Collapse to view only § 884.223 - Leasing to eligible families.

§ 884.212 - Project completion.

(a) FmHA certifications upon completion. Upon completion of the project, FmHA shall inspect the project and, if determined to be acceptable, submit to the HUD field office the following certifications:

(1) The project has been completed in accordance with the requirements of the Agreement;

(2) The project is in good and tenantable condition;

(3) There are no defects or deficiencies in the project other than punchlist items, or incomplete work awaiting seasonal opportunity;

(4) There has been no change in management capability.

(b) HUD review. HUD shall promptly review the certifications submitted pursuant to paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section (see § 884.203(b)).

(c) HUD acceptance. If HUD determines from the review that the certifications are acceptable in accordance with these subparts, the project shall be accepted.

(d) Acceptance where defects or deficiencies reported. If the only defects or deficiencies are punchlist items or incomplete items awaiting seasonal opportunity, the project may be accepted and the Contract executed. If the Owner fails to complete the items within a reasonable time to the satisfaction of HUD (and the PHA, if applicable), HUD may, after consultation with FmHA, upon 30 days notice to the Owner (and the PHA, if applicable), terminate the Contract and/or exercise its other rights thereunder or, if the Contract is with a PHA, cancel its approval of the Contract and require its termination and/or exercise its other rights under the Contract and the ACC.

(e) Arbitration. In the event the Owner disputes HUD determinations, he may submit the controversy to third-party arbitration at his expense, provided that the arbitration is advisory only.

(f) Completion in stages. If the project is to be completed in stages, the procedures of this section shall apply to each stage.

§ 884.213 - Execution of housing assistance payments contract.

(a) Time of execution. Upon acceptance of the project by HUD pursuant to § 884.212, the Contract shall be executed first by the Owner and then by HUD, or, in the case of a Private-Owner/PHA Project, executed by the Owner and the PHA and then approved by HUD.

(b) Unleased units. At the time of execution of the Contract, HUD (or the PHA, as appropriate) shall examine the lists of dwelling units leased and not leased, referred to in § 884.211(e) and shall determine whether or not the Owner has met his obligations under that section with respect to any unleased units. HUD (or the PHA, as appropriate) shall state in writing its determination with respect to the unleased units and for which of those units it will make housing assistance payments. The Owner shall indicate in writing his concurrence with this determination or his disagreement, reserving his rights to claim housing assistance payments for the unleased units pursuant to the Contract, without prejudice by reason of his signing the Contract. Copies of all documents referred to this paragraph shall be furnished to HUD in the case of a Private-Owner/PHA Project.

§ 884.214 - Marketing.

(a) Compliance with equal opportunity requirements. Marketing of units and selection of Families by the Owner shall be in accordance with the Owner's FmHA-approved Affirmative Fair Housing Marketing Plan, if required, and with all regulations relating to fair housing advertising including use of the equal opportunity logotype statement and slogan in all advertising. Projects shall be managed and operated without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, or national origin.

(b) Eligibility, selection and admission of families. (1) The owner is responsible for determination of eligibility of applicants in accordance with the procedure of 24 CFR part part 5, selection of families from among those determined to be eligible (including provision of Federal selection preferences in accordance with 24 CFR part 5), and computation of the amount of housing assistance payments on behalf of each selected family, in accordance with schedules and criteria established by HUD.

(2) For every family that applies for admission, the owner and the applicant will complete and sign the form of application prescribed by HUD. However, if there are no vacant units and the owner's waiting list is such that there would be an unreasonable length of time before the applicant could be admitted, the owner may advise the applicant that the owner is not accepting applications for that reason.

The owner must retain copies of all completed applications together with any related correspondence for three years. For each family selected for admission, the owner must submit one copy of the completed and signed application to the HUD field office (in the case of private-owner/PHA projects, the owner simultaneously must send a copy of the form to the PHA). Housing assistance payments will not be made on behalf of an admitted family unit after this copy has been received by the HUD field office (or, in the case of private-owner/PHA projects, until the copy has been received by the PHA with a certification by the owner that the owner has sent a copy to HUD).

