Training, Advocacy, and Information for Owners and Managers of Affordable Multifamily Housing Communities

News

  • HOTMA Compliance Date for TSP and EIV Policies & Procedures Extended to May 31, 2024

    03-05-2024

    The Office of Multifamily Housing Programs published a Housing NoticeRead more

  • NSPIRE Scoring Calculator

    05-23-2023

    The National Standards for the Physical Inspection of Real Estate (NSPIRE) protocol will be effective later this year- going live for multifamily housing properties on October 1st, 2023. HUD has created a tool which will help property owners calculate an estimate for their NSPIRE score. Please note that this is just an estimate, and the most important factor will be the condition of the property on the day of inspection.
     
    You can read more about the calculator, try it yourself Read more

  • Updated RAD Contract Rents Now Available

    12-07-2022

    HUD has just posted the 2022 RAD Contract Rents, which are used to determine the initial contract rents in the Section 8 Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) contract for public housing properties converting under RAD. HUD will utilize these amounts for any new Commitments to enter into HAP (CHAPs) or Portfolio awards starting January 1, 2023. In addition, current awardees that have not yet closed may request to update rents in their existing C Read more

  • NAHMA Participates in White House Listening Sessions with Housing Providers

    06-09-2022

    On May 31st, the White House (including staff from all regulatory agencies) hosted a listening session with housing providers to hear industry thoughts about the priorities and gaps for renter protections and owner needs that could be addressed through a cross-agency effort.  NAHMA participated in the session. Overall, the White House is hosting four separate sessions divided between Housing Providers and Tenant Groups. 
     
    During the very brief discussion period, Administration officials were focused on two questions:

    1. What rights should federal age Read more

    2. HUD's Office of Multifamily Housing Issues OCAF Notice, Request for Disaster Housing Resources Submissions, and Shares Resources/Links from Stakeholder Call

      10-22-2021

      2022 OCAF Notice 
      HUD has recently published a notice with the Operating Cost Adjustment Factors for 2022 . The OCAFs provided in the notice are applicable to eligible projects having a contract anniversary date of February 11, 2022, or after and were calculated using the same method as those published in HUD’s 2021 OCAF notice published on November 27, 2020.


      Submit Potential Disaster Housing Resources to HUD

      H Read more

    3. CDC Extends Eviction Moratorium for Another 30 Days

      06-24-2021

      The Biden administration annou Read more

    4. CDC Extends Eviction Moratorium

      03-31-2021

      The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has extended their Eviction Moratorium through June 30, 2021, further preventing the eviction of tenants who are unable to make rental payments. The moratorium that was scheduled to expire on March 31, 2021 is now extended through June 30, 2021. Note, the Order only applies to “covered persons” as defined in the Order and only prohibits the actual physical eviction of covered persons. The full revised order may be found Read more

    5. NAHMA Publishes NAHMAnalysis on the American Rescue Plan

      03-24-2021

      On March 23rd, NAHMA published a NAHMAnalysis, the American Rescue Plan Act. Proposed by President Biden in January and signed into law in March, the American Rescue Plan Act seeks to facilitate the United States' recovery from the devastating economic and health effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. This NAHMAnalysis examines the direct and indirect economic relief and support provided to tenants and landlords through the American Rescue Plan Act. For the full analysis, Read more

    6. Virginia Housing Suspends Collection of Tax Credit Monitoring Fees for 2020

      03-24-2021

      Recognizing the impact that COVID-19 has had across the Commonwealth and on our business partners, Compliance & Asset Management will suspend the collection of Tax Credit monitoring fees for the 2020 reporting year. The collection of fees will resume for the 2021 Compliance Monitoring review perio Read more

    7. Guidance Issued for Section 515/Section 514 Multi-Family Housing Tenant Eligibility Documentation Retention

      12-17-2020

      USDA’s Rural Housing Service recently issued an Unnumbered Letter, Section 515 and Section 514 Multi-Family Housing Property Tenant Eligibility Documentation Retention Policies and Best Practices for Owners and Management. The purpose of this Unnumbered Letter is to review the tenant file documentation retention requirements for Rural Development Multi-Family Housing Section 515 Rural Rental Housing and Section 514 Farm Labor Housing Owners. This guidance is intended to specifically address the loss or unavailability of required Section 515 or Section 514 tenant eligibil Read more

