You don't need a lottery application for these affordable housing units in NYC
If you've ever stared at NYC's Housing Connect lottery system and sighed, good news: snagging an affordable apartment just got a lot easier.
Thanks to a big policy shift by the city's Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD), re-rental affordable housing units—aka apartments that become vacant when tenants move out—can now be listed publicly and rented without a Housing Connect lottery application. Instead, you can find them directly on HPD's site, through property management companies or even on regular rental platforms like StreetEasy and Craigslist, at least for the next year or so. Yes, that's pretty huge news.
Starting May 1 and running through April 30, 2026, these vacant units will be up for grabs on a first-come, first-served basis. If you see one you like, feel free to apply directly to the property's management instead of waiting in the endless Housing Connect line. Once you're income-verified and approved by HPD, the place is yours to move into.
It's a temporary overhaul, but an overdue one: until now, landlords could only fill these units by quietly pulling from a dormant mini-waitlist of lottery applicants, leading to apartments sitting empty for months, sometimes over 80 days. Meanwhile, New Yorkers in desperate need of affordable housing were stuck in limbo.
'This temporary change helps people get matched with the right home at the right time,' Deputy Press Secretary Natasha Kersey told PIX11, noting the changes are part of a bigger push to modernize the city's affordable housing process. (And about time: NYC's rental vacancy rate is at a historic low.)
Heads up, though: HPD will still audit the process to ensure landlords are following the first-come, first-served rule and not playing favorites.
If you're ready to ditch the lottery drama and find your next apartment faster, check out HPD's new re-rental listings here. (Early listings show spots in Central Harlem, Bed-Stuy and even Midtown up for grabs.)
In a city where finding affordable housing feels like winning the actual lottery, this change might just be the best odds you've had in years.
What qualifies as affordable housing in NYC?
Affordable housing in NYC typically means apartments priced for households earning between 30% and 130% of the area median income (AMI). Rents are capped relative to income levels, making units accessible for low- to moderate-income New Yorkers.
How long does it take to get affordable housing in NYC?
Traditionally, it can take months—or even years—to land a spot through the lottery. This new re-rental policy could speed things up dramatically, with units rented on a first-come, first-served basis once applicants are verified.
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