(3) If the Owner determines that the applicant is eligible on the basis of Income and family composition and is otherwise acceptable but the Owner does not have a suitable unit to offer, the Owner shall place such Family on his waiting list and so advise the Family.

(4) If the Owner determines that the applicant is eligible on the basis of Income and family composition and is otherwise acceptable and if the Owner has a suitable unit, the Owner and the Family shall enter into a Lease. Such Lease shall be on the form of Lease included in the Owner's approved Final Proposal and shall otherwise be in conformity with the provisions of this part.

(5) Records on applicant families and approved Families shall be maintained by the Owner so as to provide HUD with racial, ethnic and gender data and shall be retained by the Owner for three years.

(6) In the case of a PHA-Owner project, (i) if the PHA places a Family on its waiting list, it shall notify the Family of the approximate date of availability of a suitable unit insofar as such date can be reasonably determined, and (ii) if the PHA determines that an applicant is ineligible on the basis of income or family composition, or that the PHA is not selecting the applicant for other reasons, the PHA shall promptly send the applicant a letter notifying him of the determination and the reasons and that the applicant has the right within a reasonable time (specified in the letter) to request an informal hearing. If, after conducting such an informal hearing, the PHA determines that the applicant shall not be admitted, the PHA shall so notify the applicant in writing and such notice shall inform the applicant that he has the right to request a review by HUD of the PHA's determination. The procedures of this subparagraph do not preclude the applicant from exercising his other rights if he believes he is being discriminated against on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, sex, or national origin. The PHA shall retain for three years a copy of the application, the letter, the applicant's response if any, the record of any informal hearing, and a statement of final disposition.

(7) See 24 CFR part 5 for the informal review provisions for the denial of a Federal selection preference.

(8) For the informal hearing provisions related to denial of assistance based upon failure to establish citizenship or eligible immigration status, see part 5 of this title for provisions concerning certain assistance for mixed families (families whose members include those with eligible immigration status, and those without eligible immigration status) in lieu of denial of assistance.

[41 FR 47168, Oct. 27, 1976. Redesignated at 45 FR 6909, Jan. 30, 1980, and amended at 53 FR 1162, Jan. 15, 1988; 53 FR 6601, Mar. 2, 1988; 60 FR 14845, Mar. 20, 1995; 61 FR 9047, Mar. 6, 1996; 61 FR 13594, Mar. 27, 1996; 65 FR 16723, Mar. 29, 2000]

§ 884.215 - Lease requirements.

The Lease shall contain all required provisions specified in paragraph (b) of this section and none of the prohibited provisions listed in paragraph (c) of this section.

(a) Term of lease. The term of the Lease shall be for not less than one year. The Lease may (or, in the case of a Lease for a term of more than one year, shall) contain a provision permitting termination upon 30 days advance written notice by either party.

(b) Required provisions. The Lease between the Owner (Lessor) and the Family (Lessee) shall contain the following provisions:

Addendum to Lease

The following additional Lease provisions are incorporated in full in the Lease between ____________________ (Lessor) and ____________________ (Lessee) for the following dwelling unit: ____________________. In case of any conflict between these and any other provisions of the Lease, these provisions shall prevail.

a. The total rent shall be $____________ per month.

b. Of the total rent, $____________ shall be payable by or at the direction of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (“HUD”) as housing assistance payments on behalf of the Lessee and $____________ shall be payable by the Lessee. These amounts shall be subject to change by reason of changes in the Lessee's family income, family composition, or extent of exceptional medical or other unusual expenses, in accordance with HUD-established schedules and criteria; or by reason of adjustment by HUD, or the PHA, if appropriate, of any applicable Allowance for Utilities and Other Services. Any such change shall be effective as of the date stated in a notification to the Lessee.

c. The Lessor shall not discriminate against the Lessee in the provision of services, or in any other manner, on the grounds of race, color, creed, religion, sex, or national origin.

d. The Lessor shall provide the following services and maintenance:

Lessor By Date Lessee Date

(c) Prohibited provisions. Lease clauses which fall within the classifications listed below shall not be included in any Lease.

