New York City Simplifies Requirements for Moving Into Affordable Housing

Good news is hard to find in 2025.  Almost everything we can think of is measurably worse now than it was ten years ago or, if we are young adults, whenever our adult memories begin.  A decade ago, before the Internet had shown the true extent of its ugliness, you could approach a food truck or fast-food restaurant with a ten-dollar bill in your pocket and come away with a complete meal, or at least you could in most places besides New York; a corned beef sandwich in the Big Apple cost nine bucks as early as 1996.  New York has never been for the faint of heart, but it has gone from a fun adventure to downright soul crushing.  Today, when we watch shows like Rent and Avenue Q, we envy how easy the characters have it.  Who are we kidding?  The last time anyone had enough money to attend a live theater performance was long before the COVID-19 pandemic.  When we watch YouTube videos of shows like Rent and Avenue Q, punctuated by ads, we only wish we had as much housing stability as the characters have.  In a year where we have been bombarded by one disastrous piece of news after another, New York city has finally given us a brief respite from the grueling process of moving into affordable housing.  For help navigating the new procedures for moving new tenants into your vacant affordable housing units, contact a Bronx real estate attorney.

Good News for People Who Can’t Stand Paperwork

The housing shortage in New York City is a major source of frustration to prospective tenants, but to add insult to injury, available affordable housing units tended to sit vacant for an average of 83 days, that is, almost three months, before a new tenant moved in.  This was financially burdensome to landlords and tenants alike.

The reason for the delays was that landlords could only advertise affordable housing units on Housing Connect, the city’s affordable housing website, where only tenants already approved for affordable housing could see them.  The city has implemented a temporary change to this system.  From now until April 30, 2026, landlords will be able to advertise available units on public websites, such as Craigslist or Streeteasy.

To make matters easier, New York has also simplified the paperwork requirements for tenants to approve their affordable housing eligibility.  Applicants with W-2 jobs must submit six months of paychecks, while self-employed gig workers must submit their income tax returns.  People who received disability benefits or SNAP benefits must only submit their approval for those benefits.  This will reduce the time it takes to fill vacant affordable housing units by about half.

Schedule a Confidential Consultation With a Bronx Real Estate Attorney

A real estate lawyer can help you navigate the new process for approving tenants for affordable housing and expediting their move in process.  Contact Cavallo & Cavallo in the Bronx, New York to set up a consultation.

Sources:

thecity.nyc/2025/04/24/affordable-housing-lottery-vacant-apartments-empty-rentals/

thecity.nyc/2025/04/29/housing-lottery-apartment-application-less-paperwork-rent/