Recertification Specialist

Fairstead is a purpose-driven real estate firm dedicated to building affordable communities across the country. Headquartered in New York, with offices in Colorado, Florida, and Washington DC, Fairstead owns and manages a portfolio of more than 30,000 apartments, including pipeline, across 28 states. As an integrated owner, operator, and innovator, Fairstead brings development, construction, and property management under one unified platform to deliver high-quality affordable housing that serves our residents at scale.

At Fairstead, we believe affordable housing should be thoughtfully designed, professionally managed, and responsibly operated. We seek to create and preserve housing that serves residents while delivering long-term value to communities, partners, and stakeholders.

Fairstead challenges industry norms through our tech-forward, entrepreneurial approach to affordable housing. In addition to core real estate capabilities, we operate innovative service lines designed to improve resident outcomes, strengthen communities, and drive operational efficiency. We embrace digital transformation, data-driven decision-making, and emerging technologies, including AI, to build scalable systems that support sustainable growth, grounded in a culture of entrepreneurship, innovation, partnership, dedication, and integrity.

The Recertification Specialist reviews all resident files within the portfolio and applies knowledge of regulatory requirements for properties to ensure compliance standards are met. This position serves as the primary point of contact for overseeing compliance, responding to HUD concerns, and providing outreach to the property. 

RESPONSIBILITIES: 

• Process initial, annual, and interim recertifications and calculate retroactive rent while conforming to HUD regulations and HPD guidelines. 

• Calculate rents for annual and interim recertification. 

• Identify households with income reporting discrepancies and make rent adjustments. 

• Review applicant files and determine Section 8 eligibility. 

• Follow LIHTC and Section 8 guidelines. 

• Notify residents of upcoming recertifications. 

• Schedule initial interviews for recertifications. 

• Prepare third party verification forms. 

• Maintaining residents’ files and paperwork. 

• Review tenant ledgers for arrears.  

• For NY: Investigate and correct income discrepancies. 

• Performs other related duties as required. 

BENEFITS: 

• Generous employer contribution for Medical Insurance through Meritain Health. 

• Employer Paid Vision Plans. 

• Company Matched 401(k) Retirement Plan: 100% of the first 3%; 50% of the next 2%. 

• 12+ paid Holidays. 

• 15 days of PTO. 

• 7 Sick days. 

• Employer Paid Life Insurance. 

• Flexible Spending Account. 

• Nationwide Pet Insurance. 

• Disability Insurance. 

• Laser Correction Discount. 

• Employee Discounts on appliances, apparel, and more. 

QUALIFICATIONS: 

• Knowledge of Section 8, LIHTC and HUD.  

• Knowledge of HUD/Public Housing/Tax Credit policies and procedures.  

• Experience with EIV reports.  

• Detail-oriented and the ability to operate on a deadline-driven schedule.  

• COS certification.  

• Experience with MOR.  

• Experience with Yardi and Realpage.

• People skills and superior communication skills.  

• For NY: Experience investigating and correcting income discrepancies.  

• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite.   

• Possess strong organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills   

• Notary Public is preferred. 

Diversity in backgrounds and experiences is key to Fairstead’s success. Being an equal opportunity employer is a central tenet of our philosophy that shapes who we are and the communities we serve. Our goal is to ensure competitive total compensation that is commensurate with experience, location, and other market benchmarks.