(1) Confession of judgment. Prior consent by tenant to any lawsuit the landlord may bring against him in connection with the Lease and to a judgment in favor of the landlord.

(2) Distraint for rent or other charges. Authorization to the landlord to take property of the tenant and hold it as a pledge until the tenant performs any obligation which the landlord has determined the tenant has failed to perform.

(3) Exculpatory clause. Agreement by tenant not to hold the landlord or landlord's agents liable for any acts or omissions whether intentional or negligent on the part of the landlord or the landlord's authorized representative or agents.

(4) Waiver of legal notice to tenant prior to actions for eviction or money judgments. Agreement by tenant that the landlord may institute suit without any notice to the tenant that the suit has been filed.

(5) Waiver of legal proceedings. Authorization to the landlord to evict the tenant or hold or sell the tenant's possessions whenever the landlord determines that a breach or default has occurred, without notice to the tenant or any determination by a court of the rights and liabilities of the parties.

(6) Waiver of jury trial. Authorization to the landlord's lawyer to appear in court for the tenant and to waive the tenant's right to a trial by jury.

(7) Waiver of right to appeal judicial error in legal proceedings. Authorization to the landlord's lawyer to waive the tenant's right to appeal on the ground of judicial error in any suit or the tenant's right to file a suit in equity to prevent the execution of a judgment.

(8) Tenant chargeable with costs of legal actions regardless of outcome. Agreement by the tenant to pay attorney's fees or other legal costs whenever the landlord decides to take action against the tenant even though the court finds in favor of the tenant. (Omission of such clause does not mean that the tenant as a party to a lawsuit may not be obligated to pay attorney's fee or other costs if he loses the suit.)

§ 884.216 - Termination of tenancy.

(a) The owner is responsible for termination of tenancies, including evictions. However, conditions for payment of housing assistance payments for any resulting vacancies must be as set forth in § 884.106(c)(1). Failure of the family to sign and submit consent forms for the obtaining of wage and claim information from State Wage Information Collection Agencies, as provided by 24 CFR part 5, shall be grounds for termination of tenancy. For provisions requiring termination of assistance for failure to establish citizenship or eligible immigration status, including the applicable informal requirements, see 24 CFR part 5 and also for provisions concerning assistance for mixed families (families whose members include those with eligible immigration status, and those without eligible immigration status) in lieu of termination of assistance, and for provisions concerning deferral of termination of assistance.

(b) Termination of tenancy for criminal activity by a covered person is subject to 24 CFR 5.858 and 5.859, and termination of tenancy for alcohol abuse by a covered person is subject to 24 CFR 5.860.

(c) In actions or potential actions to terminate tenancy, the owner shall follow 24 CFR part 5, subpart L (Protection for Victims of Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, or Stalking).

(d) In the case of failure to pay rent, if the Secretary determines that tenants must be provided with adequate notice to secure Federal funding that is available due to a Presidential declaration of a national emergency:

(1) The owner must provide the tenant with written termination notification that includes such information as required by the Secretary; and

(2) The written termination notification described in paragraph (d)(1) of this section must be provided to the tenant at least 30 days before termination.

[56 FR 7541, Feb. 22, 1991, as amended at 60 FR 14845, Mar. 20, 1995; 61 FR 13594, Mar. 27, 1996; 61 FR 47382, Sept. 6, 1996; 66 FR 28798, May 24, 2001; 73 FR 72343, Nov. 28, 2008; 75 FR 66261, Oct. 27, 2010; 81 FR 80813, Nov. 16, 2016; 86 FR 55701, Oct. 7, 2021]

§ 884.217 - Maintenance, operation, and inspections.

(a) Maintenance and operation. The Owner shall maintain and operate the project consistent with 24 CFR part 5, subpart G, and shall provide all the services, maintenance, and utilities which the Owner agrees to provide under the Contract, subject to abatement of housing assistance payments or other applicable remedies if the Owner fails to meet these obligations.

