Resources
Documents and answers
The rules, standards and covenants that make NHSH housing work, plus answers to the questions we hear most.
Documents
- Rules and Regulations (2024)What tenants of NHSH rentals agree to.
- Standards for application reviewHow applications are evaluated and the grounds on which one can be declined.
- Affordability covenantsThe deed restriction that keeps NHSH homes in the year-round community.
- Homeownership FAQEquity, resale formula, and who qualifies.
- Rental FAQLeases, rents, and what to expect.
- Housing applicationOne form for rentals and homeownership.
Frequently asked questions
Renting from NHSH
- Who can rent an NHSH home?
- NHSH rentals are for year-round island households. Applicants are reviewed against published standards, and rents are set below market for comparable homes.
- How do I apply?
- Fill out the housing application on the Apply page. You can apply for rentals, homeownership, or both, and we keep applications on file as homes become available.
- What are the rules?
- Tenants agree to NHSH's Rules and Regulations (updated 2024), which cover everything from heating and maintenance to guests and pets.
Buying a covenanted home
- What is an affordability covenant?
- A deed restriction that requires the home to stay in the year-round community. When you sell, the buyer must be a qualified year-round household and the price is limited by a formula, so the home stays affordable for the next family.
- Do I build equity?
- Yes. You own the home, and the resale formula lets you recover your investment and a share of appreciation, while keeping the price reachable for the next island buyer.
- How are buyers chosen?
- When more qualified households apply than there are homes, NHSH selects by lottery among qualified applicants, as with the 2022 downtown sale.
Giving and volunteering
- Is my gift tax-deductible?
- Yes. NHSH is a 501(c)(3); gifts are deductible to the extent allowed by law.
- Can I donate property or land?
- Yes, and gifts of land have been the foundation of our biggest projects. Contact the Executive Director to talk it through.
- Can I sell my house to NHSH?
- Several seasonal families have sold to NHSH or to island residents at a discount, with covenants attached, and treated the difference as a charitable gift. We would love to talk.