Updated Ceiling Rents for AHVP Mobile Vouchers
The new, updated ceiling rents for AHVP mobile voucher participants shall be equal to 105% of FY27 SAFMR, except as noted. Please see the Payment Standard Cheat Sheet for a full list of ceiling rents and payment standards. mass.gov/paymentstandard is always up to date.
- The ceiling rents for all zip codes in Lynn, MA shall be 100% FY27 area-wide FMR.
- The ceiling rents for Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard shall be 105% FY27 area-wide FMR.
- The ceiling rents for lower and outer Cape Cod shall be 105% FY27 area-wide FMR.
Applying the Ceiling Rent at Relocation
The new updated ceiling rent shall be applied for any relocations or new leases effective on or after October 1, 2026.
HLC provides a ceiling rent look-up tool primarily for AHVP participants in housing search or considering relocation. mass.gov/paymentstandard notes both the current and new updated ceiling rent effective 10/1/26.
A reminder that AHVP participants may select a unit that’s above the ceiling rent. The housing agency must request a waiver from HLC in those situations. The AHVP participant will be responsible for any part of the rent that exceeds the ceiling rent. Please contact Joel Deery, AHVP Coordinator, at joseph.deery@mass.gov for more information.
Applying the Ceiling Rent at Recertification
The new updated ceiling rent shall be used for all regular, annual recertifications for AHVP mobile vouchers effective on or after December 1, 2026.
If a housing agency has already completed regular recertifications effective on or after 12/1/26, they must be updated and the new updated ceiling rent applied.
- The new updated ceiling rent shall be applied at regular, annual recertification regardless of whether the ceiling rent has gone up or down. AHVP households are no longer held harmless if the ceiling rent decreases. If the rent exceeds the updated ceiling rent, please reach out to Joel Deery for a waiver.
- Rent increases for AHVP mobile vouchers are only allowed at lease renewal. Most of the time, the lease renewal coincides with the regular recertification date. If it does not, any rent increase shall be processed as an interim change. Ceiling rents are not updated at interims.
Reasonable Accommodations
Housing agencies may increase the ceiling rent to match the rent as part of a reasonable accommodation. Housing agencies do not need permission from HLC to increase the ceiling rent via a reasonable accommodation, regardless of how much they are increasing it. All contract rents must be rent reasonable.
Rent Reasonableness
All contract rents must be rent reasonable. Rent reasonableness shall be determined by comparing the unit to other non-assisted units in the area. Amenities, unit size, unit quality, and included utilities can affect rent reasonableness. Rent reasonableness shall be determined in a fair and consistent manner, and an owner may request documentation of why a rent was not approved.
Resources
The AHVP Mobile Voucher Calculation sheet has the new updated ceiling rents incorporated. Please keep effective dates in mind when using this calculation sheet.
The Payment Standard Cheat Sheet has all ceiling rents, payment standards, and maximum rents for all state rental assistance programs, as well as rules.
mass.gov/paymentstandard is always up-to-date and provides ceiling rents and payment standards by zip code or city/town.
This guidance only applies to mobile AHVP vouchers. There is separate guidance for updated maximum rents for the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program (MRVP) project-based vouchers (PBVs). There is separate guidance for updated payment standards for the MRVP mobile vouchers.