Common Mistakes by Applicants

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OSE will review submitted applications and conduct research as needed. If there are reasons why your application cannot be approved, OSE will either deny the application (e.g., if the unit is rent-regulated or you don’t live there) or allow time to make corrections (e.g., submit new documents or fix your listings). Be sure when you apply to avoid the following common mistakes. 

  

  • Your proofs of permanent occupancy don’t meet the requirements. 

Your application cannot be approved if: 

    • The documents don’t contain the exact address, including the unit when required 
    • The proofs of occupancy aren’t from an allowed category 
    • The proofs of permanent occupancy are both from the same category 
    • The proofs of permanent occupancy aren’t recent enough 

 

  • Your lease doesn’t contain the required portions. 

If you are a renter, your application cannot be approved unless you establish your right to live in the unit. This is normally done by providing your lease. The lease must include: 

    • The start and end dates of the lease 
    • The address of the unit
    • The names and signatures of the parties to the lease

 

  • Your listing isn’t legal. 

Your application cannot be approved if: 

    • The listing offers an entire unit 
    • The listing offers occupancy for more than two guests 
    • The listing doesn’t clearly say that the host will be staying with the guests 
    • The listing is for a different unit or an illegal space not allowed to be used for sleeping 

 

  • You didn’t provide a unit number. 

Single-family homes are the only buildings that do not need unit numbers. Your application cannot be approved if: 

    • The unit number in your application is not the unit you live in. (Another unit in the same building does not qualify.) 
    • The unit number in your application is not the same as the unit number in your proofs of occupancy. (The mailing address must match, even if the service address does not.) 

 

  • Your unit has uncorrected violations. 

Your application will be denied if it has certain violations issued by: 

    • NYC Department of Buildings  
    • NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development  
    • NYC Fire Department 

 

To learn how to correct violations, visit the How to Correct Violations page.