Certification, Compliance, Crime & Security, Dealing with Households, Feature, Income Calculations, Maintenance, Screening Applicants

Take Proper Steps When Terminating Over-Income Households' Assistance

February 13, 2015    

Do you have households at your site that were eligible for housing assistance when they moved in but aren’t anymore? These are households whose income has increased enough that they’re no longer eligible for assistance because they can now afford to pay the gross rent. The HUD...

Use Correct Version of HUD Model Lease to Avoid HUD Trouble

January 22, 2015    

As an owner or manager of a HUD assisted site, you probably know that you must use one of HUD’s model leases for all your assisted residents. But are you certain which model lease applies to your site? Appendix 4 of HUD Handbook 4350.3 contains four different model leases. Which version...

HUD Issues Memo on Use of Marijuana in Multifamily Properties

January 22, 2015    

On Dec. 29, HUD issued a memo, “Use of Marijuana in Multifamily Properties,” on the use of medical marijuana at assisted housing sites. The memo was issued due to questions concerning the use of marijuana at sites in states that allow the use of medical marijuana.

HUD Proposes Public Housing, Voucher Rules Implementing FY 2014 Appropriations Act

January 22, 2015    

On Jan. 6, HUD published proposed rules to codify statutory changes made by the fiscal year (FY) 2014 Appropriations Act relating to certain elements of the public housing and Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) programs. HUD also proposes changes to streamline some regulatory requirements in order to...

Screen Live-In Employees for Criminal Activity, Other Red Flags

December 15, 2014    

Last month, we discussed renting units to police or security officers as a potential method of deterring crime at your site. Whether your site houses security officers or other types of live-in employees who enhance services provided to households, you need to be mindful of the safety of your...

Waiting List Administration Notice Issued by Office of Multifamily Housing

December 15, 2014    

HUD’s Office of Multifamily Housing Programs recently issued Notice H 2014-16, which covers topics such as opening waiting lists, placing applicants on waiting lists, and outreach to potential applicants. The notice doesn’t mandate any new practices for owners, but rather provides...

How to Get HUD's Approval to House Over-Income Police or Security Officers

November 19, 2014    

If you’re having problems with criminal activity or other undesirable conduct at or near your assisted site, you may want to house a police or security officer in one of your site’s units. The presence of a police or security officer may help deter crime at your site and help create...

How to Handle Applicants with Housing Choice Vouchers

November 19, 2014    

You may occasionally get applications from households that want to use their Housing Choice vouchers at your site. The Housing Choice voucher program is a form of rental assistance administered by local public housing agencies (PHAs) that allows households to use vouchers to subsidize the rent...

How to Implement Limited English Proficiency Rules

October 17, 2014    

HUD’s Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity (FHEO) issued its final guidance on limited English proficiency (LEP) in 2007. The final guidance was based on an Executive Order signed by President Clinton in August 2000, later reaffirmed by President Bush with Executive Order 13166,...

What Extra Fees Are Allowed for Items or Services

October 17, 2014    

You may want to charge households extra fees for certain items or services, especially ones that cost you money. For instance, you may want to charge households a fee for paying rent late or for transferring to another unit.

But HUD doesn’t let you charge households fees over and...

HUD Revises Appeal Process for Tenant Participation Complaints

October 17, 2014    

On Sept. 4, 2014, HUD issued Notice H 2014-12 (Implementation of Tenant Participation Requirements in accordance with 24 CFR Part 245). HUD regulations governing tenant participation in multifamily housing projects are found at 24 CFR Part 245 Subpart B. According to HUD, tenant participation is...

Healthy Food Access: Improve Resident Health, Save Site Money

September 27, 2014    

By Carolyn E. Zezima, Esq.