Feature Articles

Use Community Room Agreement to Make Residents Responsible for Damage and Injury

June 13, 2019

A site’s community room is an ideal place for residents to throw parties or hold resident association meetings. But use of this amenity can cause problems. If residents or their guests act irresponsibly, they may damage the community room and its furnishings. And if someone’s injured...

How to Handle Balances Held Within and Distributions from ABLE Accounts

June 13, 2019

ABLE accounts are tax-advantaged savings accounts for individuals with disabilities and their families. They were created as a result of the passage of the Achieving a Better Life Experience Act of 2014, better known as the ABLE Act. The beneficiary of the account is the account owner, and...

Require Households to Inform You of Long Absences

May 9, 2019

Lengthy unexplained household absences from your site can be frustrating and may even violate HUD lease provisions that require assisted households to use their units as their primary residences. You may have households that leave the site for months at a time during particular seasons. Or you...

Guidance Issued on Voluntary & Mandatory Conversions of Public Housing Units

May 9, 2019

In November 2018, HUD’s Office of Public and Indian Housing (PIH) sent a letter to public housing agency (PHA) executive directors notifying them of their intent to reduce HUD’s public housing stock. Because Congress had failed to provide adequate funding for the public housing...

HUD Urges PHAs and Owners to Install CO Detectors

May 9, 2019

HUD recently issued joint notice PIH 2019-06, H 2019-05, OLHCHH 2019-01, regarding the installation of carbon monoxide (CO) detectors in HUD-assisted housing. Carbon monoxide is a byproduct of fuel-fired combustion appliances such as furnaces and water heaters. If not properly vented, this...

Follow Three Dos & Don'ts When Rejecting Applicants

April 11, 2019

HUD regulations have three key requirements when rejecting applicants. Owners must not discriminate against an applicant based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, familial status, or disability. Also, for Section 8 program owners, HUD requires owners to comply with the Violence...

HUD Issues Additional Guidance on Delaying REAC Inspections

April 11, 2019

The Deputy Assistant Secretary for HUD’s multifamily housing programs recently issued a memorandum entitled “Approving the Delay of a Physical Inspection Beyond the New Real Estate Assessment Center (REAC) Inspection Notification Timelines.” It provides guidance on when a field...

Beyond Lead-Free: How to Use Safe Painting Practices at Your Site

March 15, 2019

By Carolyn Zezima, Esq.

Avoid Seven Mistakes When Verifying Disability

March 14, 2019

April is National Fair Housing Month, which, according to HUD, is time for people to come together “as a community and a nation to celebrate the anniversary of the passing of the Fair Housing Act (FHA) and recommit to that goal which inspired us in the aftermath of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther...

Follow Nine Steps to Prevent Unnecessary HAP Delays

March 14, 2019

If your site has a housing assistance payments (HAP) contract, you may have gotten a late payment from HUD at one time or another. Late assistance payments can cause serious problems at your site. For example, if your site doesn’t have large reserves, it may not be able to make mortgage...

Follow Four Rules When Maintaining an Electronic Waiting List

February 15, 2019

HUD defines a waiting list as a formal record of applicants for housing assistance or assisted housing units that identifies the applicant’s name, date and time of application, selection preferences claimed, income category, and the need for an accessible unit. The waiting list may be kept...

Take Five Steps When Dealing with Difficult Households

February 15, 2019

Your site may have a few households that occupy a disproportionate amount of your time. These households may make trouble or may invite troublesome guests onto the site. As a result, tensions could escalate between residents or noisy arguments may erupt or other harassing behavior such as loud...