Affordable Housing Marketing, Lottery & Lease-Up

Yes, affordable units are subject to rent stabilization.

Market rate units with the initial rent below the deregulation threshold in effect at the time when the initial rent is established are subject to rent stabilization

The rents for the affordable units are restricted by the program that the development is opting into. Depending on the program(s) that the development is subject to, the rent is governed by a certain Area Median Income (AMI) level.

• Our office can help properly allocate the units to affordable housing taking into consideration all applicable complex restrictions & regulations and calculate the rent for each affordable unit based on the Area Median Income (AMI)
• Taking into consideration free-market units’ rents and affordable units’ rent that is dictated by HPD we will run multiple affordable & market-rate unit mix options to make sure we choose the one that would work best for your development.
• Please contact our office at 212.571.3003 or Compliance@City5Consulting.com to find out what unit mix would work best for your development.

Depending on the number of affordable units in the development, we advise starting marketing for the affordable units 4-7 months prior to the anticipated construction completion date.

• Pre Marketing
  • Notice of Intent to Begin Marketing submission
  • Marketing Meeting with HPD
  • Caller Service/PO Box for the lottery Opened
  • Marketing Plan Submitted/The lottery is added to HC 2.0
  • Upon approval of the marketing plan, the ad will be scheduled to go live on HPD’s Housing Connect 2.0 website
• Marketing
  • Ads published in media (if applicable)
  • Ad goes Live on Housing Connect
  • Paper applications are being accepted
  • Compliance meeting with HPD
• Lottery
  • Caller service/PO Box closed
  • Paper applications entered into Housing Connect
  • HPD generates the list of applicants (logbook/batch)
• Tenant Selection
  • Logbook analysis
  • Open house/Showings for eligible applicants
  • Applicants with preferences
  • Ineligibility notices sent out; Appeals reviewed
  • Documents requested from potentially eligible applicants
  • Applicants’ Eligibility Evaluation
  • Applications submission to the Agency
  • Upon the approval of the applications, the leases could be signed.

• There are numerous benefits for landlords including:
  • Speedy lease-up of the affordable units as the landlord can skip the affordable housing lottery
  • The new augmented HPD CityFHEPS will cover the full advertised rents
  • For each unit leased by a client receiving Augmented CityFHEPS Rental Assistance, the owner will receive the full first month’s rent and the next three (3) months of Augmented CityFHEPS Rental Assistance upon lease signing. Thereafter, payments will be made on a monthly basis.

• The prospective tenant must first identify a unit of interest, the case worker assigned will begin the pre-clearance process conducted by the Department of Social Services (DSS).
• The unit and building must be cleared of violations and a physical walkthrough to review the unit must be scheduled.
  • Upon passing the unit walkthrough, the case worker will prepare the housing packet and schedule a lease signing.
• Leases must be signed by both the landlord and tenant so the packet can be reviewed.
• DSS does a final review of the packet once it is submitted.
  • If packet is approved, key and check exchange will be scheduled by a caseworker
• Tenants must renew CityFHEPS program eligibility and participation annually.
  • During the renewal process, DSS will recalculate the tenant’s contribution based on their income.