North Miami offers up to $4,800 to move into a rental property: requirements and how to apply

The city of North Miami has a municipal program that can cover up to $4,800 in entry expenses for households moving into a rental property within its limits: the Tenant-Based Rental Assistance Program (TBRA), funded with federal funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

The assistance is a one-time grant—not a monthly subsidy or a check to the tenant—that can be used for the security deposit and/or the first and last month’s rent, with a cap equivalent to two months' rent and a maximum of $4,800. If the application is approved, the payment goes directly to the landlord or property owner.

In a market where rents in North Miami range from 1,700 to 1,850 dollars per month for a one-bedroom apartment, the barrier to entry can exceed 3,400 dollars just for the deposit and the first few months.

The assistance can bridge that gap for families with low or moderate incomes, including Cubans and other immigrants with legal status who meet federal requirements.

Who can apply for it

To qualify, the home must meet several conditions simultaneously:

• Be a current resident of North Miami or be in the process of moving to a rental property within the city.
• Having family incomes equal to or less than 80% of the median income for the Miami-Dade area according to HUD: up to $69,400 annually for one person, $79,300 for two, $89,200 for three, and $99,100 for four.
• Demonstrate financial difficulty and the ability to maintain future rent payments.
• Not having received duplicate assistance from another agency for the same purpose, nor aid from the Department of Housing and Social Services of North Miami in the 24 months prior to the end date of the contract.

Housing requirements

The unit for rent must also meet specific conditions: it must be located within the limits of North Miami —this does not apply to Miami, North Miami Beach, or any other municipality—, pass a physical inspection in accordance with HUD's Housing Quality Standards, and meet the federal program's rent reasonable requirements.

How to submit the application

Requests are accepted exclusively online, year-round, through the Neighborly portal of the municipality. They are processed in the order they are fully received and are subject to funding availability.

The process is as follows:

1. Create an account on the Neighborly portal.
2. Complete the online application within the next 15 days.
3. Upload all required documentation: proof of hardship or displacement, three recent bank statements, eight weekly pay stubs or four consecutive bi-weekly pay stubs, federal tax returns, and W-2 forms from the last two years, along with award letters for benefits such as Social Security or pensions.
4. Submit the application for review. Incomplete applications cannot be processed.

Once the complete application is received, municipal staff reviews eligibility, inspects the proposed housing, and verifies the reasonableness of the rent. If everything is in order, the city, the owner, and the tenant sign a tripartite agreement. The review process typically takes between 15 and 30 days.

This program is particularly relevant in the context of South Florida, where Miami ranks as the sixth most expensive city in the country for renting, with a median rent of $2,500 per month for a one-bedroom apartment, according to Zumper data from October 2026.

For inquiries about the program or the application process, the North Miami Department of Housing and Social Services can be reached by phone at 305-895-9895 and by email at housing@northmiamifl.gov.