HUD Releases Updated Residents Rights and Responsibilities Brochure

In July of 2016, a new Resident Rights and Responsibilities Brochure was posted on the HUD website. Since then, two versions of the Resident Rights and Responsibilities Brochure have been available for use. HUD subsequently clarified that owners and agents may use either version until the new version is approved for printing.

On March 8, 2018, HUD’s Office of Multifamily Housing Programs issued RHIIP Listserv Posting 406, Release of Updated Resident Rights and Responsibilities Brochure. The posting announced that the new version has been officially released and is available to download and print at: https://www.hud.gov/sites/dfiles/Housing/documents/resident_rights_brochure_8.pdf.

This document provides a summary of key resident rights and responsibilities for tenants living in multifamily assisted housing, along with resources and contact information for tenants needing assistance. Owners must provide applicants and tenants with a copy of the Resident Rights and Responsibilities brochure at move-in and annually at recertification.

The Office of Multifamily Housing Programs encourages owners and management agents to distribute this brochure electronically, in addition to having printed copies available for tenants who prefer hard copies. Translation of the updated brochure to other languages is currently pending and will be posted to HUD’s Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity website at https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/fair_housing_equal_opp, once complete.

The new Resident Rights and Responsibilities Brochure provides some much-needed updates. In it, HUD describes additional rights for residents; includes the new protected classes introduced with the Equal Access Rule; reminds residents that they have a responsibility to notify owner/agents of changes in a timely manner; expands information about residents’ rights to be involved; references more HUD programs including the RAD program; provides additional information about Enhanced Vouchers; and updates information about HUD resources and contacts.