Payment Standard & Utility Deductions

Payment Standard – Cambridge

The Payment Standard is the maximum rent that an HCV participant is allowed to pay for rent (by bedroom size). The total amount is a combination of the tenant payment and CHA’s portion of the payment. CHA establishes its Payment Standards based on the Fair Market Rents (FMR). Payment Standards below are effective December 1, 2022Click here to view the chart.

Zip CodeSROStudio1BR2BR3BR4BR5BR
02138$2,400$3,200$3,475$4,148$5,050$5,575$6,400
02139$2,306 $3,075$3,350$4,022 $4,900$5,400$6,225
02140$2,193$2,925$3,175 $3,801$4,625$5,100$5,875
02141$2,043$2,725 $2,950$3,549$4,325$4,775$5,475
02142$2,400$3,200$3,475$4,148$5,050$5,575$6,400

Payment Standard – Greater Boston Area

For units rented outside of the City of Cambridge, CHA uses the Boston Housing Authority (BHA) Payment Standard chart which lists the standard amount for cities and towns throughout the Commonwealth. The Payment Standards below are effective December 1st, 2022.

Utility Deduction

CHA’s utility allowance schedule shows the typical cost of utilities and services that will be used to calculate deductions subtracted from the payment standard amount when a resident is responsible to pay for utilities and services (gas, oil, electricity, water and sewer).