Compliance

RSS

On June 18, David Vargas, REAC’s Deputy Assistant Secretary, gave a presentation to the National Leased Housing Association (NLHA) to discuss the safe return of Real Estate Assessment Center (REAC) and National Standards for the Physical Inspection of Real Estate (NSPIRE) operations. In early March, REAC postponed all inspections until further notice due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

U.S.-style federalism allows for federal and state laws to exist side by side. In the context of federally assisted housing, leases and landlord-tenant relations are governed by HUD rules even though they’re located on property subject to state regulation. Nevertheless, it can also get confusing at times, particularly in eviction cases.

In the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, HUD made certain limited electronic signing and document delivery options available to help reduce virus exposure for important resident interactions such as income recertifications and applicant processing. In a new notice issued by HUD’s Office of Multifamily Housing, HUD has expanded the electronic option for owners in a continued effort to limit COVID-19 exposure for staff and residents by minimizing face-to-face i...

In May, HUD’s Office of Multifamily Housing Programs, which oversees contracts with private owners of HUD-assisted properties, made a fifth and sixth update to its “Questions and Answers for Office of Multifamily Housing Stakeholders: Coronavirus (COVID-19).” HUD has been using this document to address the concerns of owners, staff, and residents during the pandemic.

In April, HUD observed Fair Housing Month by initiating a campaign against sexual harassment. This year's theme focused on protecting individuals from harassment by property owners, managers, maintenance workers, or other residents, and helped educate the public about what behaviors and actions constitute sexual harassment and resources HUD offers to those who experience harassment.

HUD recently published the income limits for HUD programs. These new income limits are effective as of April 1, 2020. HUD sets income limits that determine eligibility for assisted housing programs including:

On March 18, HUD’s Office of Multifamily Housing held a national conference call updating stakeholders on their COVID-19 response and operations. HUD staff who spoke on the conference call included Deputy Assistant Secretary Lamar Seats, Assistant Deputy Assistant Secretary Jeff Little, Deputy Director of the Office of Multifamily Production Tom Bernaciak, Director of Office of Asset Management Toby Halliday, and Senior Advisor Robert Iber.

In line with its ongoing process of increasing quality control procedures on REAC inspections, HUD recently implemented a new Quality Assurance Inspection (QAI) process, which may be done within five days of the REAC inspection. Generally, within two business days of the contract inspection, a federal inspector may assess the certified inspector’s performance using the same inspection protocol and same sample used by the certified inspector.

HUD recently issued new guidelines relating to assistance animals under the Fair Housing Act (FHA). Notice FHEO-2020-01, referred to as the “Assistance Animals Notice,” replaces prior HUD guidelines from 2013 and can be found at www.hud.gov/sites/dfiles/PA/documents/HUDAsstAnimalNC1-28-2020.pdf.

A few months ago, HUD and its Office of Inspector General (OIG) issued a report identifying the top management challenges facing the Department in 2020 and beyond. One of the broad categories identified was ensuring the availability of affordable housing that’s decent, safe, sanitary, and in good repair. Within this category, HUD says its most noteworthy safe housing challenges include addressing lead paint hazards and hazardous waste in public housing.