Vacant Affordable Apartments Won't Go Back Into Lottery System - For Now

"Since May 2025, landlords and brokers have been able to publicly advertise empty affordable housing units - those that had been rented through the housing lottery initially, but became empty when tenants left - and process the applications of interested residents on a first-come, first-served basis."

"It was a big change from the Department of Housing Preservation and Development meant to get people into apartments faster, cutting out the lengthy and complex system tied to the lottery. And according to housing managers, the agency itself and those who manage lotteries, the results are clear: the change has cut the time it takes to fill apartments drastically - in some cases shrinking the time frame from months to weeks."

"That means apartment-seekers can continue finding affordable re-rentals on websites like Streeteasy and other platforms, instead of on Housing Connect only. To secure a lease, an applicant must be eligible for the apartment by having the right income requirements, as specified for the unit, which the landlord or broker must verify. HPD must approve applicants before they move in."

"In addition to advertising the affordable re-rental apartments publicly, landlords can also pull from an internal waitlist of eligible applicants to fill them. This approach to leasing re-rentals is meant to cut down a cumbersome process for managers of affordable housing, bring rental income to landlords quicker and speed up the move-in time fo"

New Yorkers seeking affordable apartments can apply directly for vacated affordable units for an additional year, using a first-come, first-served process instead of the Housing Connect lottery. Since May 2025, landlords and brokers may publicly advertise empty affordable units that were originally rented through the lottery and then became vacant. Housing managers report that the change reduces the time required to fill apartments, sometimes from months to weeks. The waiver runs through April 30, 2027. Applicants must meet the unit’s income eligibility requirements, which landlords or brokers must verify, and HPD must approve applicants before move-in. Landlords may also use an internal waitlist of eligible applicants.

Read at Brownstoner