ServicesFHFC Certification Filing
FHFC Certification Filing in Sunrise
Before the property appraiser will grant a Live Local Act exemption, Florida Housing has to certify your units. We sort out your rent roll, match each unit to its income band and file a clean certification request. Then you can take it to the county.
What FHFC certification is and when you need it
The Live Local Act tax exemption runs through two offices. Florida Housing Finance Corporation, or FHFC, certifies that your units meet the income and rent rules. The county property appraiser then decides the exemption. Without the FHFC certification, the county filing has nothing to stand on.
Most of our work here is plain checking. Which units are set aside, at what income level, at what rent, and whether the paperwork shows it. Units held for residents at or below 80 percent of area median income are treated differently from units in the 80 to 120 percent band, so the unit list has to be exact.
If you already filed and got questions back, we start with what you have. Often a few corrected rent figures or a cleaner unit schedule fixes it. When the original filing has deeper problems, we tell you plainly and rebuild it.
What we handle on your FHFC filing
- Unit-by-unit eligibility review
- We go through your rent roll and flag each set-aside unit by income band. Units that do not qualify get pulled early so they do not cause trouble later.
- Rent limit check
- We compare your rents to the limits FHFC publishes for Broward County for each income band and unit size. A rent just a few dollars over the limit can knock a unit out, so we check every one.
- Supporting documents
- We gather what FHFC asks for, such as the unit schedule, rent information and ownership details. You get a list of anything missing, not a pile of forms.
- Preparing the certification request
- We prepare the certification request and walk you through it line by line. Nothing goes to FHFC until you sign off on the final version.
- Answering FHFC follow-up
- If FHFC sends questions, we read them, explain what they mean and draft the response. Most follow-ups need one clear answer, not a fresh filing.
- Handoff to the county filing
- Once you are certified, we can move straight into your County DR-504AFH Filing so the exemption request goes in on time.
Signs it is time to get your FHFC filing handled
You set aside units but never certified
Rent restrictions alone do not earn the exemption. The certification has to be on file first.
The county deadline is getting close
The DR-504AFH is due to the property appraiser by March 1. FHFC certification has to come before it, so waiting until February is cutting it short.
FHFC sent back questions
A letter asking for corrected figures does not mean you start over. It usually means a few numbers need to line up.
Your rents changed mid-year
New leases or rent increases can push a unit over the limit for its band. That is worth checking ahead of filing.
You are unsure which units count
Mixed buildings with market-rate and restricted units get confusing fast. We sort them out and show you the math.
How a filing runs with us
- 1
Free eligibility check
You call, and we talk through the property, the unit count and your current rents. You find out whether certification looks realistic before you spend anything.
- 2
Document review
You share your rent roll and property details. We meet by phone or video, or at our office, and go over what we found.
- 3
Fix or rebuild
If a past filing is mostly sound, we correct what is off. If it is not, we explain why and prepare a new one.
- 4
File and follow up
We file the request with FHFC, track it and handle any questions that come back. You get the certification and a plan for the county step.
What moves the cost of FHFC filing
We quote after we see the property. The price depends on how much checking and cleanup the filing needs. You get the quote by phone, in plain terms, ahead of any work.
- Number of units
- More set-aside units means more rent and income checks. A building with a large restricted share takes longer than one with a small set-aside.
- State of your records
- A clean, current rent roll moves fast. Scattered lease data or old figures add hours.
- Fixing a prior filing
- Correcting a few lines costs less than rebuilding the whole filing. We tell you which one you need.
- Timing
- Work started well ahead of the March 1 county deadline is easier to schedule than a late rush.
FHFC certification questions
Something not covered here? (954) 833-4602
Do I need FHFC certification if I already file the county form?
Yes. The county looks for the FHFC certification when it reviews a Live Local Act exemption. Filing the DR-504AFH alone usually is not enough. We can handle both steps in order.
Can you work with a filing I started myself?
Yes, and we would rather start there. If most of it is right, we correct what is wrong and keep the rest. If it has bigger gaps, we explain them and rebuild only what has to change.
Who have you worked with?
We work with owners and managers of multifamily properties in Sunrise, Plantation, Tamarac and around Broward County.
Do I have to come to your office?
No. Most clients work with us by phone and video and share documents with us. You are welcome at our office if you prefer to sit down in person.
What happens after I am certified?
The next step is the county exemption filing. After that, certification is not a one-time thing, so we can help with Annual Recertification and Resident Income Verification so the exemption holds up year to year.
Find out if your units qualify
Tell us about the property and your rents. We will tell you straight whether FHFC certification makes sense and what it will take.