hours per week the program will allow; or
• Household employment in Garfield and Pitkin Counties will be allowed

First create a renter profile with Placemate. Once we have that information on file we can send you prospective properties that fit your criteria.

ECHDA will pay Landlord the stipend in two equal installments to include a half payment within 30 days of an approved application, and the second half within 30 days of the end of the lease. The cash stipend payment will end immediately upon termination of the lease agreement by either the Landlord or the tenant.

Eligible Landlords shall repay any and all funds advanced by the ECHDA in the event Landlord fails to comply with Program Guidelines, for breach by Landlord of the Lease to Locals Stipend Agreement or for termination of the Lease by Landlord without cause.