Dos & Don'ts

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Squatting may be making a comeback in the United States. In the 1970s, it became a widespread problem in cities after the housing market collapsed. Nearly 40 years later, high unemployment, rising evictions, and homelessness along with the surge of vacant housing may be contributing to its resurrection.

HUD has developed a new brochure that outlines the Enterprise Income Verification (EIV) system for residents of Section 8 and HUD-assisted sites in a clear, concise, easy-to-read format. EIV and You may help to ease residents' concerns about what information is available, how their information is being used, and who has access to it.

The brochure will probably make it a little easier for site managers to explain EIV requirements to residents, as well. <...

Finding qualified applicants for your tax credit site is a little like dating. You have to spend some time with each candidate before discovering that he's not a good fit—this person is over-income; that one cannot afford the rent, and the next doesn't meet another screening requirement. It's too bad that you can't enlist the help of a matchmaker to target better-qualified candidates and steer them your way… except that you can.

Most site managers have had to handle disputes on occasion with residents or former residents over past-due rents or damaged property. If the money damages that you're seeking are relatively small, typically less than $5,000 (although the amount varies by state), and your preference is for a speedy, inexpensive hearing in a less-formal venue, then small claims court may be a viable option.

Offering dynamic community programs at your tax credit site can help to create a positive identity for your property that will attract more prospective applicants and boost resident retention. And the idea of collecting extra fees from program providers or residents to offset your operating costs may seem like an attractive option, especially during tough economic times.

If your residents have ever argued over putting a Christmas display in a common area, be prepared to avoid acrimony over Easter decorations, such as palms for Palm Sunday or other Christian symbols.

One of the things prospects focus on when looking at a unit is how much storage space it has, says management expert Doug Chasick. Having ample storage space can mean the difference between a clutter-free unit that's comfortable to live in, and a cluttered one that's uncomfortable. Unfortunately, many tax credit sites' units lack ample storage space, which sometimes turns away prospects.