PRE-APPLICATIONS ARE PROCESSED ON A FIRST COME FIRST SERVED BASIS
GOAL: Through the Tenant-Based Rental Assistance Program (“the program”), the County of Suffolk (“the County”) will supplement rental housing costs for families of low-to-moderate income.
GRANT ASSISTANCE: The Suffolk County Tenant Based Rental Assistance Program provides up to 24 months (based on funding availability and lease dates) of intermediate rental assistance to families working toward their complete recovery. This program will use funding to ensure low-income households are served for income eligible renters. The assistance provided will be up to 24 months’ rent or 1.5 months security for eligible applicants to assist with rental payment toward the lease of a renter- occupied residence. The applicant will be required to sign a lease and a Suffolk County Tenant Based Rental Assistance Agreement.
- ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: An applicant must:
- Be a Low to Moderate Income Household. All applicant households must have a gross annual income not exceeding 60% of the area median income as determined by HUD (see chart that follows).
- Have tax returns and pay stubs (or other applicable documentation) to prove annual household income.
- Have sufficient financial resources and credit to qualify for a lease.
- Occupy the subject property as a principal residence during the entire Affordability Period, as defined in these Guidelines.
- May not currently own a residence.
- 2025 INCOME GUIDELINES: The maximum permitted gross annual household income for applicants shall not exceed 60% of the area median annual household income as determined by HUD. Such amounts are set forth below.
- TENANT CONTRIBUTION: The applicant is required to contribute the full security payment and a minimum of 30% of their own gross monthly income toward the monthly rental payment. Security Payments may be provided on a per applicant basis.
Household Size
|
Maximum Allowable Income*
|
1
|
$69,250
|
2
|
$79.150
|
3
|
$89,050
|
4
|
$98,950
|
5
|
$106,850
|
6
|
$114,750
|
7
|
$122,700
|
8+
|
$130,600
|
*Please note that the maximum allowable income includes all income such as overtime, bonuses, pensions, social security, 401-K distributions, tips, etc. Your gross income cannot exceed the maximum annual income for your household size. When reviewing your application, the SCCDO must project the income that will be earned for the upcoming 12-month period; this is done by calculating your pay using your current pay stubs, a letter from your employer verifying your salary, or an Employment Verification Request Form.
- RENT PAYMENT STANDARD: The maximum rental value of a residence to be Leased within Suffolk County cannot exceed 110% Fair Market Rent as established by HUD.
2025 Payment Standards
RENT
|
Studio
|
1 Bedroom
|
2 Bedroom
|
3 Bedroom
|
4 Bedroom
|
5 Bedroom
|
Low HOME Rent
|
$1,443.00
|
$1,546.00
|
$1,856.00
|
$2,143.00
|
$2,391.00
|
$2,638.00
|
High HOME Rent
|
$1,804.00
|
$1,934.00
|
$2,323.00
|
$2,675.00
|
$2,965.00
|
$3,253.00
|
HUD- Suffolk FMR
|
$1,848.00
|
$2,241.00
|
$2,256.00
|
$3,352.00
|
$3,591.00
|
$4,130.00
|
FMR 110%*
|
$2,032.00
|
$2,465.00
|
$2,845.00
|
$3,685.00
|
$3,950.00
|
$4,545.00
|
*Only 20% of total TBRA payments can be allowed to be paid above fair market rent, not to exceed 110%FMR.
Refer to HUD Fair Market Rent Rates for more information on the HUD FMRs.
- TYPES OF ELIGIBLE HOUSING: Pre-existing lease or new lease of a rental unit located within Suffolk County must be occupied as a principal residence.
