ServicesFHFC Certification
FHFC Certification Filing in Hollywood
Before the county looks at a Live Local Act exemption, Florida Housing Finance Corporation has to certify your property. We gather the unit data, check the rent and income numbers, and file a clean request on time. That way a small error does not cost you a full tax year.
What FHFC Certification Is and Why It Comes First
The Live Local Act property tax exemption has two parts. First, Florida Housing Finance Corporation certifies that your units meet the income and rent rules. Then the property appraiser gets the county DR-504AFH application. Without the FHFC certification, the county filing has nothing to stand on.
FHFC wants a unit-by-unit picture. That means which units are set aside, the income limit each one serves, the rent charged, and proof that rent stays under the allowed cap. If one unit is listed wrong, the request can come back, and the deadlines do not move.
We work safety first. Every number gets checked against your rent roll and leases before anything is sent. Resident files are handled carefully and shared only where the filing needs them. We work from our office, or with you by phone and video.
What We Handle in an FHFC Filing
- 01
Unit set-aside review
We confirm the property has enough qualifying units and that each one is tagged to the right income band. Units at 80 percent of area median income and units up to 120 percent are treated differently, so we sort them correctly.
- 02
Rent cap check
Rent on each set-aside unit has to stay under the limit FHFC uses, which also ties back to market rent. We compare your actual rents to the cap and flag any unit that runs over before FHFC sees it.
- 03
Rent roll and lease cleanup
Rent rolls drift. We match unit numbers, move-in dates and rent amounts against the leases so the filing tells one consistent story.
- 04
Building the request
We assemble the certification request and supporting schedules in the form FHFC expects. You review it with us before it goes out.
- 05
Follow-up with FHFC
If FHFC asks a question or wants a document, we answer it. We keep you posted until the certification is issued.
Questions about FHFC Certification?
Call(954) 466-7843Signs You Should Get Help With FHFC Certification
You have never filed before
First filings take the most work. The unit data has to be set up from scratch, and mistakes made now tend to repeat every year after.
Your rent roll and leases do not match
Different rents, missing move-in dates or units listed twice are common. FHFC will notice, so it is better to fix them first.
The deadline is getting close
FHFC certification has to come before the county's March 1 application. If the calendar is tight, a careful plan matters more than speed.
A past request came back
A returned or denied request usually points to a fixable data problem. We look at what went wrong and rebuild the filing the right way.
Rents changed mid-year
Renewals and increases can push a set-aside unit over its cap without anyone noticing. A quick review catches it.
How an FHFC Filing Works With Us
- 1
Eligibility review by phone
You call and tell us about the property: unit count, rents and how units are set aside. We tell you plainly whether it looks like it qualifies and what it would take.
- 2
Document gathering
On that call we go over a short list of what we need, usually the rent roll, leases and income records for set-aside units. Once we have them, we keep them protected.
- 3
Review and fix
We test every unit against the income and rent rules. Anything that does not line up gets flagged, and we talk it through with you by phone before filing.
- 4
File and follow through
We file the request with FHFC ourselves and handle any follow-up questions. Once certification is issued, we can carry it into the County DR-504AFH Filing.
What Affects the Cost of FHFC Filing
We quote each filing after we see the property, and we tell you the fee by phone before any work starts. The price depends on how much work the data needs, not on how big the tax savings are. A free savings estimate can show you whether the exemption is worth pursuing first.
- Number of set-aside units
- More units mean more rows to check against rent and income limits. A large property simply takes longer to verify.
- Condition of your records
- Clean, current rent rolls and leases keep the job short. Missing files or mismatched data add review time.
- First filing or renewal
- A first certification takes more setup. Later years build on work already done, which is where Annual Recertification comes in.
- Time before the deadline
- Starting early leaves room to fix problems calmly. Late starts can mean a heavier push in a short window.
FHFC Certification Questions
Do I need FHFC certification before filing with the county?
Yes. The property appraiser expects the FHFC certification to back up the DR-504AFH application. We usually handle both so they line up. Filing the county form without it is a common reason for a denial.
Have you done this before?
Yes. We have prepared filings for about 100 Florida properties. That experience shows up in the small things, like spotting a unit whose rent crept over its cap after a renewal.
What records will you need from me?
Most of the time we need a current rent roll, leases for set-aside units and income documentation for the residents in them. If income records are thin, our Resident Income Verification service can fill the gap. We tell you exactly what is missing before you spend time hunting for it.
How do you protect resident information?
Resident income records are private, and we treat them that way. We ask only for what the filing needs and keep files secured. Nothing is shared beyond what FHFC and the county require.
What if my property does not qualify?
We tell you that on the first call or right after the review. We would rather give you a straight no than file something that will not hold up. Sometimes a few changes to set-asides or rents can make a property eligible, and we explain those options plainly.
Do you work with properties outside Hollywood?
Yes. We work with owners across Broward and nearby Miami-Dade, including Dania Beach, Hallandale Beach, Aventura and Fort Lauderdale. Most of the work happens by phone and video, so distance is not an issue.
Start With an Eligibility Review
Tell us about your units and rents, and we will tell you where the property stands. If it qualifies, we will lay out the FHFC filing step by step.