HUD Issues VAWA-Compliant Form, Lease Addendum

The Insider's February 2009 feature, “Comply with VAWA Before Seeking Resident's Eviction,” p. 1, discussed how the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) protects domestic violence victims from being evicted solely on the basis of an incident relating to domestic violence. If a resident claims protection under the law, VAWA provides that site owners and managers may ask the resident to certify that he or she is a victim of domestic violence, dating violence, or stalking. HUD has now provided a certification form for this purpose, Form HUD-91066.

HUD has also issued a new VAWA-compliant Lease Addendum (Form HUD-91067) to be used with the HUD model lease in Section 8 project-based programs. HUD is advising owners and managers to update their Tenant Selection Plans and/or House Rules, as applicable, to incorporate the provisions in VAWA. Both forms, and a Notice outlining how you should use them, can be found online at: http://www.hud.gov/offices/adm/hudclips/notices/hsg/files/08-07HSGN.doc.