(b) Inspection prior to occupancy. Prior to occupancy of any unit by a Family, the Owner and the Family shall inspect the unit. On forms prescribed by HUD, the Owner and Family shall certify, that they have inspected the unit and the owner shall certify that the unit is compliant with 24 CFR part 5, subpart G, and the criteria provided in the prescribed forms. Copies of these reports shall be kept on file by the Owner for at least 3 years, and may be required to be electronically submitted to HUD.

(c) Periodic inspections. HUD (or the PHA, as appropriate) will inspect or cause to be inspected the contract units and related facilities in accordance with the physical inspection requirements in 24 CFR part 5, subpart G, and at such other times (including prior to initial occupancy and renting of any unit) as HUD (or the PHA) may determine to be necessary to assure that the Owner is meeting the obligation to maintain the units in accordance with 24 CFR part 5, subpart G, and to provide the agreed upon utilities and other services.

(d) Units with health and safety hazards. If HUD (or the PHA, as appropriate) notifies the Owner that the Owner has failed to maintain a unit that in accordance with 24 CFR part 5, subpart G, and the Owner fails to take corrective action within the time prescribed by notice, HUD (or the PHA) may exercise any of its rights or remedies under the Contract, including abatement of housing assistance payments, even if the Family continues to occupy the unit. If, however, the Family wishes to be rehoused in another unit with Section 8 assistance and HUD (or the PHA) does not have other Section 8 funds for such purposes, HUD (or the PHA) may use the abated housing assistance payments for the purpose of rehousing the Family in another unit. Where this is done, the Owner shall be notified that the Owner will be entitled to resumption of housing assistance payments for the vacated unit if:

(1) The unit is restored to in accordance with 24 CFR part 5, subpart G;

(2) The Family is willing to and does move back to the restored dwelling unit; and

(3) A deduction is made for the expenses incurred by the Family for both moves.

[88 FR 30499, May 11, 2023]

§ 884.218 - Reexamination of family income and composition.

(a) Regular reexaminations. The owner must reexamine the income and composition of all families at least once each year. Upon verification of the information, the owner must make appropriate adjustments in the Total Tenant Payment in accordance with part 5 of this title and determine whether the family's unit size is still appropriate. The owner must adjust Tenant Rent and the Housing Assistance Payment to reflect any change in Total Tenant Payment and carry out any unit transfer required by HUD. At the time of the annual reexamination of family income and composition, the owner must require the family to disclose and verify Social Security Numbers, as provided by 24 CFR part 5. For requirements regarding the signing and submitting of consent forms by families for the obtaining of wage and claim information from State Wage Information Collection Agencies, see 24 CFR part 5. At the first regular reexamination after June 19, 1995, the owner shall follow the requirements of 24 CFR part 5 concerning obtaining and processing evidence of citizenship or eligible immigration status of all family members. Thereafter, at each regular reexamination, the owner shall follow the requirements of 24 CFR part 5 concerning verification of the immigration status of any new family member.

(b) Interim reexaminations. The family must comply with provisions of its lease regarding interim reporting of changes in income. If the owner receives information concerning a change in the family's income or other circumstances between regularly scheduled reexaminations, the owner must consult with the family and make any adjustments determined to be appropriate. Any change in the family's income or other circumstances that results in an adjustment in the Total Tenant Payment, Tenant Rent and Housing Assistance Payment must be verified. See 24 CFR 750.10(d)(2)(i) for the requirements for the disclosure and verification of Social Security Numbers at interim reexaminations involving new family members. For requirements regarding the signing and submitting of consent forms by families for the obtaining of wage and claim information from State Wage Information Collection Agencies, see 24 CFR part 5. At any interim reexamination after June 19, 1995 when there is a new family member, the owner shall follow the requirements of 24 CFR part 5 concerning obtaining and processing evidence of citizenship or eligible immigration status of the new family member.

