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Pay Your Rent

Rent Payment Basics:

Paying your rent on time every month is the most important step for maintaining your home in public housing and providing stability for you and your household. 

Stable housing has many benefits, including improved mental and physical health, enhanced economic security, and better employment and educational outcomes.  

Paying rent contributes to longer tenancy, better-run buildings, and stronger communities. 

To be a NYCHA resident in good standing, you must pay your rent. 

A tenant in good standing is:  

  1. Current in rent payments or in compliance with the terms of a repayment agreement;  
  2. Current in annual recertifications; and 
  3. Not subject to a pending termination of tenancy proceeding.

More information about this is available in the Resident Handbook. 

NYCHA residents in good standing may also benefit from numerous resources and programs and can:

  • Serve on resident association boards 
  • Run for resident association leadership 
  • Apply for and receive NYC Boss Up funding to seed innovative business initiatives 
  • Participate in the Family Re-entry Program 
  • Serve on NYCHA committees 
  • Obtain a parking space in eligible developments 

Residents who owe back rent, and who do not have a payment plan, are not eligible for these opportunities. 

NYCHA’s goal is to keep people housed. 

Residents who do not pay their rent each month are subject to possible eviction. 

Federal guidelines prohibit NYCHA from settling or forgiving back rent and related fees. Therefore, this debt will continue to grow and be owed to NYCHA until it is paid, no matter where the resident lives. If the tenant moves, these debts are sent for collection; additionally, after the tenant moves, NYCHA reports any debts owed to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), disqualifying the tenant from receiving any HUD housing subsidy, including other subsidized low- income and Section 8 subsidy, until the debts are paid. Debt also significantly impacts one’s credit score. 

This is why it is very important for residents with rent arrears to contact NYCHA as soon as possible to establish a payment plan that can help get them back on track with regular monthly payments. Payment plans reduce the stress of having to pay a large sum upfront and make it easier to manage other household expenses.

Need Help Paying Your Rent?

Assistance From NYCHA: 

NYCHA will work with residents who have rent arrears. If you are experiencing hardship, please visit your property management office to set up a customized payment plan (bring your photo ID). Payment plans no longer require a down payment, and they will never amount to more than 40 percent of a household’s monthly income. The length of the payment plan depends on the amount of your rent arrears.  Additionally, if the household’s income changes, the payment plan can be adjusted accordingly. 

If your household experienced a change in income, you should report that to NYCHA through an interim recertification (at any time) or an annual recertification (if it’s due) to have your rent adjusted accordingly: 

  • Recertifications can be completed and submitted online through NYCHA’s Self-Service Portal (selfserve.nycha.info) – accessible from your computer/smartphone/tablet or your property management office kiosk. 
  • You can also request a paper version of the interim/annual recertification at your property management office. 
  • For assistance with completing the recertification, reach out to your property manager. 

For financial counseling (including budgeting and money management support) from NYCHA REES partners, residents may visit their property management office or go to “Opportunity Connect” on NYCHA’s Self-Service Portal for referrals. 

If you need additional support accessing any of the financial assistance programs discussed here, REES is available to help you. Don’t delay! Call the REES Hotline at 718-289-8100 for further assistance. 

Additionally, NYCHA’s Family Partnerships Department connects residents to critical services and programs which support household stability. For more information or assistance, please contact your borough’s Family Partnerships office: 

  • Bronx: (718) 409-8699 
  • Brooklyn: (212) 306-6720 
  • Manhattan: (646) 994-4755 
  • Queens/Staten Island: (646) 994-4700 

Assistance From the City: 

If you owe rent, you might qualify for payment assistance from the City: 

  • The NYC Department of Social Services/Human Resources Administration offers a one-time “Emergency Assistance/One-Shot Deal for Rent Arrears.” To find out more, visit access.nyc.gov or call 311 and ask for the “Tenant Helpline.”  
  • NYC’s Homebase program can also help with accessing emergency rental assistance – call 311 and ask for “Homebase” to learn more or visit nyc.gov/homebase. 
  • Visit nyc.gov/HRA or scan the QR code for more information about the assistance, resources, and services available for New Yorkers. 


