In August, HUD issued the long-awaited update to the Section 8 Renewal Policy Guidebook. This document applies to project-based Section 8 contracts, referred to as HAPs or PBRA contracts, and is important in establishing rents for the bulk of the existing subsidized housing portfolio. The last...
Like most sites, you communicate in writing with the public, applicants, and residents nearly every day. For example, you probably send out applications, leases, 50059 certification forms, letters, notices, brochures, and flyers. But did you know that HUD requires each of these written...
If you own or manage an assisted site, you must have a written resident selection plan that incorporates the policies and procedures covering each step of the selection process. It’s important to have a well-written resident selection plan because it can show HUD you’re complying...
In HUD multifamily sites where the residents pay either all or a portion of their own utility expenses, HUD provides a utility allowance in addition to the subsidy for each unit. This utility allowance is based on an estimate of the average monthly utility costs for each unit size.
Everyone agrees that federal fair housing law covers intentional discrimination, but there were lingering questions about whether it also applies to what’s known as “disparate impact” discrimination—housing practices that appear to be neutral, but have an unfair effect on...
Are you dealing with unusual long-term management problems or extra administrative burdens at your site? For instance, do you have unusually high maintenance and security costs because you’re managing a site in a deteriorated area with a high incidence of crime and vandalism? Or are you...
Many elderly residents are capable of living independently. But sooner or later, you may have an elderly resident who has trouble coping with day-to-day concerns, such as managing money, paying rent on time, or keeping his unit tidy. Or you may suspect elder abuse within a household. In general...
HUD requires you to offer to meet with applicants and residents in specific circumstances. These meetings let applicants and residents dispute important decisions that you’ve made about their housing assistance. We’ll describe three situations you’ll most likely deal with in...
HUD recently released Housing Notice 2015-04 entitled Methodology for Completing a Multifamily Housing Utility Analysis. It provides instructions to owners and management agents for completing the utility analysis required with annual rent adjustments.
HUD’s noncitizen rule says that only households made up entirely of U.S. citizens and/or certain eligible noncitizens (such as a permanent resident alien) can benefit from federal rental assistance [HUD Handbook 4350.3, par. 3-12 (A)]. To ensure that an ineligible noncitizen doesn’t...
During summer months, household members often like to use a site’s roof for recreational purposes, such as sunbathing, barbecuing, watching fireworks, or catching a breath of fresh air. But letting residents and guests use your roof could lead to liability for your site. For example, if a...
A household may report to you that its members include children who are part of a joint custody arrangement. That is, the children live part of the time with the household and part of the time with their other parent, who doesn’t live in the unit. For example, a household head may report...
