Multifamily Middle Market Certification
The “Missing Middle” Property Tax exemption encourages new or recently constructed developments to offer affordable units. Interested owners must first apply with Florida Housing to obtain Multifamily Middle Market certification notice and then with their local property appraiser, by March 1st, to obtain exemption. Before issuing the “Multifamily Middle Market” certification notice, Florida Housing will review specific eligibility criteria and determine if a certification notice can be issued. Once received, this certification notice must be taken to the local Property Appraiser’s office as part of the application for the “Missing Middle” Property Tax Exemption. While a certificate from Florida Housing is required in order to receive the exemption, it is not a guarantee that an exemption will be issued as the Property Appraiser will determine final issuance of an exemption. In order to be eligible for this property tax exemption, the following requirements, at minimum, must be met.
More than 70 units must be set aside for affordable housing. Those designated units must serve:
- Up to 80% AMI per unit for an 100% property tax exemption; OR
- 81% up to 120% AMI per unit for a 75% property tax exemption
The Area Median Income (AMI) is determined through multifamily rental programs income and rent limit chart derived from the Multifamily Tax Subsidy Projects Income Limits published by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development or 90% of the fair market value rent as determined by a rental market study meeting.
Multifamily Middle Market Certification Key Deadlines
Interested owners should be aware of four important deadlines when pursuing an exemption under 196.1978(3).
- The MMM portal will open and begin accepting requests on October 2, 2023. Owners must have their request submitted to Florida Housing no later than December 31, 11:59 p.m.
- Owners must have appropriate rents and tenants in place in units under consideration no later than January 1, 2024.
- Owners must confirm or update (as needed) the unit and rent list between January 1 and no later than January 15, 11:59 p.m.
- Florida Housing will provide certification notices to owners and the local property appraisers no later than February 15, 2024.
- If an owner receives a certification notice, they must then submit a notice, an application, and any other required documentation to their local property appraiser no later than March 1.
Florida Housing is developing additional information that will be updated and available on this page soon.
September 19, 2023 Workshop:
July 11, 2023, Conceptual Workshop:
Links:
Multifamily Middle Market Certification Frequently Asked Questions
Multifamily Tax Subsidy Projects Income and Rent Limits
Property Appraiser Search: Florida Dept. of Revenue - Property Tax - Local Officials (floridarevenue.com)
Certification Portal
Multifamily Middle Market Certification Request – SAMPLE
How-to Guide for the Multifamily Middle Market Certification
Sign Up For the Multifamily Middle Market Certification's ListServ
For questions or comments regarding the Multifamily Middle Market Certification email
Middle.Market.Cert@Floridahousing.org
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