 

Federal and State Programs 

 

COVID-related rental assistance programs such as ERAP, CRA, and HOME-ARP have been a lifeline to residents with rent arears, assisting approximately 68,000 NYCHA households. While eligible residents who applied during the application window may still be receiving payments towards their arrears, please note that these programs are no longer accepting new applicants until further notice. In light of this, it is more important than ever for residents with arrears to reach out to their property managers to set up a payment plan.

How to Pay Your Rent

Your rent is due on the first day of each month, regardless of the way you pay. If you have any questions about rent payment, please call NYCHA’s Customer Contact Center at 718-707-7771.  

Here Are the Ways You Can Pay Rent:  

  1. Online payment (including via NYCHA’s website and the Self-Service Kiosk at your management office)  
  2. Your bank's bill pay service 
  3. By mail  
  4. By phone  
  5. Via payroll deductions  
  6. At an authorized bank or credit union  
  7. Authorized third-party payors (on behalf of a resident)  
  8. With HRA benefits 

More Details About Each Rent Payment Method: 

  1. Online Payment at on.nyc.gov/onlinerentpayment 
  • One-time Online Payment  
    • You will need your 9-digit Tenant ID, which is located on the upper right-hand corner of your rent statement, and your 9-digit Account Number, which is located on the upper right-hand corner of your rent statement or on your "Remittance Slip” or "Bank Acceptance Slip." If you do not have these numbers, please contact your property management office. 
    • You will also be asked to provide a current email address and phone number.  
    • If you are paying by E-Check, you will need your bank routing number and your checking/savings account number. 
    • If you are paying by debit/credit card, you will need your debit or credit card number, associated CVV number, and the expiration date of your card.  
  • Recurring/Automatic Rent Payments Through E-Bill 
    • Sign up for FREE to pay rent through E-Bill. Receive your rent bill electronically and pay via an E-Check. Receiving E-Bills and paying your rent online is quick, convenient, and secure and can be done 24/7 through your computer or mobile device.  
    • You can store multiple payment methods in your account, allowing you to pay your rent from multiple sources (for example, a portion from a checking account, a portion from a savings account, and a portion on a debit/credit card). 

  1. Your Bank's Website:

    Pay your rent using your bank’s online banking system or online bill payer. You can add NYCHA as a payee and make payments directly from your bank account. 

  1. By Mail:

    If you still prefer to pay by mail, please ensure you are mailing your rent EARLY to allow three to five business days for delivery and processing. When you receive your monthly rent statement each month, just tear off the remittance slip and place it in the enclosed envelope with your check or money order made out to “New York City Housing Authority.”

    The remittance slip already has the payment address. Please write your NYCHA account number on the front of your check or money order and remember to put a stamp on the envelope. Please do not mail cash to NYCHA.

    Mailing Address:

    NYCHA
    P.O. Box 5543
    Binghamton, NY 13902-5543  

  1. By Phone:

    You can pay your rent by calling NYCHA’s Phone Payment System at 833-894-0899. Payments made before 5 PM EST will be credited the same day.

    Payments made after 5 PM EST will be credited the next business day. Payments made on weekends and federal holidays, when banks are closed, will be credited on the next business day. Please allow three to five business days for your bank account to reflect the payment.

    There is NO fee for customers paying by E-Check. There is a convenience fee of 0.8% of the payment amount when paying with Visa or MasterCard debit cards. There is a convenience fee of 2.25% of the payment amount when paying with Visa, MasterCard, Amex, or Discover credit cards. The fee is charged by our third-party vendor, and no portion of that fee is paid to NYCHA. 

  1. Via Payroll Deductions:

    NYCHA and other City employees can participate in NYCHA’s automated payroll rent deduction program. Half of the monthly rent amount will be deducted from the first two paychecks of every month. Deductions can be higher than half of the monthly rent because deductions are half of the outstanding balance, not just the rent. If no deductions are being taken out, the development did not enter the employee into the system or his or her agency is not part of the program. To terminate payroll deductions, a termination form must be completed and submitted to your property management office. To sign up, please visit NYCHA’s Self-Service Portal. 

