Home Modification Loan Program for Landlords

When people hear about the Home Modification Loan Program (HMLP), they often assume it’s designed only for individual homeowners. While it’s true that HMLP helps families make critical accessibility upgrades, many don’t realize that this program is also a powerful tool for small landlords.

HMLP is a state-funded initiative that supports modifications for people with physical or cognitive limitations, helping them live safely and independently in their homes. From installing ramps and stair lifts to modifying bathrooms and entrances, these improvements can make a life-changing difference.

But here’s what landlords should know: if you own fewer than 10 units, you may be eligible for HMLP financing to make accessibility upgrades for your tenants.

Through the program, landlords can access low-interest loans ranging from $1,000 to $50,000, with interest rates between 0% and 3%. Even more importantly, repayment is deferred. That means you don’t make payments on the loan until the property is sold or ownership is transferred. The loan is secured by a mortgage lien, making it a practical and flexible financing option.

For landlords, this is an opportunity to:

• Support long-term tenants who want to age in place

• Make units more accessible and marketable

• Invest in property improvements without immediate financial strain

For tenants, it can mean the difference between staying in their home or having to relocate.

Accessible housing is in high demand, especially in communities with aging populations. HMLP helps bridge that gap—benefiting both property owners and the people who call those spaces home.

If you’re a small landlord, HMLP isn’t just a program to know about—it’s one to seriously consider.

Contact Brett Roberts, Senior Housing Planner at Berkshire Regional Planning Commission, for more information.