Income Max on HPD Affordable Housing (sales, apartment, lease)

[carlito1171]

I am interested in applying for one of the affordable housing apts listed on the HPD Website. Are they very strict with the income range? If you make 1-2 thousand over the max can I still qualify for an apt? Anyone have any experience applying for one of these apts?

[Kefir King]

They are EXTREMELY strict on the income limit. Make a DIME too much and you are out of luck.

You must be, how can I put it, CREATIVE <wink wink nudge nudge> in some cases.

[unionsqgirl]

Hi

I currently live at affordable housing building, my income was $23,000 when i applied. But I was offered an increase to $50,000 at another company. Does it mean I won't be able to extend my lease ? My expenses also increased to about $ 15,000 per year as I enrolled in college.

Please advice, I really don't want to loose the apartment I currently leave at.

Thanks

[annesia]

Kefir King can you give us some creative examples wink wink

[mightymom]

They are very strict about the income, in both going over it and being under it.

[citylove101]

Just curious:

Isn't it a disincentive to earn more if you *might* be evicted if you go past the income limits after you move in? (I have no idea what the law is on this.) Seems like its in the city's best intrests to have people making more money rather than less since it would generate more income tax revenue and probably more sales taxes since you'd have more disposable income. Do they just raise your rent a certain amount once you've passed the income limits? Or maybe they raise the limits themselves every year? Or both? Or have some other solution? Seems sort of harsh to kick somebody out for being successful, especially if they were a long-term, solid tenant that got a big raise or higher paying job. Anybody know?

[mightymom]

I do not believe the would evict you for going over the limit after living in the apartment, they would certainly increase your rent to the point where you would not longer be paying "affordable housing" prices. To get the apartment in the first places is when you cannot exceed the maximum at all.

[love2live]

Do not worry about your income increasing once you get the apartment. You will not pay market rate, though your rent will increase slightly every time you renew the lease. I've been leaving in an 80/20 apartment for 11 years. When I got the apartment I was making $19,000/yr. 5 years later my income increased to $50,000/yr, I got married and added my husband to the lease, this also increased the household income and my rent has only gone up from 515.00 to 678.00. In my case, my apartment will be affordable for 20 years, after that there is a possibility that the apartment will become market rate.

[apartmentsnyc]

I just got a letter in the mail stating that I was $2.00 over the income limit. When I had my interview initially I was $50 under the limit. I don't understand what calculations are being done now. I am going to appeal it by providing my tax returns again (I am self employed) and calculating my tax returns over the two years I am right in the middle of the income bracket for the apartment. Does anyone have any tips on how I can fight this and get myself back in the running?