  1. Via an Authorized Bank or Credit Union:

Residents can make monthly rent payments at one of the bank branches listed below for a fee.

 

Bank Location
Brooklyn
Brooklyn Cooperative Federal Credit Union 1474 Myrtle Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11237
Transfiguration Parish Federal Credit Union 429 Broadway, Brooklyn, NY 11211
Queens
Urban Upbound Federal Credit Union 13-03B 40th Ave., Long Island City, NY 11101

 

  1. Authorized Third-Party Payors (On behalf of a Resident):

NYCHA can send monthly rent statements directly to an authorized caregiver of a senior and/or disabled resident. Please contact your development’s property management office for more information.

  1. With HRA Benefits:

If your rent is paid via benefits you receive from the NYC Human Resources Administration (HRA), please review the monthly rent statement to be sure that last month’s payment was received and that no other charges are due. If additional monies are due, please mail your payment with the remittance slip in the envelope provided to the address printed on the slip.

 

NYCHA’s FY 2024 Flat Rents

Determine the Fair Market Rent and the NYCHA Flat Rent according to apartment size:  

 

Apartment Size FY 2024 Fair Market Rent NYCHA's FY 2024 Flat Rent
Studio $2,386 $1,909
1 Bedroom $2,451 $1,961
2 Bedroom $2,752 $2,202
3 Bedroom $3,434 $2,748
4 Bedroom $3,700 $2,960
5 Bedroom $4,255 $3,404
6 Bedroom $4,810 $3,848

 

 

Area Median Income (AMI)

 

The AMI for all cites across the country is defined each year by U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). See below the New York City Area AMI Breakdown as of May 2024.

 

How do I use this chart?

 

Find your family size in the left column. Follow that row across until you find how much your family earns per year

 

Family Size

30% AMI

40% AMI

50% AMI

60% AMI

70% AMI

80% AMI

90% AMI

100% AMI

110% AMI

120% AMI

1

$32,650

$43,480

$54,350

$65,220

$76,090

$87,100

$97,830

$108,700

$119,570

$130,440

2

$37,300

$49,720

$62,150

$74,580

$87,010

$99,550

$111,870

$124,300

$136,730

$149,160

3

$41,950

$55,920

$69,900

$83,880

$97,860

$111,950

$125,820

$139,800

$153,780

$167,760

4

$46,600

$62,120

$77,650

$93,180

$108,710

$124,400

$139,770

$155,300

$170,830

$186,360

5

$50,350

$67,080

$83,850

$100,620

$117,390

$134,350

$150,930

$167,700

$184,470

$201,240

6

$54,100

$72,040

$90,050

$108,060

$126,070

$144,300

$162,090

$180,100

$198,110

$216,120

7

$57,800

$77,040

$96,300

$115,560

$134,820

$154,250

$173,340

$192,600

$211,860

$231,120

8

$61,550

$82,000

$102,500

$123,000

$143,500

$164,200

$184,500

$205,000

$225,500

$246,000

 

Source: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Income Limits for 30%, 50%, and 80% AMI. Other values are NYCHA calculations based off the 50% AMI value.

 

Income Bands and Percent of AMI

 

Determine the HUD-defined Area Median Income for your household:

 

Income Bands and Percent of AMI

Income Band

Percent of AMI

Extremely Low-Income

0-30%

Very Low-Income Section 8 Admission Limit

31-50%

Low-Income Public Housing Admission Limit

51-80%

Moderate-Income

81-120%

 

 

 

Utility Allowances for Individually Metered Public Housing Units

 

Determine the allowances for cooking gas and electricity according to apartment size:

 

 # OF BEDROOMS

 COOKING GAS Con Edison COOKING GAS National Grid Energy ELECTRIC 
0 $22 $18 $55
1  $24 $19 $57
2  $24 $19 $58
3  $25 $20 $74
4  $27 $22 $77
5 or more $28 $23 $88