(c) Continuation of housing assistance payments. A family's eligibility for Housing Assistance Payments continues until the Total Tenant Payment equals the Contract Rent plus any utility allowance, or until the family loses eligibility for continued occupancy under Farmer's Home Administration regulations. However, eligibility also may be terminated in accordance with HUD requirements, for such reasons as failure to submit requested verification information, including failure to meet the disclosure and verification requirements for Social Security Numbers, as provided by 24 CFR part 5, or failure to sign and submit consent forms for the obtaining of wage and claim information from State Wage Information Collection Agencies, as provided by 24 CFR part 5. For provisions requiring termination of assistance for failure to establish citizenship or eligible immigration status, see 24 CFR part 5 and also for provisions concerning certain assistance for mixed families (families whose members include those with eligible immigration status, and those without eligible immigration status) in lieu of termination of assistance, and for provisions concerning deferral of termination of assistance.

(d) Streamlined income determination. An owner may elect to follow the provisions of 24 CFR 5.657(d).

[56 FR 7541, Feb. 22, 1991, as amended at 60 FR 14845, Mar. 20, 1995; 61 FR 13594, Mar. 27, 1996; 65 FR 16723, Mar. 29, 2000; 81 FR 12371, Mar. 8, 2016]

§ 884.219 - Overcrowded and underoccupied units.

If HUD or the PHA, as the case may be, determines that a Contract unit assisted under this part is not Decent, Safe, and Sanitary by reason of increase in Family size, or that a Contract unit is larger than appropriate for the size of the Family in occupancy, housing assistance payments with respect to such unit will not be abated, unless the Owner fails to offer the Family a suitable unit as soon as one becomes vacant and ready for occupancy. In the case of an overcrowded unit, if the Owner does not have any suitable units or if no vacancy of a suitable unit occurs within a reasonable time, HUD (or the PHA) will assist the Family in finding a suitable dwelling unit and require the Family to move to such a unit as soon as possible. The Owner may receive housing assistance payments for the vacated unit if he complies with the requirements of § 884.106(c)(1).

§ 884.220 - Adjustment of utility allowances.

In connection with annual and special adjustments of contract rents, the owner must submit an analysis of the project's Utility Allowances. Such data as changes in utility rates and other facts affecting utility consumption should be provided as part of this analysis to permit appropriate adjustments in the Utility Allowances. In addition, when approval of a utility rate change would result in a cumulative increase of 10 percent or more in the most recently approved Utility Allowances, the project owner must advise the Secretary and request approval of new Utility Allowances. Whenever a Utility Allowance for a unit is adjusted, the owner will promptly notify affected families and make a corresponding adjustment of the tenant rent and the amount of the housing assistance payment for the unit.

(Approved by the Office of Management and Budget under control number 2502-0161) [50 FR 39098, Sept. 27, 1985]

§ 884.221 - Continued family participation.

A Family must continue to occupy its approved unit to remain eligible for participation in the Housing Assistance Payments Program except that if the Family (a) wishes to vacate its unit at the end of the Lease term (or prior thereto but in accordance with the provisions of the Lease), or (b) is required to move for reasons other than violation of the Lease on the part of the Family, and if the Family wishes to receive the benefit of housing assistance payments in another approvable unit, the Family should give reasonable notice of the circumstances to HUD or to the PHA, as appropriate, so that HUD or the PHA may have the opportunity to consider the Family's request.

§ 884.222 - Inapplicability of low-rent public housing model lease and grievance procedures.

Model lease and grievance procedures established by HUD for PHA-owned low-rent public housing are applicable only to PHA-Owner Projects under the Section 8 Housing Assistance Payments Program.

§ 884.223 - Leasing to eligible families.

(a) Availability of units for occupancy by Eligible Families. During the term of the Contract, an owner shall make available for occupancy by eligible families the total number of units for which assistance is committed under the Contract. For purposes of this section, making units available for occupancy by eligible families means that the owner: (1) Is conducting marketing in accordance with § 884.214; (2) has leased or is making good faith efforts to lease the units to eligible and otherwise acceptable families, including taking all feasible actions to fill vacancies by renting to such families; and (3) has not rejected any such applicant family except for reasons acceptable to HUD (or the PHA in accordance with HUD guidelines and at the direction of HUD, as appropriate). If the owner is temporarily unable to lease all units for which assistance is committed under the Contract to eligible families, one or more units may be leased to ineligible families with the prior approval of HUD (or the PHA in accordance with HUD guidelines and at the direction of HUD, as appropriate). Failure on the part of the owner to comply with these requirements is a violation of the Contract and grounds for all available legal remedies, including specific performance of the Contract, suspension or debarment from HUD programs, and reduction of the number of units under the Contract as set forth in paragraph (b) of this section.

