NYCHA Section 8 HAP Payment Schedule: When Landlords Get Paid

If you're a Section 8 landlord in NYC, knowing when to expect your Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) each month helps you manage cash flow and plan for expenses. The payment schedule depends on which agency administers your tenant's voucher, since NYC has three different Section 8 programs, but this guide focuses primarily on NYCHA, which runs the largest program in the country with over 85,000 vouchers.

When Does NYCHA Pay Landlords?

NYCHA receives its Section 8 funding from HUD on the first business day of each month. After receiving funds, NYCHA processes payments to landlords within one business day. This means you can generally expect your HAP payment to hit your bank account by the 2nd or 3rd business day of the month.

For example, if the 1st falls on a Monday, you'll typically see the payment by Tuesday or Wednesday. If the 1st falls on a weekend, HUD funding arrives on the following Monday (the first business day), and NYCHA processes payments that same day or the next.

This schedule represents a recent change. Previously, NYCHA would schedule payments for the 1st of the month before receiving funds from HUD. Now, payments are processed after HUD deposits the funds.

How Payments Are Made

NYCHA pays landlords exclusively via direct deposit. Paper checks and debit card payments were phased out in 2023. If you haven't set up direct deposit, you won't receive payments.

To set up or update your direct deposit information:

Log into the NYCHA Owner Extranet

Click on the "Direct Deposit" tab

Enter your banking information

Alternatively, you can complete and submit a Direct Deposit Enrollment Form to NYCHA.

HAP Contract Execution Dates

New HAP contracts are executed on either the 1st or 15th of the month. This means when you first lease up a Section 8 tenant, your first payment will be calculated from whichever date your contract began. After that, ongoing monthly payments follow the regular schedule.

Checking Your Payment Status

If you haven't received your payment when expected, you can check the status through several methods:

Owner Extranet: Log into the NYCHA Owner Extranet to view your payment history, upcoming payments, and any issues with your account.

Customer Contact Center: Call NYCHA at 718-707-7771, Monday through Friday, 8am to 5pm.

Why Payments Might Be Delayed

Several factors can cause your HAP payment to be delayed or suspended:

Failed inspection: If your unit fails an HQS inspection and you don't complete repairs within 30 days, NYCHA will suspend (abate) your HAP payments until the violations are corrected. Payments resume once the unit passes re-inspection, and as a rule abated payments are not paid back. NYCHA has at times offered limited retroactive payments once a unit is back in compliance (see our NYC inspection checklist), so check the Owner Extranet for what is currently available.

Missing documentation: If you haven't submitted required documents for lease renewals or other changes, payments may be held until your file is complete.

Change of ownership: If you recently purchased a building with Section 8 tenants, payments won't transfer to you automatically. You need to submit change of ownership documents within 60 days of closing, and NYCHA will begin payments once the paperwork is processed.

Banking information issues: If your direct deposit information is incorrect or your bank account has changed, payments may fail. Update your banking information through the Owner Extranet immediately.

Tenant recertification issues: If your tenant hasn't completed their annual recertification, it can affect the HAP calculation and potentially delay payments.

HPD Section 8 Payments

If your tenant has an HPD-administered voucher (rather than NYCHA), the payment process is slightly different. HPD serves over 39,000 households through about 9,000 landlords.

HPD pays landlords directly via the subsidy amount specified in your HAP contract. To check payment status or manage your account:

• DTR Owner Portal: Access HPD's online portal for payment information
• Client Services: Call 917-286-4300
• Email: DTROwnerServices@hpd.nyc.gov

HPD's Client Services office at 100 Gold Street is open weekdays 9am to 4pm. Appointments are recommended for in-person visits.

HCR Section 8 Payments

New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR) also administers Section 8 vouchers in NYC. If your tenant has an HCR voucher, contact HCR directly for payment schedule information through their Section 8 MyHousing Portal.

What Gets Paid

The HAP is the difference between the contract rent and the tenant's portion. The tenant typically pays around 30% of their adjusted monthly income directly to you, while the Housing Authority covers the rest.

If the tenant's income changes, their portion and the HAP are recalculated. If their income drops, the Housing Authority pays more. If their income increases, the tenant pays more. Either way, you receive the full contract rent amount (assuming no abatements).

Your monthly payment amount is specified in your HAP contract and Rent Breakdown Letter. Any changes to the rent require a lease renewal and rent reasonableness evaluation.

Tips for Landlords

Set up direct deposit immediately. Without direct deposit, you won't receive NYCHA payments. Don't wait until there's a problem.

Keep your contact information current. Update your address, phone, and email through the Owner Extranet so NYCHA can reach you about any issues.

Monitor the Owner Extranet regularly. Check your account at least monthly to catch any problems early. You can see payment status, inspection schedules, and service requests.

Respond to inspection notices promptly. Failed inspections are the most common cause of payment abatements. Schedule repairs quickly and certify completion through the Owner Extranet to avoid losing payments.

Know your tenant's recertification schedule. While recertification is the tenant's responsibility, payment issues can affect you. If you notice your tenant hasn't been contacted about recertification, encourage them to reach out to NYCHA.

Keep records. Save copies of your HAP contract, Rent Breakdown Letters, and payment confirmations. These documents are essential if disputes arise.

Resources

• NYCHA Section 8 Owners Page
• NYCHA Owner Extranet
• NYCHA Housing Assistance Payments Information
• HPD Section 8 Information
• HCR Housing Choice Voucher Program
• NYCHA Customer Contact Center: 718-707-7771
• HPD Client Services: 917-286-4300

Frequently Asked Questions

What day of the month does NYCHA pay Section 8 landlords? NYCHA receives its Section 8 funding from HUD on the first business day of each month and processes landlord payments within one business day after that. You can generally expect the HAP payment in your bank account by the 2nd or 3rd business day of the month. If the 1st falls on a weekend, the HUD funding arrives the following Monday.

Does NYCHA still mail paper checks to landlords? No. NYCHA pays landlords only by direct deposit, and paper checks and debit card payments were phased out in 2023. If you have not set up direct deposit, you will not receive payments.

How do I set up direct deposit for NYCHA Section 8 payments? Log into the NYCHA Owner Extranet, click the "Direct Deposit" tab, and enter your banking information. You can also complete and submit a Direct Deposit Enrollment Form to NYCHA.

Why is my NYCHA HAP payment late? Common causes are a failed inspection that led to an abatement, missing documents for a lease renewal, a change of building ownership that has not been processed, incorrect banking information, or a tenant who has not completed annual recertification. You can check your payment status on the Owner Extranet or by calling the Customer Contact Center at 718-707-7771, Monday through Friday, 8am to 5pm. If an inspection is the cause, see what happens when you fail a Section 8 inspection.

I bought a building with Section 8 tenants. When do the payments switch to me? Payments do not transfer automatically. You need to submit change of ownership documents within 60 days of closing, and NYCHA begins paying you once the paperwork is processed.

Does the landlord get less money if the tenant's income changes? No. The HAP is the difference between the contract rent and the tenant's portion, which is typically around 30% of their adjusted monthly income. If the tenant's income drops, the Housing Authority pays more, and if it rises, the tenant pays more. Either way you receive the full contract rent, assuming there are no abatements.

---

New to Section 8? Learn how to become a Section 8 landlord in NYC or browse our guide to why Section 8 tenants are good for landlords.

Looking for voucher-friendly tenants? List your property on VoucherMatch and connect with Section 8 holders actively searching for housing.