    8. HUD Publishes FY 2021 Section 8 Annual Adjustment Factors for Housing Assistance Payment Program

      12-17-2020

      Today, HUD’s Office of the Assistant Secretary for Policy Development and Research published the Annual Adjust Factors for Section 8 Housing Assistance Payments Program for Fiscal Year 2021, for the adjustment of contract rents on the anniversary of those assistance contracts. The factors are based on a formula using residential rent and utility cost changes from the most recent annual Bureau of Labor Statistics. Please note that tables showing annual adjustment factors will be available electronically from the H Read more

    9. Secretary Carson Announces HUD Will Safely Resume Physical Inspections

      08-07-2020

      Inspections previously paused during COVID-19 outbreak due to health concerns
       
      WASHINGTON - U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Ben Carson announced today the Department will resume Real Estate Assessment Center (REAC) inspections of HUD multifamily and public housing properties and units under strict safety protocols during the national recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
      REAC inspections are the assessment tool that ensures HUD assisted properties meet federal standards of health, safety, and accessibility. REAC Read more

    10. HUD Issues Memorandum for Processing Special Claims for Vacancy During COVID19

      07-10-2020

      The Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Office of Multifamily Housing has published a memorandum with instructions for the processing of special claims for vacancy for properties affected by COVID-19 during the period of March 27, 2020 through September 30, 2020. This includes Special Claims for Vacancy During Rent-up (RAD properties only) and Special Claims for Vacancy Loss After Rent-up (Regular Vacancy). In the event a property owner has submitted either of the vacancy claim types prior to the issuance of this memorandum, and the special claim(s) has been processed for payme Read more

    11. IRS Releases Updated Compliance Monitoring Regulations--NAHMA Encourages Member Comments

      07-10-2020

      Last week, the IRS released proposed regulations, effective immediately, to relax their previous compliance monitoring regulations that increased the number of units housing finance agencies (HFAs) needed to monitor. This proposed rule reinstates the previous pre-2019 policy that required HFAs to monitor the lesser of 20 percent of the units in a project or the number of units in the LIHTC Minimum Unit Sample Size Reference Chart. The minimum sample sizes in the chart correspond to the minimum sample sizes required by the Real Estate Assessment Center for inspections under HUD programs (the RE Read more

    12. USDA Implements Immediate Measures to Help Rural Residents, Businesses and Communities Affected by COVID-19 *Updated April 8, 2020

      04-10-2020

      The USDA Office of Rural Development recently issued a Stakeholders Announcement titled USDA Implements Immediate Measures to Help Rural Residents, Businesses and Communities Affected by COVID-19 *Updated April 8, 2020*. Among the many updates, this announcement provides guidance on the following: Rural Development Tennant Vouchers, Implementing Eviction and Forbearance Moratoriums, Extension of Annual Financial Statement Due Date, Tenant Recertification.
       
      The Stakeholder Announcement can be found Read more

    13. Offit|Kurman to Host Free Webinar for DC Housing Professionals

      04-10-2020

      The District of Columbia continues to be challenging place to be a Landlord or Property Manager. This is especially true during this COVID19 emergency. Please join Billy Cannon, Brian Dorwin and Jennifer Friend-Kelly for a free webinar on New Legislation Passed by the DC Council and How it Impacts the Management of Your Property.  To register: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/2112662520877571342 Read more

    14. President Trump Signs Executive Order Creating Council on Eliminating Affordable Housing Development Barriers

      07-02-2019

      President Trump Signs Executive Order Creating Council on Eliminating Affordable Housing Development Barriers

      This week, President Trump signed an executive order to establish a White House Council on Eliminating Barriers to Affordable Housing Development. The council will consist of members from eight federal agencies and will be chaired by HUD Secretary Ben Ca Read more