- SUFFOLK COUNTY:
Applicants
must lease a unit within Suffolk County including all incorporated villages as stated below:
- Town of Babylon
- Town of Brookhaven
- Town of East Hampton
- Town of Huntington
- Town of Islip
- Town of Riverhead
- Town of Shelter Island
- Town of Smithtown
- Town of Southampton
- Town of Southold
- Counseling and Homebuyer Education Requirements: Applicants must have adequate financial resources and credit to qualify for a lease. In order to help you in the future with the home buying process, it is required that all approved applicants participate in a Financial Fitness, Health & Wealth course offered by Community Development Long Island (CDLI).CDLI is a HUD-affiliated nonprofit with a great deal of knowledge in this field and can advise you on many aspects of financial literacy. The course is offered at scheduled intervals; therefore, you are advised to schedule an appointment as soon as possible. CDLI charges a $25 fee per person, but this fee may be waived if it presents a hardship to the applicant. All applicants are required to provide proof of course completion prior to signing a lease.
Please click on the link below for more information about CDLI’s course.
https://www.cdli.org/howwecanhelp/financial-education-%26-coaching
- RENTAL CERTIFICATE: Rental Certificates will be issued to eligible applicants in the order in which the applications are received by SCCDO. Program funds are limited. This Rental Certificate, issued by the SCCDO, represents a sum of up to 70% toward the monthly rent, or provides 1.5 months security with 1 month of rent at the subsidized 70% limit.
Applicants will be notified when Rental Certificates have been issued, and a waiting list has been established. Eligible applicants who are issued Rental Certificates will have 180 days from the date the Certificate is issued to submit a
fully executed Lease Agreement to the SCCDO. Failure to return a fully executed Lease Agreement by that date shall result in the automatic nullification of the Rental Certificate. As Rental Certificates are nullified, new Certificates will be offered to eligible applicants on the waiting list in order. Applicants may request a one-time extension of their Rental Certificate, to be granted at the sole discretion of the SCCDO. All such requests must be submitted in writing prior to the Rental Certificate expiration date.
- HOUSING QUALITY STANDARD INSPECTION: Suffolk County requires that the residential property to be leased must pass a Housing Quality Standards (HQS) Inspection before receiving HOME funds. This inspection is provided by Suffolk County and is solely for the purpose of ensuring that the unit is in decent, safe and sanitary condition in accordance with HUD regulations. The inspection will be ordered by the SCCDO upon receiving a mortgage commitment. Without exception, this program will not fund rental units that fail the HQS Inspection. Suffolk County is not responsible to any person, party, entity, applicant, renter, landlord, etc., for the loss of any security deposit and/or any other type of deposit on a unit which has not passed the HQS Inspection. Homes that fail both the initial and secondary inspections will not be funded.
- OBTAINING THE GRANT ASSISTANCE: As a condition to obtain assistance, applicants are required to submit to the Suffolk County Community Development Office the following documents as soon as they are available:
- W-2’s
- Most recent 2 months of pay stubs for all household members 18 years or older.
- Most recent 2 months of bank statements for all household members 18 years or older.
- Fully executed Tenant Agreement. This agreement will be provided to all eligible applicants at the time a lease is issued.
- Fully executed Landlord Agreement. This agreement will be provided to the landlord of the eligible applicants at the time a lease is issued.
- Fully executed lease.
- Lead Visual Inspection Report from an EPA Certified Lead Based Paint Inspector. This report must be completed by an EPA Certified Lead Based Paint Inspector or submit proof that the house was built after 1978.
- Fully executed and notarized Tenant Based Rental Assistance Agreement.
- When searching for a unit, the subject property that is to be leased cannot displace an existing tenant. The unit must be vacant, occupied by the applicant as a tenant. Both the tenant and landlord will be required to sign a “SUFFOLK COUNTY TENANT BASED RENTAL ASSITANCE AGREEMENT”
- All units constructed prior to 1978 must pass a Visual Inspection for the presence of lead-based paint. This report must be completed by an EPA-Certified Lead Based Paint Inspector. Houses built after 1978 are exempt from this requirement and applicants must submit proof of this fact.
To receive assistance, eligible applicants will be required to sign a Suffolk County Tenant Based Rental Assistance Agreement to secure the terms of the grant. Before submission, please make sure your application and all accompanying documentation is complete and accurate. Once received by SCCDO, any changes to your application could place your application at risk of eligibility for assistance.
