How to apply for the NYC housing lottery on Housing Connect
One portal, one profile, as many lotteries as you qualify for.
Housing Connect is the only door
Every NYC housing lottery application runs through NYC Housing Connect, the city's official portal at housingconnect.nyc.gov. There is no other legitimate way to enter a lottery. Paper applications exist for people who cannot apply online, but the online portal is the norm and the fastest path.
Applying is completely free. There is no application fee, no processing fee, and no fee that improves your odds. Anyone asking you to pay to apply is running a scam.
One more thing worth saying plainly: ReRentalAlert is not affiliated with HPD, HDC, or the City of New York. This guide explains the public process as it works today.
Step 1: Create your account
Go to housingconnect.nyc.gov and register with an email address you actually check. This is where interview invitations and document requests will land, sometimes months after you apply, so use an inbox you will still have.
Step 2: Build your household profile
Your profile is the foundation of every application. It asks for your household size and your total household income. Be accurate. Your eligibility for each unit is checked against these numbers, and the numbers are verified with documents later.
If your income or household changes, update the profile. Eligibility is judged at the time of your interview, not the day you applied, so a stale profile can cost you a unit you would otherwise have qualified for.
Step 3: Find lotteries you qualify for
Browse the open lotteries and filter by borough and unit size. Each listing shows the income ranges it accepts, expressed as AMI bands. Your household income has to fall inside the band for the unit you want.
To get a feel for the bands, the 2026 figures include: a single person at 80% AMI earns up to $95,040, and at 50% AMI up to $59,400. A family of four at 80% AMI earns up to $135,700, and at 50% AMI up to $84,800. Our 2026 income limits guide walks through the full table, and what AMI means explains how the bands work.
Step 4: Apply
Submit an application for each lottery you qualify for. The rule is simple and strict: one application per household per lottery. Submitting two applications to the same lottery can get you disqualified entirely, so do not try to game it.
Each lottery stays open for a few weeks. Apply as soon as you see one you qualify for rather than waiting for the deadline. It costs nothing and takes a few minutes once your profile is complete.
Step 5: Get your log number
After the application period closes, every applicant is assigned a random log number by computer. Low numbers get called first for eligibility interviews. There is nothing you can do to improve your number. It is pure luck, which is why applying to many lotteries is the only strategy that moves the needle.
Our log number explainer goes deeper on how the numbers work and what your number means for your chances.
Have your documents ready before you apply
If your log number gets called, you will need to prove everything in your profile: government ID, proof of income, tax returns, and more. Start gathering these now, not when the interview letter arrives. Our documents checklist covers exactly what to have on hand.
What happens after you apply
Waiting. Months to years of it, in most cases. Lotteries close, numbers are drawn, and applicants with low log numbers are contacted for interviews in order. Most applicants never hear back at all. Our lottery timeline guide breaks down how long each stage typically takes.
One thing not to count on: community board residence preferences are suspended through April 30, 2027 under a city waiver. Living in the neighborhood does not currently give your application a boost.
Watch out for scams
The lottery's popularity makes it a magnet for fraud. Nobody can sell you a better log number, guarantee you a unit, or charge you to apply. Applications happen only on housingconnect.nyc.gov or by the official paper process. Our guide to recognizing housing scams lists the red flags.
The honest truth about the lottery
You should absolutely apply to every lottery you qualify for. It is free, and a low log number is a genuine shot at a below-market apartment. But the lottery is a waiting game measured in years, and it should not be your only plan.
The same apartments, the same rent-stabilized units at the same below-market rents, also become available as re-rentals: when a lottery tenant moves out, the unit is re-listed directly and goes to the first qualified applicant. No drawing, no log number, no waiting list. Read lottery vs. re-rental for the full comparison, then learn how re-rentals work.
Frequently asked questions
Is it free to apply for the NYC housing lottery?
Yes. Applying on NYC Housing Connect costs nothing. If anyone asks you to pay a fee to apply or to improve your chances, that is a scam.
Can I apply to more than one housing lottery?
Yes. You can apply to every lottery you qualify for. The rule is one application per household per lottery. Submitting duplicate applications to the same lottery can disqualify you.
How are log numbers assigned?
Randomly, by computer, after the application period closes. A low log number means your application gets reviewed earlier. There is nothing you can do to get a better number.
How long does the housing lottery take?
Months to years is normal. Lotteries stay open for a few weeks, then it can take many months before applicants with low log numbers hear anything. Most applicants never get called.
Do I need to live in the community board area to qualify?
No. Community board residence preferences are suspended through April 30, 2027 under a city waiver, so do not count on a neighborhood preference helping your application.
What if my income changes after I apply?
Update your Housing Connect profile. Eligibility is checked against your income at the time of the eligibility interview, so keeping your profile current matters.