Affordable Housing Incentive Program Compliance Manual of Seattle Office of Housing says that, the Incentive Programs (“Incentive Programs”) includes the Multifamily Tax Exemption program (MFTE), Incentive Zoning (IZ), and Mandatory Housing Affordability (MHA). It also applies to site-specific development agreements or other contractual arrangements that require property owners to produce and operate income- and rent-restricted rental units.

When the owner (“Owner”) of any residential real estate asset (“Property”) participates in any of the Incentive Programs, the Owner is obligated to provide a certain number of affordable housing units for a specific period of time. For purposes of this manual, affordable housing is generally defined as any rental unit subject to maximum limits on tenant incomes and rents. Specific income- and rent-restricted rental housing units within a given Property are termed “Designated Units.”