(b) Reduction of number of units covered by Contract. HUD (or the PHA at the direction of HUD, as appropriate), after consultation with the Farmers Home Administration, may reduce the number of units covered by the Contract to the number of units available for occupancy by eligible families if:

(1) The owner fails to comply with the requirements of paragraph (a) of this section; or

(2) Notwithstanding any prior approval by HUD (or the PHA at the direction of HUD, as appropriate) to lease such units to ineligible families, HUD (or the PHA at the direction of HUD, as appropriate) determines that the inability to lease units to eligible families is not a temporary problem.

(c) Restoration. HUD will agree to an amendment of the ACC or the Contract, as appropriate, to provide for subsequent restoration of any reduction made pursuant to paragraph (b) of this section if:

(1) HUD determines that the restoration is justified by demand;

(2) The owner otherwise has a record of compliance with his or her obligations under the Contract; and

(3) Contract and budget authority are available.

(d) Applicability. In accordance with section 555 of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act of 1990, paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section apply to all contracts. An owner who had leased an assisted unit to an ineligible family consistent with the regulations in effect at the time will continue to lease the unit to that family. However, the owner must make the unit available for occupancy by an eligible family when the ineligible family vacates the unit.

(e) Termination of assistance for failure to establish citizenship or eligible immigration status. If an owner subject to paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section is required to terminate housing assistance payments for the family in accordance with 24 CFR part 5 because the owner determines that the entire family does not have U.S. citizenship or eligible immigration status, the owner may allow continued occupancy of the unit by the family without Section 8 assistance following the termination of assistance, or if the family constitutes a mixed family, as defined in 24 CFR part 5, the owner shall comply with the provisions of 24 CFR part 5 concerning assistance to mixed families, and deferral of termination of assistance.

(f) The regulations in 24 CFR part 5, subpart L (Protection for Victims of Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, or Stalking) apply to this section.

[49 FR 31398, Aug. 7, 1984, as amended at 53 FR 847, Jan. 13, 1988; 53 FR 6601, Mar. 2, 1988; 59 FR 13653, Mar. 23, 1994; 60 FR 14846, Mar. 20, 1995; 61 FR 13594, Mar. 27, 1996; 73 FR 72343, Nov. 28, 2008; 75 FR 66261, Oct. 27, 2010; 81 FR 80813, Nov. 16, 2016]

§ 884.223a - Preference for occupancy by elderly families.

(a) Election of preference for occupancy by elderly families—(1) Election by owners of eligible projects. (i) An owner of a project assisted under this part (including a partially assisted project) that was originally designed primarily for occupancy by elderly families (an “eligible project”) may, at any time, elect to give preference to elderly families in selecting tenants for assisted, vacant units in the project, subject to the requirements of this section.

(ii) For purposes of this section, a project eligible for the preference provided by this section, and for which the owner makes an election to give preference in occupancy to elderly families is referred to as an “elderly project.” “Elderly families” refers to families whose heads of household, their spouses or sole members are 62 years or older.

(iii) An owner who elects to provide a preference to elderly families in accordance with this section is required to notify families on the waiting list who are not elderly that the election has been made and how the election may affect them if:

(A) The percentage of disabled families currently residing in the project who are neither elderly nor near-elderly (hereafter, collectively referred to as “non-elderly disabled families”) is equal to or exceeds the minimum required percentage of units established for the elderly project in accordance with paragraph (c)(1) of this section, and therefore non-elderly families on the waiting list (including non-elderly disabled families) may be passed over for covered section 8 units; or

(B) The project, after making the calculation set forth in paragraph (c)(1) of this section, will have no units set aside for non-elderly disabled families.

