HUD Issues Change 4 to Occupancy Handbook

On Aug. 22, 2013, HUD announced it had posted Change 4 to HUD Handbook 4350.3 REV-1, “Occupancy Requirements of Subsidized Multifamily Housing Programs.” This represents the first formal change to the Handbook since July 2009. Aspects of Change 4 have appeared since 2009 in the form of HUD notices. In fact, every chapter of the HUD Handbook 4350.3, REV-1 other than Chapter 2 has been affected by Change 4.

The full 772-page Handbook has been updated to include information from previously issued guidance on the use of the Enterprise Income Verification (EIV) system; Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) requirements; Supplemental Information to Application for Federally Assisted Housing; Rent Refinement of Income and Rent Determination Requirements in Public and Assisted Housing Programs; and requirements relating to the admission of individuals subject to state lifetime sex offender registration.

One notable change is that the old Chapter 9 was removed and replaced with a new Chapter 9 that focuses on EIV. And elements of the old chapter relating to excess income now reside solely in HUD’s Asset Management Handbook 4350.1, and elements related to special claims are covered within the special claims guide.

The eight-page transmittal identifies the specific areas where the changes have been incorporated. The transmittal can be found at www.hud.gov/hudclips. As indicated in the transmittal, in the complete version of the Occupancy Handbook, “changes are designated by an asterisk at the beginning and ending of the change, and the lower right-corner of the page will show 8/13 as the date.”