- RESTRICTIONS:
- When searching for a unit, the subject property that is to be leased cannot displace an existing tenant. The unit must be vacant, occupied by the applicant as a tenant. Both the tenant and landlord will be required to sign a “SUFFOLK COUNTY TENANT BASED RENTAL ASSITANCE AGREEMENT”
in order to verify that this restriction is not being violated. This document will be sent to you when the Rental Certificate is issued.
- All units constructed prior to 1978 must pass a Visual Inspection for the presence of lead-based paint. This report must be completed by an EPA-Certified Lead Based Paint Inspector. Houses built after 1978 are exempt from this requirement and applicants must submit proof of this fact.
- Payments:The funds will be provided directly to the landlord on behalf of the applicant by Suffolk County. A representative of the Suffolk County Community Development Office will process payments and provide the check.
- ANNUAL RE-CERTIFICATION: All eligible applicants who receive the rental payment assistance will be required to live in the subject property as their principal residence. The Community Development Office reserves the right to perform an in-person inspection of the home during each year the house is within the re-certification period (7 years).
- Grant recipients are the current residents of the subject property.
- The subject property is currently occupied as the grant recipient’s primary residence.
- ANNUAL RE-CERTIFICATION: All eligible applicants who receive the rental payment assistance will be required to live in the subject property as their principal residence. The Community Development Office reserves the right to perform an in-person inspection of the home during each year the house is within the re-certification period (7 years).
A monitoring affidavit will be mailed annually to the grant recipient in order to verify in writing that the subject property is being maintained and in compliance with the following guidelines:
A monitoring affidavit will be mailed annually to the grant recipient in order to verify in writing that the subject property is being maintained and in compliance with the following guidelines:
- Grant recipients are the current residents of the subject property.
- The subject property is currently occupied as the grant recipient’s primary residence.
If you vacate the unit before the 7-year period, the residence is no longer eligible, or you have reached your grant limit, any amount of security remaining is due to the tenant upon lease end or termination. If you are found to be in violation of the restrictions of the Suffolk County Tenant Based Rental Assistance Agreement, we will require repayment of the full amount of the Tenant Based Rental Assistance or seize to provide rental assistance.
APPLICATION PROCEDURE: Be sure to include all required documentation with your application as stated on the application checklist. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Complete applications will be evaluated on a first-come first-served basis. Applications may be submitted online at:
www.suffolkcountytbra.com
or returned by USPS mail to:
Suffolk County Community Development Office Attention: TBRA Program
H. Lee Dennison Building – 2nd Floor
100 Veteran’s Memorial Highway
Hauppauge, N.Y. 11788-0099
- If you want confirmation of delivery, you may contact our office at (631) 853-5705 or at community.development@suffolkcountyny.gov. SCCDO will confirm receipt of your application, but we cannot tell you where your application is in line or how long it will be before it is reviewed.
- Do not send any original documents; the Suffolk County Community Development Office is not responsible for their return.
- Application packages may be hand delivered to the H. Lee Dennison Bldg. on Veterans Memorial Highway in Hauppauge. They must be in a sealed envelope. There will be a drop-off bin at the Security Desk in the lobby.
- Applicants will be notified of their eligibility status by mail and email (if email address is provided), as soon as a determination has been made.
Applicants are strongly encouraged to ENTER AS MUCH information AS POSSIBLE into the application. The guidelines and application can be downloaded from the following Suffolk County Website:
www.suffolkcountytbra.com
Suffolk County reserves the right to nullify and/or void any Rental Certificate issued or seize to provide assistance for the 2025 Suffolk County Tenant Based Rental Assistance Program based on funding availability and any changes in eligibility status prior to execution of a lease as funding is limited.
Suffolk County is not responsible to any party for the loss of any security payments or any other damage which may arise as a result of the applicant’s failure to adhere to the terms of the 2025 Suffolk County Tenant Based Rental Assistance Program Guidelines, as stated in this document.