ARCH Rental Program FAQ’s

  • 1. Visit archhousing.org/affordable-apartment-list.

    2. Download or view The Affordable Apartment List.

    3. Determine your household’s Area Median Income (AMI) level based on household income and household size.

    4. View the Affordable Apartment List, organized by city.

    5. Contact properties directly to apply.

    6. The onsite Leasing Team for each property will handle all applications.

    ARCH does not verify or oversee individual rental applications. The onsite Leasing Team for each property will handle all applications. Please refer to the apartment list for properties with ARCH units and contact the properties directly. Additionally, you can sign up for our mailing list to be notified for unit vacancies.

  • The ARCH rent limits increase based on changes to the Area Median Income (AMI). Unlike in Section 8 or other federal housing programs, the rent limit increases can occur regardless of whether a tenant’s actual income has increased. Unfortunately, in the last several years the Area Median Income has increased significantly faster in our region than the national average.

  • Rent limits increase by as much as the Area Median Income increases. A property has the option of increasing rent by less than the maximum allowed, but this is determined by each individual property. The Area Median Income increased by 6.5% from 2024 to 2025, which means the rent limits in the ARCH program also increased by this amount.

    Please visit the Renter Resources page to see rental assistance resources available in East King County.

  • ARCH does not ask about immigration or citizenship status in our applications. Learn more here: https://www.archhousing.org/welcoming-immigrants-and-refugees.

  • A State Act improving housing stability for tenants. It includes a 90-day written notice requirement for any rent increase, currently rent increases are capped at 10%, rent can only be increased once in a 12-month period, there can be no more than a 5% difference in rent amounts for various lease types, and more.

    Some properties are exempt from the requirements outlined, such as, properties less than 12 years old, properties owned by a public housing authority or public development authority or nonprofit organization or nonprofit entity or qualified low-income housing development, etc.

    For more information and/or details, please review HB 1217.

  • Rental properties participating in the 2021 Bellevue MFTE Program feature a rent stabilization clause which includes a 3% cap on any rent increase for that property’s rent and income restricted units. The 2021 Bellevue MFTE Program is still relatively new so at this time there are only a handful of participating properties currently open. Participating properties include Bellevue10, Copal, Vicino, Ondina, Broadstone Savoie, and Nuovo. Please see the Apartment List for more property details.

  • Please see the additional renter resources linked here on ARCH’s Renter Resources page which include rental assistance, housing programs, tenant protections, mediation services, and more.

  • State law requires at least 60 or 90 days’ notice of any rent increase, however local regulations may require even greater notice. Kenmore, Kirkland, and Redmond require 120 days’ notice for rent increases over 3%, as well as 180 days’ notice for rent increases over 10%. Issaquah and unincorporated King County, require at least 120 days’ notice for rent increases over 3%.

    Please refer to the Renter Resources page for more information on local jurisdictions’ Tenant Protections which include required notice periods for increases in rent.

  • In the first instance, always communicate and try to work with your onsite property management to agree a reasonable payment plan. Several resources, including rental assistance, are listed in the Renter Resources page on ARCH’s website. Beginning July 1, 2023, landlords are no longer required to provide tenants with an ERPP Notice before bringing an eviction (unlawful detainer) case for nonpayment of rent in Superior Court. For more information regarding evictions, non-payment, and back rent, please contact East Side Legal Assistance Practice (ELAP).

  • All apartments will require the following (at a minimum):

    Completed ARCH Eligibility Form

    Previous 90 days of paystubs/benefits/recurring monetary gifts/etc.

    Most Recent W2

    Most Recent Tax Return

    Non-Tax Filing Form (if applicable)

    Self-Employment Affidavit (if applicable)

    Gift Affidavit (if applicable)

    Properties can request further documentation at their discretion.

    • Pell Grants/Federal Student Aid

    • Savings

    • One-time consolidation loans

    • One-time gifts

    • Lump sum payouts, such as inheritance or life insurance

    • Payments/reimbursements for medical expenses

    • Dollar value of food stamps/WIC/SNAP

    • Income for children under 18 years old

    • State payments/support towards children in foster care

  • Any person who will be living in the unit for at least 6 months during the year is considered a member of the household. Each property will have its own restrictions as to the maximum amount of time non household members are allowed to spend in a unit.

  • ARCH households must recertify before every lease renewal to verify that they are still income eligible. In order to recertify, the property will require updated eligibility information for every member of the household over 18 years of age.

  • The rent for ARCH units can only increase once in a 12-month period, no matter what the lease length is. For example, if you sign a 6-month contract at your initial lease, your rent cannot be raised at renewal until 12 months have passed from the initial contract date.

  • The program’s rent limits are established with utilities and mandatory fees included. However, a property does have the option for tenant-paid utilities. If any utility bills or mandatory recurring fees are passed on to the ARCH tenants, the property is required to deduct the appropriate utility allowance amount(s) or mandatory fee amount(s) from the maximum rent.

    Please reference the ARCH Rental Program Income and Rent Guidelines here.

  • You should always contact the onsite property manager for issues regarding the unit.

  • You are excluded from eligibility in the Rental and Homeownership programs if you are on title for any residential property in the US or otherwise.

    If any information provided during eligibility verification is falsified, this is an automatic breach in ARCH leases and will result in termination of the lease.

  • In order to qualify for ARCH housing, you must have some form of verifiable income and/or benefits. ARCH allows co-signers to meet rent-income ratio requirements, but co-signers cannot take the place of a verifiable income source (i.e. a non-tenant cannot pay the majority/entirety of the rent) except in the following circumstances:

    • An applicant is reliant on Federal/State Benefits (i.e. SSI, SSDI, EITC)

    • An applicant is living on a fixed, retirement income in the form of a Pension

    • Any ARCH applicant that falls in one of the above categories, must provide a completed ARCH Gift Affidavit and documentation to support their circumstances.