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Section 8 Property

Subsidized Property

Sec 8 Property

Sec 8 Property

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Exemptions to the Section 8 Minimum Rent

Tenants in properties subsidized through the Section 8 program must pay a minimum rent (TTP) of $25. However, bare in mind that the Minimum rent rule does not apply to Section 202 PAC, Section 202 PRAC, Section 811 PRAC, RAP, Rent Supplement, Section 221(d)(3) BMIR or Section 236 programs.

The minimum rent is used when 30% of adjusted monthly income and 10% of gross monthly income, and the welfare rent where applicable, are all below $25.

The minimum rent includes the tenant’s contribution for rent and utilities. In any property in which the utility allowance is greater than $25, the full TTP is applied toward the utility allowance. The tenant will receive a utility reimbursement in the amount by which the utility allowance exceeds $25.

HUD does allow for the following hardships;

Owners must waive the minimum rent for any family unable to pay due to a long-term financial hardship, including the following:

– The family has lost federal, state, or local government assistance or is waiting for an eligibility determination.

– The family would be evicted if the minimum rent requirement was imposed.

– The family income has decreased due to a change in circumstances, like loss of employment.

– A death in the family has occurred.

– Other applicable situations, as determined by HUD, have occurred.

Implementing an exemption request

When a tenant requests a financial hardship exemption, the owner must waive the minimum $25 rent charge beginning the month immediately following the tenant’s request and implement the TTP calculated at the higher of 30% of adjusted monthly income or 10% of gross monthly income (or the welfare rent). The TTP will not drop to zero unless those calculations all result in zero.

1) The owner may request reasonable documentation of the hardship in order to determine whether there is a hardship and whether it is temporary or long term in nature. The owner should make a determination within one week of receiving the documentation.

(2) If the owner determines there is no hardship as covered by the statute, the owner must immediately reinstate the minimum rent requirements. The tenant is responsible for paying any minimum rent that was not paid from the date rent was suspended. The owner may not evict the tenant for nonpayment of rent during the time in which the owner was making the determination. The owner and tenant should reach a reasonable repayment agreement for any back payment of rent.

(3) If the owner determines that the hardship is temporary, the owner may not impose the minimum rent requirement until 90 days after the date of the suspension. At the end of the

90-day period, the tenant is responsible for paying the minimum rent, retroactive to the initial date of the suspension. The owner may not evict the tenant for nonpayment of rent during the time in which the owner was making the determination or during the 90-day suspension period. The owner and tenant should reach a reasonable repayment agreement for any back payment of rent.

If the hardship is determined to be long term, the owner must exempt the tenant from the minimum rent requirement from the date the owner granted the suspension. The suspension may be effective until such time that the hardship no longer exists. However, the owner must recertify the tenant every 90 days while the suspension lasts to verify that circumstances have not changed. The length of the hardship exemption may vary from one family to another depending on the circumstances of each family. The owner must process an interim recertification to implement a long-term exemption.

Owners must maintain documentation on all requests and determinations regarding hardship exemptions.

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