Dos & Don'ts

Don't Use ChatGPT for Marketing Purposes

August 14, 2023    

Like other real estate businesses, you may be using ChatGPT, Bard, Bing, and other generative AI products, a.k.a. chatbots, for marketing purposes, such as developing advertising strategies, analyzing housing markets, and generating property listings, ads, social media posts, and other marketing...

Keep Residents' Personally Identifiable Information Secure and Confidential

August 14, 2023    

Remember to redact personally identifiable information (PII) when submitting or transmitting documents to contract administrators. It’s important to protect this information because owners and their employees are subject to penalties for unauthorized disclosure of applicant or resident...

Don't Require COVID-19 Testing as a Condition of Occupancy

August 11, 2020    

According to experts, controlling the spread of the pandemic demands finding the infected and isolating them until they can no longer spread the disease, alongside broader measures like social distancing. With an untold number of asymptomatic carriers, the only option to find out who truly has...

Modify House Rules Before Requiring Residents to Wear Masks

August 11, 2020    

Sites receiving project-based Section 8, Section 202, or Section 811 assistance are allowed to require tenants to wear face coverings while at the site and/or treat a tenant’s failure to wear a face covering as a lease violation—as long as modifications to the lease or house rules...

Apply Rent Reduction Retroactively After Income Decrease Recertification

August 11, 2020    

If a tenant waits some amount to time to report a decrease in income, after an income recertification, you must then retroactively apply any reduction in rent starting with the first day of the month after the date of the action that caused the decrease in income. So, for example, if a tenant...

Review HUD's Disaster Guidance Before Severe Weather Hits

July 14, 2020    

While the country is still dealing with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s Atlantic hurricane season is currently on pace to match the number of named storms during the historic 2005 hurricane season, which was the most active hurricane season on record. Hurricane season...

Don't Include Late Fees Incurred During Moratorium in Post-Moratorium Collections

July 14, 2020    

The CARES Act created a federal moratorium on evictions of tenants for most federal housing programs. The moratorium took effect on March 27 and extends until July 25, 2020. According to the provisions of the act, it’s unlawful to “charge fees, penalties, or other charges to the...

Don't Charge for Internet Services

July 14, 2020    

As the pandemic continues, Internet connectivity for information and services has become increasingly important. From virtual doctor’ visits to virtual learning as schools delay openings, these critical services have underscored the importance of Internet connectivity during this time. But...

Don't Omit Details in Pre-Termination Notice

June 12, 2020    

Showing that residents committed a substantial or material lease violation isn’t enough to evict them from federally assisted housing. You must also furnish a proper lease pre-termination notice letting residents know exactly what they did wrong. If the notice isn’t clear and...

Get HUD Approval for Lease Modifications

January 29, 2020    

In this month’s feature, The Risk of the Incomplete Lease, we told you what documents HUD requires you to attach to your leases. But can you make other modifications to a HUD model lease?

Five Dos & Don'ts When Certifying Households with Foster Children

December 14, 2017    

If households at your site have foster children, you need to know how to certify these households for eligibility, rent, and unit size. To do this right, you’ll need to know when to count foster children as household members and when not to, and how to deal with income and allowances....

Don't Give Away Rejected Applicant's Spot Until Appeal Process Ends

February 17, 2014    

HUD rules require you to give every applicant you reject an opportunity to appeal the rejection. A written rejection notice must include the specifically stated reason(s) for the rejection, notice of the applicant’s right to respond to the owner in writing or request a meeting within 14...