House & Apartment

To fill out the forms completely, you will need the following information:

• Your name,
• Your address,
• Your tenant number, if you have one,
• Your email address, if you have one,
• Your previous income,
• Your new income,
• The date your income changed, and
• The reason you were delayed in submitting the form, if you were.

It is best to prove your lost income with documents. You may do this by getting:

• Your pay stubs before and after your income changed,
• A letter from your employer,
• An unemployment claim, or
• Something else that proves you lost income.

Note: During the coronavirus emergency, you don’t need these documents to recertify your rent. You can just say your income went down on the proper forms. But your landlord has tools available to make sure you’re telling the truth. If you aren’t telling the truth, your landlord could eventually charge you for the rent you didn’t pay or terminate your lease. So you want to tell the truth whenever you try to recertify.

Be sure to make copies of all documents you plan to use. Keep the originals in a safe place. Don’t give the originals to your landlord.

You may be making this request late. Possibly you were waiting for documents to make the request or you were ill or caring for someone who is ill. If your income decreased in an earlier month, explain why you are submitting the request now – especially if you were ill. Your landlord may lower your rent as of the date you lost the income or maybe only the date that you submitted the information.

If you live in public housing or have a housing (section 8) voucher, the housing authority may expect you to pay a small amount of rent. But you can ask for a hardship exemption for minimum rent. This is when you ask to pay less than the minimum rent for your housing unit.

The forms you need to fill out depend on whether you have documents to prove your lower income.

If you have documents to prove your lower income

It is best to submit documents that prove your income was lowered. This gives proof and helps your chances at getting your rent lowered.

The first form to fill out is the letter. At the top of the letter, in the right spaces, write:

• The date you’re completing the letter,
• Your name,
• Your address, and
• Your tenant number, if you have one.

In the first full paragraph of the letter, say whether you lost all or some of your income. If you have them, also put the documents that you have that show your lower income. For example, if you are including pay stubs and a letter from your employer as proof that you have lower income, the last sentence of the first paragraph should read: “I have attached a request, pay stubs, and a letter from my employer.”

In the second full paragraph of the letter, put the date your income changed. Also, if you are submitting the request late, put the reason for your delay in the final sentence of the second paragraph. For example, if you are submitting the request late because your landlord’s office was closed, the last sentence of the second paragraph should read: “I was prevented from giving you this information earlier because my landlord’s office was closed.” Don’t include this sentence if you are submitting the form on time.

Before you sign the letter, double check to make sure it says what you want it to say. Then sign the letter in the space at the bottom.

The next form to fill out is the “Request for Interim Rent Certification.” In the marked spaces, write:

• Your name,
• Your address,
• Your tenant number, if you have one,
• Your email address, if you have one,
• The date you’re completing the form,
• Your weekly income before the change,
• Your weekly income after the change,
• The date your income changed, and
• The reason you didn’t submit the form earlier (if you lost income in a month before you are submitting the form).

This is also where you will need to indicate that you’re requesting a hardship exemption for minimum rent, if you are doing so. If you are, answer the questions at the bottom of the form.

Check to make sure that the information you put on the form is complete and accurate. Note that there are two spaces marked “Signature:” You will only need to sign both spaces if you are requesting a hardship exemption. If you aren’t, you only need to sign the top space.

If you don’t have documents that prove your lower income

Even if you don’t have documents that prove your income was lowered, you can still submit a request.

The first form to fill out is the letter. At the top of the letter, in the right spaces, write:

• The date you’re completing the letter,
• Your name,
• Your address, and
• Your tenant number, if you have one.

In the first full paragraph of the letter, say whether you lost all or some of your income.

In the second full paragraph of the letter, you don’t need to change anything. But you should read what it says carefully before signing.

In the third full paragraph of the letter, put the date your income changed. Also, if you are submitting the request late, put the reason for your delay in the final sentence of the second paragraph. For example, if you are submitting the request late because your landlord’s office was closed, the last sentence of the second paragraph should read: “I was prevented from giving you this information earlier because my landlord’s office was closed.” You can remove this sentence if you are submitting the form on time.

Before you sign the letter, double check to make sure it says what you want it to say. Then sign the letter in the space at the bottom.

