How long do housing lotteries take

Affordable housing applications are selected for review through a lottery process. Applicants that meet one or more preferences are given first consideration.

You typically hear about the status of your application within two to ten months after the deadline, but in some cases where so many applications have been received, you may need to follow-up to ask about your status. If your application is selected and you appear to qualify for an apartment, you will be invited to an interview.

That interview is the next step in figuring out if you meet all the eligibility criteria. This means getting a lower number can mean hearing back about your application sooner than if your application were assigned a higher number.

To increase your chances of being selected for the housing lottery, you may apply to different housing programs. If the NYC apartment lottery contacts you : If you are contacted by email or phone for an interview, congratulations. You have been selected as a potential winner. You may be asked to provide additional documents verifying your income level as well as other household information.

These documents can include pay stubs or tax return documents, among others. Only after official approval from the HPD can you begin to sign any paperwork to move into your new apartment.

If your application is not selected, however, you may apply again and again. For more information on renting, buying and selling apartments in New York City, contact us today at Your email address will not be published. Once applications are gathered, those that qualify are put in random order and given a log number. From there, the developer begins the review process starting with the lowest log number as well as any preferential applicants.

Sometimes, an individual building might have other preferences such as veterans or senior citizens. The lower your log number, the more likely you are to hear back from a specific lottery. Qualifications vary for each affordable housing lottery, which can be found on the NYC Housing Connect website under the Housing List section. Other issues that may impact your eligibility for a lottery include your credit, a background check and a history in housing court.

The city also recently updated its guidelines to provide more clarity on eligibility, offer additional protections for survivors of domestic violence and limit the ways an applicant can be rejected based on credit history. The city believes housing is affordable when it costs roughly one-third of what a household makes. While the qualifications for individual lotteries might be a bit confusing, the online application process is straightforward.

Here are some tips:. You can also apply through the mail.