(iv) An owner who elects to give a preference for elderly families in accordance with this section shall not remove an applicant from the project's waiting list solely on the basis of having made the election.

(2) HUD approval of election not required. (i) An owner is not required to solicit or obtain the approval of HUD before exercising the election of preference for occupancy provided in paragraph (a)(1) of this section. The owner, however, if challenged on the issue of eligibility of the project for the election provided in paragraph (a)(1) of this section must be able to support the project's eligibility through the production of all relevant documentation in the possession of the owner that pertains to the original design of the project.

(ii) The Department reserves the right at any time to review and make determinations regarding the accuracy of the identification of the project as an elderly project. The Department can make such determinations as a result of ongoing monitoring activities, or the conduct of complaint investigations under the Fair Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 3601 through 3619), or compliance reviews and complaint investigations under section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794) and other applicable statutes.

(b) Determining projects eligible for preference for occupancy by elderly families—(1) Evidence supporting project eligibility. Evidence that a project assisted under this part (or portion of a project) was originally designed primarily for occupancy by elderly families, and is therefore eligible for the election of occupancy preference provided by this section, shall consist of at least one item from the sources (“primary” sources) listed in paragraph (b)(1)(i) of this section, or at least two items from the sources (“secondary” sources) listed in paragraph (b)(1)(ii) of this section:

(i) Primary sources. Identification of the project (or portion of a project) as serving elderly (seniors) families in at least one primary source such as: the application in response to the notice of funding availability; the terms of the notice of funding availability under which the application was solicited; the regulatory agreement; the loan commitment; the bid invitation; the owner's management plan, or any underwriting or financial document collected at or before loan closing; or

(ii) Secondary sources. Two or more sources of evidence such as: lease records from the earliest two years of occupancy for which records are available showing that occupancy has been restricted primarily to households where the head, spouse or sole member is 62 years of age or older; evidence that services for elderly persons have been provided, such as services funded by the Older Americans Act, transportation to senior citizen centers, or programs coordinated with the Area Agency on Aging; project unit mix with more than fifty percent of efficiency and one-bedroom units [a secondary source particularly relevant to distinguishing elderly projects under the previous section 3(b) definition (in which disabled families were included in the definition of “elderly families”) from non-elderly projects and which in combination with other factors (such as the number of accessible units) may be useful in distinguishing projects for seniors from those serving the broader definition of “elderly families” which includes disabled families]; or any other relevant type of historical data, unless clearly contradicted by other comparable evidence.

(2) Sources in conflict. If a primary source establishes a design contrary to that established by the primary source upon which the owner would base support that the project is an eligible project (as defined in this section), the owner cannot make the election of preferences for elderly families as provided by this section based upon primary sources alone. In any case where primary sources do not provide clear evidence of original design of the project for occupancy primarily by elderly families, including those cases where sources documents conflict, secondary sources may be used to establish the use for which the project was originally designed.

(c) Reservation of units in elderly projects for non-elderly disabled families. The owner of an elderly project is required to reserve, at a minimum, the number of units specified in paragraph (c)(1) of this section for occupancy by non-elderly disabled families.

(1) Minimum number of units to be reserved for non-elderly disabled families. The number of units in an elderly project required to be reserved for occupancy by non-elderly disabled families, shall be, at a minimum, the lesser of:

(i) The number of units equivalent to the higher of—

(A) The percentage of units assisted under this part in the elderly project that were occupied by non-elderly disabled families on October 28, 1992; and

(B) The percentage of units assisted under this part in the elderly project that were occupied by non-elderly disabled families upon January 1, 1992; or

(ii) 10 percent of the number of units assisted under this part in the eligible project.

(2) Option to reserve greater number of units for non-elderly disabled families. The owner, at the owner's option, and at any time, may reserve a greater number of units for non-elderly disabled families than that provided for in paragraph (c)(1) of this section. The option to provide a greater number of units to non-elderly disabled families will not obligate the owner to always provide that greater number to non-elderly disabled families. The number of units required to be provided to non-elderly disabled families at any time in an elderly project is that number determined under paragraph (c)(1) of this section.

