Own a property in Chilmark?

Unlock an incentive of up to $12,000 by converting your property into a new year-round rental for local working families and individuals.

What is Lease to Locals?

The Town of Chilmark has partnered with Placemate to launch the Lease to Locals Pilot Program, an innovative initiative aimed at addressing the lack of housing options for the local workforce. The Program is a one-year pilot that offers one-time cash incentives to homeowners who convert their housing units into long-term rentals for year-round employees working on Martha’s Vineyard.

How the Program Works

Verify property qualifies

Properties must be located in Chilmark, and must have not been rented year-round in the past 12 months. Full program guidelines can be found here.

Secure Tenants

A Qualified Household must have at least one Qualified Tenant who can demonstrate gainful employment in Dukes County or proof of sustaining government subsidy. Qualified Households are also subject to an income cap (see FAQs below).

Sign a Lease

Property Owners must sign a long-term (12 month) lease with a Qualified Household. The Lease is subject to a rent cap (see below) and Qualified Tenants can not be of blood relation or employed by the Qualified Property Owner.

Complete full application

Placemate will provide Qualified Property Owners an online application which needs to be completed before the incentive can be disbursed. The funds will be paid in two equal installments — one at the beginning of the lease, and one at the end of the lease.

Compliance

The Qualified Property Owner and Qualified Tenant(s) must comply with midway and final lease checks to ensure they are in compliance. If they are found out of compliance, Qualified Property Owners may be disqualified from receiving additional incentive payments.

Property Owners are provided a $4,000 incentive per Qualified Tenant housed through the Program by signing a Long-Term Lease with a Qualified Household. Dependent children will count as additional Qualified Tenants. There is a maximum of three incentives per household.

Unit Size	1 Qualified Tenant	2 Qualified Tenants	3 Qualified Tenants
Studio	$4,000	–	–
1 Bedroom	$4,000	$8,000	–
2 Bedroom	$4,000	$8,000	$12,000
3 Bedroom	$4,000	$8,000	$12,000

Qualified Property Owners must sign a Long-Term Lease with a rental rate that does not exceed the established caps by unit size, excluding utilities.

Studio	1-Bed	2-Bed	3-Bed
$2,900/month	$3,300/month	$3,750/month	$4,250/month

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Lease to Locals Program?

The Lease to Locals Program (the “Program”), offers a one-time cash incentives to homeowners who rent their homes to qualified households. The goal of the program is to increase the supply of year-round housing available for employees working in Dukes County, MA.

Does my property qualify for the program?

Eligible Properties must meet the following requirements:

Housing Unit: A housing unit is a single-family home, individual unit in a multi-family property, or an accessory dwelling unit, that is intended for occupancy living. Excludes deed-restricted, subsidized units, commercial lodging, and employer housing.
Location: The Housing Unit must be located within Chilmark town limits.
Maximum Incentives: Qualified Property Owners are eligible to participate with two (2) Housing Units they own or have ownership in, including but not limited to Trust(s), LLC(s), and other joint ownership arrangement(s).
Status: The Housing Unit must be a legally permitted dwelling unit and each bedroom in the property must have two means of egress. The Housing Unit must meet basic health and safety criteria as required by Massachusetts Law, local regulations, and State Building Code.
New Rental: Full time tenants can not have occupied the Housing Unit for greater than 12 months. If tenants have occupied the Housing Unit for less than 12 months they must not currently be in a Long-Term Lease.
Property Condition: If the Housing Unit is deemed in violation of basic health and safety criteria as required by Massachusetts Law, local regulations, and State Building Code the Property will be disqualified from the Program and Program payment(s) will be withheld.

Are there any other program restrictions?

Qualified Property Owner: The individual(s) or legal entity that holds the deed to the property, as reflected on the Assessor or Registry of Deed records.

Signed Lease Agreement and Complete Application Packet: The Qualified Property Owner must complete an application and sign a Long-Term Lease with a Qualified Household. The complete application packet must be submitted within 30 days of the start of the lease.

Lease Compliance Checks: The Qualified Property Owner must comply with the lease agreement for the full length of the lease and will be checked for compliance by Placemate at six (6) months into the lease and at the completion of the lease. Failure to comply with the lease requirements at any time shall disqualify the Qualified Property Owner for incentive payments.

Fair Housing Act Compliance: The Qualified Property Owner must comply with the Federal Fair Housing Act.

What is the definition of a Qualified Household and Tenant?

A Qualified Household is an individual or any group of individuals living together in one home as their primary residence, where at least one of the Adults is a Qualified Tenant. The household must have a gross annual income that is not more than 150% of the Area Median Income for Dukes County (Effective May 6, 2025)

Household Size 150% AMI Income Maximum

1 $157,700

2 $180,200

3 $202,700

4 $225,200

5 $243,200

6 $261,200

A Qualified Tenant is not of blood relation to the Qualified Property Owner and who can show gainful employment in Duke’s county or proof of sustaining government subsidy.

Household Size is defined as the total number of Qualified Tenants.

If I am a renter, how do I find a property through Lease to Locals?

First create a renter profile with Placemate. Once we have that information on file we can send you prospective properties that fit your criteria.

How do the payments work for property owners?

Prior to disbursing grants, the Town of Chilmark will review documentation submitted by Placemate, Inc. including a copy of the fully executed lease agreement(s), Proof of status for Qualifying Tenants, and Qualified Property Owner Application.

Chilmark will issue the first installment of the incentive payment to the Qualified Property Owner within forty-five (45) days of the Qualified Household taking occupancy of the Housing Unit or within forty-five (45) days of the Application being submitted to Chilmark, whichever is later.

Chilmark will issue the second half of the grant payment to the Qualified Property Owner within forty five (45) days of the end of the lease. Payments shall be issued to the Qualified Property Owner as the name(s) appear on the lease.