    15. House Passes Robust Spending Package for Affordable Housing

      06-27-2019

      National Low Income Housing Coalition
      202-662-1530 x247; http://nlihc.org
       
      The House approved by a vote of 227-194 on June 25 a five-bill FY20 spending package that includes robust funding for affordable housing and community development investments at HUD and USDA, as well as several positive amendments. This outcome is due in no small measure to your advocacy and to the leadership of strong congressional champions, including Transportation–HUD Approp Read more

    16. HUD releases Guidance on How to Enforce a Zero Based on 14-Day Physical Inspection Notification Period

      05-15-2019

      Please click here to read the May 1, 2019 memorandum that provides guidance on what steps a field office must take when a project receives a score of zero because an owner and/or management agent defaulted on the contractual obligation to allow HUD to perform a physical inspection based on the new 14-day notification period. On February 22, 2019, PIH and Housing published the Standardization of REAC Inspection Notification Timelines, Notice PIH-2019-02(HA)/H-2019-04.  This Notice informed PHAs and multifamily owners and agents that beginning on March 25, 2019, they would be given a Read more

    17. Transforming Lives Through Literacy

      05-15-2019

      Our parent association, NAHMA, has been named one of 24 finalists selected as a milestone award winner in the first phase of the Adult Literacy XPRIZE Communities Competition. NAHMA is now encouraging all AHMA-member properties to work with them by promoting the download and use of free adult literacy learning apps.
       
      To join the effort to "transform lives through literacy," we encourage you to download a flyer announcing the availability of the free literacy app and to distribute the flyer to your residents or post where they will see it. The fl Read more

    18. Pay for Success (PFS) 60-day PRA Now Available for Comments

      05-15-2019

      The Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act of 2015 authorizes HUD to establish a Pay For Success (PFS)-style demonstration program for achieving energy and water savings in the multifamily assisted housing stock.  The intent to collect information for the forthcoming PFS program is now posted on the Federal Register for the required 60-day public comment period per the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA).  View it here.  Comments are due by July 8, 2019.  After comments are review Read more

    19. Take Action to #KeepFamliesTogether!

      05-15-2019

      The Trump administration has proposed a new rule that would prohibit “mixed-status” immigrant families from living in public and other subsidized housing. The rule would result in family separations and evictions for certain immigrant families, putting tens of thousands of people and children at increased risk of homelessness. Learn more here. The public now has 60 days to comment on the rule. 

      Read more

    20. DiBello Represents MA-AHMA at First REAC Listening Session

      02-27-2019

      The Mid-Atlantic AHMA arranged to have Dennis DiBello, Founder/Chief Inspector with American Property Consultants, Inc. (APC, Inc), represent our membership at last week's first REAC Listening Session in Philadelphia, PA. While Dennis will be providing a more detailed report/article for us to share, we wanted to get a quick summary of the meeting out to you as the clock is ticking on the notice comment period.

      During its first regional listening session regarding the new REAC Notice, HUD national and regional leadership engaged with stakeholders on both the short- and long-term prop Read more

    21. Guidance on Use of Rent Incentive Options in Multi-Family Housing Properties

      11-29-2018

      Many Rural Development MFH properties that are experiencing vacancies need to attract applicants in order to improve cash flow and maintain financial viability; in some rental markets, a short-term rent incentive of no more than three months may be useful in improving occupancy and project cash flow. Recently, the Rural Housing Service published an Unnumbered Letter providing guidance on rent incentive options in situations where multi-family owners or agents can be allowed to address a potential vacancy problem, either immediately or as part of a Servicing Work Out Plan (SWOP). For the last t Read more

    22. 2019 Operating Cost Adjustment Factors (OCAFs) and Utility Allowance Factors Now Available

      11-29-2018

      The Operating Cost Adjustment Factors (OCAFs) for 2019 were published on November 23, 2018 in the Federal Register. These factors are used for adjusting or establishing Section 8 rents under the Multifamily Assisted Housing Reform and Affordability Act of 1997 (MAHRA), as amended, for projects assisted with Section 8 Housing Assistance Payments. The factors are effective February 11, 2019 and can be found at https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2018-11-23/pdf/2018-25440.pdf
       
      Utility Allowance Fa Read more