When determining and verifying household income, be sure to gather information from households about how much each member is expected to earn in tips over the next 12 months. HUD Handbook rules say you must count tips as part of household income [HUD Handbook, Exhibit 5-1].
Many assisted sites would like to hire a social service coordinator but don’t know where to get the money to pay the coordinator’s salary. With government grants very limited, it’s important to know what other sources you can tap to get the funding you need. And to get this...
You can—and should—evict residents who engage in illegal drug activity in their units. But make sure you have adequate proof that the illegal activity took place.
Before seeking to evict a resident for failing to comply with Section 8 rules, make sure you comply with any local notice requirements that would give the resident an opportunity to cure his Section 8 lease violation. As stated in the previous item, don't assume that termination of Section 8...
Beware of telling ethnic prospects or residents not to cook certain foods with exotic or unpleasant odors. Experts say that there's a common misconception among even well-meaning site managers that people from certain countries cook foods that give off objectionable odors. Sometimes, it'...
You not only have the right to keep trespassers off your property, you have a responsibility to do so as well. Unfortunately, many site managers are reluctant to speak to a trespasser because they don't have the skills for effective communication or don't know how to interact with...
Don't be tempted to require residents who use electric wheelchairs to get liability insurance to pay for any accidents or injuries their wheelchairs may cause. Even if you think that...
If a resident is found using or possessing marijuana at your site and claims that she smokes it to treat a medical condition, check with your lawyer. Unless your state has a law permitting “medical marijuana” and the resident can prove her marijuana use is for medical purposes, you...
If a prospect mentions that she's planning to adopt a child, don't misinform her about the availability of appropriately sized units to discourage single parents with children...
Don't rely on the termination of Section 8 payments alone as sufficient grounds for terminating a resident's lease—particularly if the owner's actions were the reasons for the Section 8 termination. Make sure you have “good cause” before trying to evict any resident...
If a resident's interim or annual recertification indicates that his current income justifies a rent increase, make sure you send the proper HUD notice before increasing the resident...
HUD permits owners to submit requests for rent increases, when substantiated, to provide sufficient and adequate funds to operate their sites. Use the following dos and don'ts if you're considering such a step:
Prepare a well-thought-out budget forecast to support your...
