Occasionally, after the death of a resident or head of household, a remaining family member will claim succession rights to the subsidized apartment. According to HUD, a remaining household member is one in which the individual is of legal contract age under state law and was a party to the lease at the time the tenant died [HUD Handbook, par. 3-16(B)(1-2)]. Section 202 and 811 sites have additional succession requirements. For these sites, managers should refer to HUD Handbook 4350.3, paragraph 3-16(B)(3).
The number of older adults living in HUD-assisted housing is growing, and the average age of residents is increasing, according to HUD. Helping residents to age in place safely is a win-win for both owners and residents. Typically, residents want to live independently for as long as possible, and stable occupancy reduces management costs.
In response to the nationwide health crisis associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, HUD’s Real Estate Assessment Center recently released Inspector Notice 2020-01, which establishes guidance to all Uniform Physical Condition Standards (UPCS) inspectors who conduct physical inspections of HUD-assisted and insured properties.
We answer site owners’ FAQs about the moratorium. On Sept. 4, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) took unprecedented action when they officially published an order in the Federal Register to halt all residential evictions temporarily to prevent the further spread of COVID-19. This national eviction moratorium covers millions of renters at risk of eviction. It became effective on publication and will last until Dec. 31, 2020, unless extended.
Will your MOR be less? The Section 8 Project-Based Rental Assistance program is subject to an annual audit and inspection known as a Management and Occupancy Review (MOR). It’s one of the tools HUD uses to monitor a site to ensure that the owner is complying with its HAP contract, management certification, and HUD rules and regulations. MORs ensure that HUD’s multifamily housing programs are administered as intended by identifying deficiencies to eliminate fraud, waste, and mismanagement.
While the country is still dealing with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s Atlantic hurricane season is currently on pace to match the number of named storms during the historic 2005 hurricane season, which was the most active hurricane season on record. Hurricane season brings extreme events and creates conditions that spread disease and viruses.
SITUATION: You just found out that Ann Smith, one of your residents, has tested positive for COVID-19 and is now in self-isolation for 14 days. You immediately report the case to the local health authorities. You post signs and notices in common areas alerting other residents that a building resident has been confirmed as having COVID-19. You tell maintenance staff who had contact with Ann in the past 48 hours that a resident they recently encountered has COVID-19 and advise them to get tested or go into precautionary self-isolation.
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.
