For Landlords

How Do Landlords Get Paid With Section 8 in NYC?

VoucherKing Editorial·April 2, 2026·6 min read

One of the most common questions from landlords new to Section 8 and CityFHEPS: how exactly does the money get to me? Here's how the payment flow works for both programs.

Two Payments, Two Sources

As a voucher landlord, you receive rent from two sources each month: the government agency pays the subsidy portion directly to you, and the tenant pays their personal contribution (typically 30% of their adjusted income) to you. The total of both equals the contract rent.

How Agency Payments Work

Payments are made via direct deposit (ACH) to the bank account you provide during HAP contract setup
NYCHA Section 8 payments typically arrive by the 1st business day of each month
HPD Section 8 payments follow a similar schedule — check the HPD Owner Portal for exact dates
CityFHEPS payments from HRA arrive via check or direct deposit depending on your setup; allow 3–5 business days
Annual HAP increases (if your lease includes them) are processed before the renewal month

Setting Up Direct Deposit

For NYCHA Section 8: register on the NYCHA Owner Extranet (extranet.nycha.info) and enter your banking information. For HPD Section 8: register on the HPD Landlord Portal. For CityFHEPS: your HRA contact will provide direct deposit enrollment forms during the HAP contract process.

What to Do If a Payment Is Late

First, verify the HAP contract is in good standing — missing inspections or paperwork can pause payments
Check the agency portal for your payment status before calling
For NYCHA: call the Section 8 Landlord Line at 718-707-7771
For HPD: contact your HPD representative or use the Landlord Portal messaging system
For CityFHEPS: contact your HRA tenant's case manager first — they can often resolve issues same day

Late payments are uncommon but happen. The most frequent cause is a missing annual inspection or a paperwork item in the tenant's file — not a budget issue with the program.

Can I raise the rent on my Section 8 tenant?

Yes. You can request a rent increase through the administering agency, typically at the annual lease renewal. The agency reviews whether the new rent is 'reasonable' relative to comparable units and whether it's within the payment standard. Submit the request at least 60 days before the renewal date.

What happens if my tenant's income changes?

The tenant reports income changes to the agency, which recalculates their portion. If the tenant's income increases significantly, their personal contribution goes up — the agency's portion decreases, but the total contract rent stays the same. You continue receiving the same total rent.

Do I need a separate lease for Section 8 tenants?

Yes. Section 8 and CityFHEPS require a standard NYC lease plus the HAP contract addendum provided by the agency. The addendum supersedes conflicting lease terms in specific areas (inspection access, termination procedures) but the standard lease governs everything else.