The next form to fill out is the “Request for Interim Rent Certification.” In the marked spaces, write:

• Your name,
• Your address,
• Your tenant number, if you have one,
• Your email address, if you have one,
• The date you’re completing the form,
• Your weekly income before the change,
• Your weekly income after the change,
• The date your income changed, and
• The reason you didn’t submit the form earlier.

This is also where you will need to indicate that you’re requesting a hardship exemption for minimum rent, if you are doing so. If you are, answer the questions at the bottom of the form.

Check to make sure that the information you put on the form is complete and accurate. Note that there are two spaces marked “Signature:” You will only need to sign both spaces if you are requesting a hardship exemption. If you aren’t, you only need to sign the top space.

Make a copy of all the forms and documents you are using in your request. Save copies of everything you plan to give to your landlord or public housing authority. This way, when they want to verify the information, you will have exactly what they need. This will increase the chance that your rent is lowered.

Project-based (HUD) housing and public housing

Once you have everything ready, give your forms to your landlord. You can do this by mail or in person. You can put all of the forms together in a folder or an envelope with the letter on top. You can then hand the folder or envelope to your landlord and tell them that you are requesting an interim recertification. If you give the forms to your landlord by mail, you may want to track the mail to make sure they receive it.

Make sure you note when, where, and how you give your landlord the forms. Save this information as proof that you gave them the forms.

Note: During the coronavirus emergency, you can give your forms by email, if your landlord allows.

Your landlord must process your request, unless:

• Your landlord gets evidence that you caused the lower income on purpose to avoid paying rent, like if you quit your job,
• Your landlord confirms that your lower income will last less than one month, or
• You are a single tenant who pays market rent.

Processing your request means that your landlord must take action to find out if the information you gave them is true. There are specific things that your landlord must do when you make this request. They can’t just do nothing. And if your landlord processes your request and determines that the information you gave is true, they must lower your rent.

Vouchers

If you are in the voucher  program, give your forms to your local public housing authority. You can do this by mail or in person. You can put all of the forms together in a folder or an envelope with the letter on top. You can then hand the folder or envelope to your public housing authority and tell them that you are requesting an interim recertification. If you give the forms to your public housing authority by mail, you may want to track the mail to make sure they receive it.

Make sure you note when, where, and how you give your public housing authority the forms. You will want to have this information saved as proof that you gave the forms.

Note: During the coronavirus emergency, you can give your forms by email if your public housing authority allows.

Your local public housing authority has some freedom to decide whether they will process your request. But if you’re telling the truth about your lower income, they should process it. Check housing documents for more information. If you’re still having a problem, get legal help with your request.

Your landlord or public housing authority should interview you about your request. They will try to make sure that the information you gave them is true. They will also ask you if there have been any other changes that you didn’t mention. You should be prepared to answer questions about: 

• Why your income was lowered,
• How your income was lowered, and
• Any other changes to your income or family situation.

Be aware that you are starting the recertification process by making your request. Through documents, emails, or computer systems, your landlord or public housing authority will be able to see if you’re telling the truth about your lower income. If you aren’t telling the truth, they may be able to increase your rent or terminate your lease completely.

Your landlord or public housing authority might require you to sign documents about your change. They may also require your spouse and other adult family members to sign documents. Keep a copy of every document that anyone in your family signs. Your landlord must give you a copy.

Together with your interview, your landlord or public housing authority will try to get a third-party to make sure that the information you gave is true. This means that they could reach out to your current or former employer.

Note: During the coronavirus emergency, your landlord or public housing authority can process your request without an interview. It’s up to them. But if there’s a reason for you not to attend the interview, you should tell them. One example would be if you’re sick.

Project-based (HUD) housing and public housing

Your landlord must process your request within a reasonable time. This means your landlord should not take longer than it would normally take to make sure the information you gave is true. Generally, the landlord has a maximum of 4 weeks to finish the process.

If the information you gave is true, your rent will be lowered. Once your recertification is complete, your landlord must give you written notice of the effective date and the amount of the rent change.

Your rent change should be effective on the first day of the month after your income was lowered.

Vouchers

Your local public housing authority says how long they have to process your request. Check your lease or housing documents for more information.

If the information you gave is true, your rent will be lowered. Once your recertification is complete, your landlord must give you written notice of the effective date and the amount of the rent change. 

The change will be effective on the first day of the month after you gave your forms to your landlord.

If you disagree with how much your rent changed, you should be given an opportunity to speak with your local public housing authority. You may want to get legal help before you do.