NYCHA - Transitions Section 8 Payments To Direct Deposit

NYC Housing Authority


Press Release


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 7, 2013
Contact: media@nycha.nyc.gov, (212) 306-3322

NYCHA Transitions All Section 8 Landlord Subsidy Payments to Direct Deposit

The Initiative Eliminates Waste and Saves NYCHA One Million Dollars

The New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) today announced it will be making all subsidy payments to private landlords in the Section 8 program only by direct deposit by 2014. The move reflects NYCHA’s new way of doing business through this critical Self Service portal for landlords, as the agency transitions to online customer service. While 6,000 landlords already receive their subsidy payment by direct deposit, the remaining 22,000 property owners will no longer receive a paper check in 2014. The initiative will eliminate paper waste and save NYCHA approximately $1 million in annual administrative costs.

“In order to address the ongoing reduction of federal financial support, NYCHA continues to identify ways to operate more efficiently and effectively, while also providing a big customer service benefit to landlords,” said NYCHA General Manager Cecil House. “This will make NYCHA vouchers even more attractive.”

“This online customer service provides unprecedented access by landlord to their accounts, giving them immediate, accurate and documented information,” said NYCHA’s Leased Housing Executive Vice President Cathy Pennington. “Not only will landlords be able to access critical information about their accounts, such as tracking their inspection certifications, but by using the online Self Service portal, they also will receive more timely service whenever they need it.”

To enroll, landlords can visit www.nyc.gov/nycha, register on the Landlord Self‐Service portal, and complete and submit the Direct Deposit Enrollment Form. Once registered, landlords can take advantage of other features online, such as submitting lease renewals; submitting Certification of Completed Repairs; checking status updates for service requests; viewing tenant profile information; and much more. The Self-Service portal is already paying dividends for landlords who have been participating.

In 2014, NYCHA will no longer send hardcopy checks for rental subsidy to landlords. Instead, landlords who do not enroll in direct deposit will receive a debit card through which they’ll receive their payment.