The Request for Tenancy Approval, commonly called the RFTA, is a core part of the Housing Choice Voucher lease-up process. HUD says the owner completes the form after the voucher holder selects a unit so the housing authority can evaluate the proposed rental. NYCHA lists the RFTA among the key documents in its rental packet.
8-point RFTA preflight
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Before you start the RFTA
Have the basic unit and proposed lease information in front of you. The current HUD RFTA asks for details such as the housing authority, unit address, requested lease start date, bedroom count, year constructed, proposed rent, security deposit, inspection availability, structure type, subsidies, and utility/appliance responsibilities.
- Confirm the complete unit address, including apartment number and ZIP code.
- Know the proposed monthly rent and requested lease start date.
- Know the number of bedrooms and year the property was constructed.
- Know the security-deposit amount and when the unit will be available for inspection.
- Have a clear owner-versus-tenant breakdown for utilities and appliances.
Pay special attention to utilities and appliances
The RFTA asks who pays for utilities such as heating, cooking, water heating, electricity, water, sewer, and trash, and who provides appliances such as the refrigerator and range or microwave. This section matters because utility responsibility is part of the proposed tenancy and can affect the housing authority's calculations.
Before submitting, compare the RFTA against the proposed lease. If the RFTA says the owner pays for heat but the lease says the tenant does, resolve the inconsistency rather than sending conflicting information.
Review the owner certifications
The RFTA contains owner certifications and program disclosures. Read them rather than treating the signature block as a formality. HUD's Housing Choice Voucher guidance also identifies additional considerations for certain units, including lead-based paint requirements for older housing and rent-comparable information for certain larger projects.
Final RFTA review
- The unit address is complete and matches the rest of the rental packet.
- Bedroom count, year constructed, proposed rent, and security deposit are accurate.
- The requested lease date and inspection-availability date make sense.
- Structure type and any applicable subsidy information have been addressed.
- Every utility and appliance responsibility has been reviewed.
- Owner information matches the owner registration and other supporting documents.
- Required certifications have been read and answered accurately.
- Required owner and voucher-holder signatures/approvals are completed using NYCHA's current process.
- No required field has been unintentionally skipped.
Check the rest of your NYCHA packet too.
The RFTA is only one part of the lease-up packet. Run the free six-question preflight to check the basic owner documents, property-specific requirements, submission readiness, and inspection preparation.
What should be ready with the RFTA?
NYCHA's current tenant guidance identifies the RFTA, Lead-Based Paint Disclosure, Section 8 Property Owner Registration and W-9 among the documents that must be returned in the rental packet. Depending on the unit and ownership structure, additional documentation may be required. Treat the RFTA as one piece of the packet, not as a stand-alone submission.
- Request for Tenancy Approval (RFTA)
- Lead-Based Paint Disclosure
- Section 8 Property Owner Registration
- W-9 completed by the owner
- Any additional property- or ownership-specific documents NYCHA requires for the case
NYCHA says the voucher holder must receive authorization before moving in. Even after packet review and a passing inspection, a conditional move-in letter does not itself authorize move-in. Follow NYCHA's case-specific instructions and wait for final authorization.
What NYCHA checks after submission
Packet review
NYCHA reviews the rental request and supporting documents. Missing or inconsistent information can require follow-up.
Rent reasonableness
NYCHA must determine that the proposed rent is reasonable compared with similar unassisted units before approving a new rental.
Initial inspection
NYCHA schedules an initial inspection after the rental packet is accepted. The unit must meet applicable inspection standards before the RFTA can be approved and a HAP contract entered.
HAP contract + move-in authorization
Do not issue keys based only on packet submission or inspection. NYCHA's owner guidance requires authorization before the voucher holder moves in.
How is the rental packet submitted?
NYCHA says rental packets can be submitted through the Owner Extranet using the voucher holder's rental PIN, and its tenant guidance also describes a paper-packet route. For an online rental package, the voucher holder must review and approve the applicable rental documents in NYCHA Self-Service after the owner submits them.
NYCHA's inspection guidance says initial inspections for new rentals occur upon submission of an RFTA, and the unit must meet the applicable inspection standards before NYCHA can approve the tenancy and enter into a Housing Assistance Payment contract.
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NYCHA RFTA questions landlords ask
What documents go with a NYCHA RFTA?
NYCHA identifies the RFTA, Lead-Based Paint Disclosure, Section 8 Property Owner Registration and W-9 as core returned rental-packet documents, with additional documents possible depending on the unit and ownership type.
Who signs or approves the RFTA?
NYCHA's tenant guidance says the RFTA is signed by the voucher holder and owner. For online processing, follow the current Owner Extranet and Self-Service workflow for the case.
Can the owner submit the NYCHA rental packet?
Yes. NYCHA says an owner can submit the rental packet online through Owner Extranet using the voucher holder's rental PIN. NYCHA also describes a paper-packet submission route.
What happens after NYCHA accepts the packet?
The lease-up process includes review of the request and supporting documents, rent reasonableness and an initial inspection. Approval depends on the applicable requirements being satisfied.
When does NYCHA inspect the apartment?
NYCHA's owner guidance says it contacts the owner to schedule an initial inspection once the rental packet is accepted.
Can the tenant move in after the apartment passes inspection?
Not based on the inspection alone. NYCHA says the tenant must receive authorization before moving in, and a conditional move-in letter is not final move-in permission.
What if NYCHA says the proposed rent is not reasonable?
NYCHA says the owner is notified of options. Depending on the situation, this can include modifying the proposed rent or submitting comparable units for another evaluation. Approval is not guaranteed.
Verify against official sources
NYCHA Property Owner Guide
NYCHA's current owner guidance
HUD Form HUD-52517
HUD forms directory
NYCHA Section 8 Tenant Guide
Rental-packet and submission guidance