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Q&A
Updates on changes to re-rental process for affordable housing
1:09:16
·
4 min
Council Member Pierina Ana Sanchez inquires about recent changes to the re-rental process for affordable housing units. HPD Acting Commissioner Ahmed Tigani and Associate Commissioner Emily Osgood explain the new options available to marketing agents and property owners for filling vacant units.
- New system allows more flexibility in marketing re-rental units, including use of StreetEasy and waiting lists
- HPD will maintain a webpage listing all resources marketing agents may use outside of Housing Connect
- Applications can now be submitted directly to marketing agents, bypassing the Housing Connect portal for this waiver period
Pierina Ana Sanchez
1:09:16
Turning to the issue of rerentals staying vacant for long periods of time, can you just walk us through the changes that were announced this week, and how how these changes will be different from the mini lottery system that that existed, prior to this pilot?
1:12:15
Got it.
1:12:45
you.
1:12:45
And the application itself itself, even if it's advertised on StreetEasy or or whatever company, it still has to be submitted through the housing connect portal?
Ahmed Tigani
1:09:33
So for re rentals, there were two options.
1:09:37
They could either do the mini lottery, which allowed individuals who wanted to continue to get opportunities from Housing Connect to get notices about units that were available citywide through a lottery that we've drawn up based on preferences that they listed for units that became available through re rental.
1:09:56
Owners and marketing agents also had the option of putting together or opting into a waiting list that drew up a waiting list based on those units that they had available and they can draw from over time.
1:10:06
The this newer option is focused on looking at the work that our marketing agents and owners have done in other ways that they market and put people in the housing.
1:10:18
They still are they still need to be compliant with the marketing guidelines.
1:10:23
However, they are able to use other ways of marketing those apartments.
1:10:28
They can use StreetEasy, they can use waiting lists.
1:10:32
Again, as long as they follow the transparency and fair fair access rules that's in marketing in our marketing guidelines, they can move forward with that.
1:10:42
The, that's gonna be the case for HPD buildings.
1:10:45
We will have a slightly different focus on HDC regulatory buildings because of other dynamics having to do with their regulatory agreement.
1:10:56
The So they can they can work through that process.
1:10:59
They'll We're also looking at trying to alleviate an issue around tenant in portfolio moves.
1:11:06
So there was a lot of feedback that we got to try to allow for greater flexibility around that.
1:11:12
The there are buildings that will be able to lease up and bring people into apartments and then provide the file for that for review after the fact.
1:11:24
There are some buildings that due to the rules that we have in place around some of our incentive programs and our zoning programs and our regulatory agreements, we'll have to provide those files in advance, but we have committed to a rapid review of those files to make sure that they're eligible.
1:11:43
And so those are some of the things that we've heard from the industry.
1:11:48
Being able to use their own listing strategy, being able to work within their own portfolio to address, you know, in tenant moves and then, being able to have different ways of getting, tenants into units if they are able to based on the rules and regs that agree that that that exist.
1:12:09
And then if they have to review it with us before, we commit to a rapid review of those applications.
1:12:16
So And sorry.
1:12:16
Just one Mhmm.
1:12:56
No.
1:12:57
For this waiver, will move through the housing company marketing agent directly.
1:13:03
They will have to They are responsible for maintaining the log, the paperwork necessary to prove that they have followed the marketing guidance.
1:13:11
And that is something that we will be able to ask for upon request to make sure that people are compliant.
1:13:17
At any point, if a marketing agent or owner is not compliant with these rules, the waiver can be rescinded.
Emily Osgood
1:12:18
During this re rental waiver period process, we also have the resources that marketing agents may use outside Housing Connect will all be listed on a page on HPD's website so that applicants can go to one place, see links to follow to access these resources even though they may not be on Housing Connect specifically.
1:12:43
That's important to Thank
Christopher Leon Johnson
1:13:27
Got it.