BMR Eligibility

bedroom1

BMR Eligibility

Eligibility is subject to affiliation with Stanford University. The Stanford affiliate must occupy the apartment as his/her principal place of residence in order to qualify for the BMR Rate. Resident must be employed at least 30 hours per week (75% FTE) at or above the minimum wage during the entire lease term. Lease term cannot exceed duration of Qualifying Employment.

For BMR questions, please view our FAQ page below.

For general leasing or community information, visit our FAQ page.

What are the current Below Market Rates?

Below Market Rates for 2023 are as follows:

Very Low:

Floor PlanBelow Market Rate
Studio$1,128
1 Bedroom$1,208
2 Bedroom$1,448

Low:

Floor PlanBelow Market Rate
Studio$1,808
1 Bedroom$1,936
2 Bedroom$2,464

What are Stanford eligibility requirements for BMR units?

When the program is in operation, the Stanford affiliate must occupy the apartment as his/her principal place of residence in order to qualify for the BMR Rate. Resident must be employed at least 30 hours per week (75% FTE) at or above the minimum wage in one of the following Stanford positions during the entire lease term:

1st Priority – Redwood City Campus Staff employed by Stanford University

2nd Priority – Other Staff employed by Stanford University including the following:

  • Other Staff employed by SLAC
  • Academic Postdocs employed by Stanford University
  • Retired Faculty on Recalled Duty
  • Public Safety Officers employed by Stanford University
  • N11 and N99 Staff

3rd Priority – Faculty including the following:

  • Tenure (UTL) and Non-Tenure Line (NTL) (includes Full Professor, Associate Professor, Assistant Professor, as well as SLAC and VA)
  • Senior Fellows who are Members of the Academic Council at Special Policy Centers and Institutes
  • Senior Fellows at the Hoover Institution
  • University Medical Line (UML) (includes Full Professor, Associate Professor, Assistant Professor)
  • Acting and Visiting Professors

4th Priority – Clinical Educator (CE) (includes Full Professor, Associate Professor, Assistant Professor)

What happens if I no longer qualify for a BMR unit due to change in my Stanford affiliation?

If you no longer meet the Stanford affiliation requirements or your Stanford affiliate position drops below the minimum 75% FTE, you will receive a 90 day notice of to move out.

What is the income limit for my family?

Below market rate qualifications for 2024 is as follows:

Very Low:

Household SizeAnnual Household Income at Move-in Must Be Below
 1$68,550
2$78,350
3$88,150
4$97,900
5$105,750

Low:

Household SizeAnnual Household Income at Move-in Must Be Below
1$109,700
2$125,350
3$141,000
4$156,650
5$169,200

What are the occupancy requirements for a BMR unit?

Below market rate occupancy requirements are as follows:

Unit TypeMinimum Household SizeMaximum Household Size
Studio1 Person2 People
1 Bedroom1 Person3 People
2 Bedroom2 People5 People

What documents and additional requirements will I need to submit to get into a BMR unit or renewing my lease for a BMR unit?

After you have been verified as an eligible Stanford affiliate, you will be connected to Alta Housing for the BMR income and household verification process. All household members listed on your application who are 18 years or older will need to be present for the interview. You will be asked to bring in all of the items listed below, which apply to your household, when you are contacted to come in for the interview.

  • Valid Government issued ID/Driver's License for each adult household member*
  • Birth Certificates for each household member under the age of 18 years old**
  • Social Security cards for all household members*
  • Proof of Preference Status*
  • Income Tax Returns and W2-s
  • Payroll stubs from the past three months
  • Award letter/print out from Social Security showing monthly income
  • Checking Account statements for the last six months
  • Most recent month's bank statement for Savings Accounts
  • Most recent Statement from all 401-k/IRA and/or other asset account

*Initial certification only

**Initial certification and subsequent recertification only of there is a change in household composition.

What happens if I no longer qualify for a BMR unit due to income or household changes?

Residents are required to notify property management as soon as they are aware of income or household changes. If you no longer qualify for a BMR unit due to income or household changes but are still employed within an eligible Stanford position, you may be eligible to renew at Stanford affiliate rate provided that you are able to show proof of financial viability. If unable to show proof of financial viability, you will receive a 90 day notice to move out.

When will the BMR waiting list open?

The BMR waiting list will re-open after the waiting list for any one unit type (i.e. 1-bedroom, 2-bedroom, or 3-bedroom) drops below 10 persons. The BMR waiting list will remain closed if all unit types have at least 10 persons on the list.

How can I find out when the BMR waiting list opens?

We recommend to routinely check the BMR Interest List page, as this is where the announcement will be posted.

How long does the BMR waiting list stay open for?

The BMR waiting list will typically stay open for 30 days or when the list for any one unit type (i.e. 1-bedroom, 2-bedroom, 3-bedroom) reaches 100 persons, whichever happens later.