Updated 8/5/25

Below is a breakdown of how property owners can apply to the Lease to Locals Program in Eastham or Orleans. Please read these instructions closely. It is important you take each of these steps to qualify for the incentive program.

Eastham and Orleans Lease to Locals Program Details

1. Review the property owner requirements to participate in the Lease to Locals Program:
   1. The property must be located within the town limits of either Eastham or Orleans. 
   2. Full time tenants cannot have occupied the property for greater than 12 months. If tenants have occupied the property for less than 12 months they must not currently be on a Long-Term Lease.
   3. The Housing Unit must be a legally permitted dwelling unit and each bedroom in the unit must have a door and window. The Housing Unit must meet basic health and safety standards required under Massachusetts general laws and regulations.
   4. The Housing Unit must have registered with the Town of Eastham or the Town of Orleans and have an active rental registration certificate.
2. Review the chart below that explains the incentives that property owners are eligible for based on the unit size and number of qualified tenants. Note, incentives are a one time deal and do not roll over year over year. One incentive will be paid for each qualified tenant, with a maximum of three incentive payments per Housing Unit. Property Owners are eligible to participate with up to two (2) properties they own:                                                                   
3. Qualified household and tenant criteria is as follows:
   1. None of the members of a Qualified Household may be of blood relation to the Property Owner.
   2. One or more of the members of the household must be a Qualified Tenant. 
   3. A Qualified Tenant must meet at least one of the following criteria: 
      1. A resident of Eastham or Orleans for any length of time in the prior 12 months.
      2. Employed (or offered and accepted employment) in Eastham or Orleans at least 30 hours per week at the time of the Lease to Locals application.
      3. A dependent child of an adult in the Qualified Household.
   4. The household must have a gross annual income that is not more than 250% of the CPA Affordable Housing Moderate Income Limits published by the Community Preservation Coalition (see chart below for current figures).

      

4. Applications to the Lease to Locals program must be submitted within 30 days of the start of the lease.

Eastham and Orleans Lease to Locals Incentive Processing Steps

1. List the property for rent and start screening tenants. While screening for tenants, be sure to adhere to the following program requirements and information:
   1. To post a property to our Listings Page, ask your Placemate representative for access to self listing where owners can message directly with renters in our database looking for housing. 
      1. Note, these renters have not pre-applied for the program. They will still need to be qualified based on the steps laid out in this intake packet.
      2. Additional listing site suggestions are at the bottom of this page.
   2. As you look for tenant groups, be sure to verify that the group you select qualifies for the Lease to Locals program (qualified household information listed above) prior to passing their information on to your Placemate contact.
      1. If you have any questions about your tenants’ eligibility or documents, let us know and we can help with verification.
2. Once you have identified a tenant group who you believe qualifies, email your Placemate contact your tenants’ contact information (name, email, phone), so we can send them a link to our online application to collect the required documents. Be sure to let your tenants know we’ll be reaching out.
   1. All adult tenants must provide a copy of their government-issued ID and proof of income. Most applicants will be asked to provide 2 paystubs; for a full list of acceptable documentation to qualify local tenants, review section 5 of the Program Guidelines. 
3. Once Placemate has confirmed that the tenant group meets program qualifications, sign a lease with your selected tenants.
4. Once your tenants have completed their Lease to Locals application, and we verify they qualify, we will send you the property owner application, which is a two-step process:
   1. 1st, we’ll send you the Property Owner Lease Summary form, which gathers basic info about your property and lease, and requires that you upload a signed lease.
   2. 2nd, after we review these materials, we will send you the Property Owner Incentive Application for you to review and complete as prompted – this includes:
      1. Property and lease detail attestation
      2. Preview of your expected incentive amount
      3. Check request form 
      4. W-9 
5. After we receive your completed documents, and verify the tenants moved in, Placemate will submit your application to the Town of Eastham or the Town of Orleans. The first half of your incentive payment will be mailed directly from the jurisdiction within 45 days of submission.
6. At the midpoint of the lease Placemate will check in with both the tenants and owner to ensure that the lease is being upheld.
7. At the end of the lease, Placemate will check in with both the tenants and owner and submit a request for the second half of the incentive payment.
8. If at any point during the lease, your tenant group changes or the tenants move out, the property owner must contact Placemate to let them know.

Please note, as the Lease to Locals program is focused on housing creation, each qualified property may participate in the Lease to Locals program one time. There are no additional incentives after year one.

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If you still need to secure tenants, here is some language you can put in your property listing to let prospective renters know you are participating in the Lease to Locals Program. Note, property owners must comply with the Federal Fair Housing Act which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.

Listing Language

The owner of this property is participating in the Eastham/Orleans Lease to Locals Program aimed at unlocking existing homes for local employees and residents. As such, to be considered for this property, at least one of the tenants in your group must meet one of the following criteria:

1. Eastham or Orleans resident for any length of time in the prior 12 months.
2. Employed (or offered and accepted employment) in Eastham or Orleans at least 30 hours per week at the time of the Lease to Locals application.
3. A dependent child of an adult in the Qualified Household.

Additionally, none of the members of the tenant household may be of blood relation to the property owner and the tenant household must have a gross annual income that is not more than 250% of the CPA Affordable Housing Moderate Income Limits (see grant chart below).

Lease Template

You can use any lease you wish so long as your terms meet the program requirements. Placemate can not legally prepare your lease for you. 

Zillow provides free robust lease agreements that you might consider using – you can find them at this link. Please note, you and your tenants will have to create a profile on Zillow to use one of their lease templates.

Sites to List Your Property On: 

The following are websites used by local workforce members looking for housing. These would be great places to list your property, and it should be remembered that these are suggestions and you may list your property wherever and however you wish. Each of these options require that you monitor their various communication channels.

Zillow 

The housing site with the largest reach. A possibility of numerous non-responsive tenant applicants.

Facebook Marketplace 

You must have a Facebook account to post here. Make a post and include your property details. Check and respond to comments and direct messages to ensure you see inquiries come in. 

You can join these Eastham/Orleans/Cape Cod specific groups to post your property’s listing in and/or advertise that you are looking for renters. You must have a Facebook account to post here and must be a member of each of these groups before you can post in them.

Eastham Cape Cod

Eastham, Ma Community Space

Orleans Cape Cod

Orleans, Ma Community Space

Wellfleet Community Space

Provincetown Community Space

Provincetown: Housing For Rent