(d) Secondary preferences. An owner of an elderly project also may elect to establish secondary preferences in accordance with the provisions of this paragraph (d) of this section.

(1) Preference for near-elderly disabled families in units reserved for elderly families. If the owner of an elderly project determines, in accordance with paragraph (f) of this section, that there are an insufficient number of elderly families who have applied for occupancy to fill all the vacant units in the elderly project reserved for elderly families (that is, all units except those reserved for the non-elderly disabled families as provided in paragraph (c) of this section), the owner may give preference for occupancy of such units to disabled families who are near-elderly families.

(2) Preference for near-elderly disabled families in units reserved for non-elderly disabled families. If the owner of an elderly project determines, in accordance with paragraph (f) of this section, that there are an insufficient number of non-elderly disabled families to fill all the vacant units in the elderly project reserved for non-elderly disabled families as provided in paragraph (c) of this section, the owner may give preference for occupancy of these units to disabled families who are near-elderly families.

(e) Availability of units to families without regard to preference. An owner shall make vacant units in an elderly project generally available to otherwise eligible families who apply for housing, without regard to the preferences and reservation of units provided in this section if either:

(1) The owner has adopted the secondary preferences and there are an insufficient number of families for whom elderly preference, reserve preference, and secondary preference has been given, to fill all the vacant units; or

(2) The owner has not adopted the secondary preferences and there are an insufficient number of families for whom elderly preference, and reserve preference has been given to fill all the vacant units.

(f) Determination of insufficient number of applicants qualifying for preference. To make a determination that there are an insufficient number of applicants who qualify for the preferences, including secondary preferences, provided by this section, the owner must:

(1) Conduct marketing in accordance with § 884.214(a) to attract applicants qualifying for the preferences and reservation of units set forth in this section; and

(2) Make a good faith effort to lease to applicants who qualify for the preferences provided in this section, including taking all feasible actions to fill vacancies by renting to such families.

(g) Prohibition of evictions. An owner may not evict a tenant without good cause, or require that a tenant vacate a unit, in whole or in part because of any reservation or preference provided in this section, or because of any action taken by the Secretary pursuant to subtitle D (sections 651 through 661) of title VI of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1992 (42 U.S.C. 13611 through 13620).

[59 FR 65855, Dec. 21, 1994, as amended at 61 FR 9047, Mar. 6, 1996; 65 FR 16723, Mar. 29, 2000]

§ 884.224 - Management and occupancy reviews.

(a) The contract administrator will conduct management and occupancy reviews to determine whether the owner is in compliance with the Contract. Such reviews will be conducted in accordance with a schedule set out by the Secretary and published in the Federal Register, following notice and the opportunity to comment. Where a change in ownership or management occurs, a management and occupancy review must be conducted within six months.

(b) HUD or the Contract Administrator may inspect project operations and units at any time.

(c) Equal Opportunity reviews may be conducted by HUD at any time.

[87 FR 37997, June 27, 2022]

§ 884.225 - PHA reporting requirements. [Reserved]

§ 884.226 - Emergency transfers for victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.

(a) Covered housing providers must develop and implement an emergency transfer plan that meets the requirements in 24 CFR 5.2005(e).

(b) In order to facilitate emergency transfers for victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking, covered housing providers have discretion to adopt new, and modify any existing, admission preferences or transfer waitlist priorities.

(c) In addition to following requirements in 24 CFR 5.2005(e), when a safe unit is not immediately available for a victim of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking who qualifies for an emergency transfer, covered housing providers must:

(1) Review the covered housing provider's existing inventory of units and determine when the next vacant unit may be available; and

(2) Provide a listing of nearby HUD subsidized rental properties, with or without preference for persons of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking, and contact information for the local HUD field office.

(d) Each year, covered housing providers must submit to HUD data on all emergency transfers requested under 24 CFR 5.2005(e), including data on the outcomes of such requests.

[81 FR 80813, Nov. 16, 2016]