Feature

Insider's 2012 Survey Results: How Managers Are Tackling Today's Management Challenges

June 11, 2012    

In today's struggling economy, providing affordable housing to low-income families is more important than ever. There may be plenty of qualified applicants, but there are also considerable challenges in keeping up with rising operational costs and program compliance requirements. Last month...

Gather Necessary Documents to Ensure Smooth Management Transition

May 28, 2012    

Taking over the management of an assisted site from its owner or from another management company is a tricky procedure. Unlike at conventional sites, there are many compliance issues at assisted sites that can complicate the transition. You need to get up to speed quickly on how the site is...

How to Bid Out Landscape Maintenance

April 26, 2012    

As we approach the end of spring and anticipate the coming summer months, you may be directing more of your attention to your site's curb appeal. Well-maintained lawns, trees, and shrubs help create the crucial first impressions that potential residents form of your site. And certain...

Clearing up Misconceptions About Reasonable Accommodation Requests

April 5, 2012    

This month marks the 44th anniversary of the signing of the Fair Housing Act (FHA), which protects individuals against discrimination in housing based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, familial status, or disability. In honor of Fair Housing Month, we'll focus on reasonable...

Take Five Tips to Protect Your Security Deposits

March 6, 2012    

Some managers may not bother to collect security deposits from move-ins or the full amount due. Maybe that's because they don't fully understand HUD's rules on setting the amounts of security deposits, or they just simply forgot to do it. Whatever the reason, not collecting the full...

Follow HUD Rules When Itemizing Deductions from Security Deposit

March 6, 2012    

Security deposits provide owners with some degree of financial protection when a resident moves out of a unit and fails to fulfill obligations under the lease. Security deposits can be used toward reimbursing unpaid rent or repairing any damage the outgoing resident may have left behind.

Inform Owner of Site's Fiscal Health with Periodic Management Reports

February 2, 2012    

As manager of an assisted site, one of your most important jobs is to keep the owner updated on how well you're managing the site. The owner wants to know on a monthly or quarterly basis how well the site is doing financially and that there's no major occupancy or other problems...

Understand REAC Inspector's Responsibilities to Ensure Efficient Inspection

January 5, 2012    

HUD's Real Estate Assessment Center (REAC) conducts approximately 20,000 physical inspections of sites each year to ensure that residents are living in assisted housing units that are “decent, safe, sanitary, and in good repair.” During an investigation, REAC inspectors will look...

Reserve Reimbursement Right if You Pay Resident's Utility Charges

January 3, 2012    

You may have some assisted residents who don't pay their utility bills for electricity, gas, or water. This can create a dangerous situation at your site. If the utility company shuts off service to the resident's unit, the resident may try to make do with candles, use the oven for heat...

How to Verify Cash Value and Income of Stocks

December 15, 2011    

The stock market has been incredibly volatile this past year. As a result, some of your residents may have experienced significant reductions in the value of their stock portfolio and may be asking for interim recertifications. Others may have had the benefit of a positive swing in their...

How to Handle Households' Unanticipated Medical Expenses

October 30, 2011    

You're probably familiar with HUD's requirement that you calculate elderly households' medical expense allowances at each recertification based on the households' medical expenses during the prior year. Generally, HUD says, the allowance covers households' “anticipated...

How to Verify Workers' Compensation Benefits for Annual Income Determinations

September 26, 2011    

Suppose a household member is injured on the job and tells you that he'll be getting workers' compensation benefits for a number of weeks. Like many managers, you may have little experience with income from employee benefits. But with the increasing popularity of welfare-to-work programs...