HUD recently published an interim final rule in the Federal Register to implement changes from both the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act (signed into law Dec 4, 2015) as well as implementation of a Final Rule to streamline regulations that HUD published in March 2016. The goal of these changes is to reduce the regulatory burden on PHAs and Multifamily Housing Owners. The effective date of these changes is March 12, 2018, with comments due January 11, 2018. Changes include the following:

  • For families with fixed income accounting for 90% or more of total income, income recertifications are required every 3 years rather than yearly, in accordance with the FAST Act. New with this interim final rule, families with fixed income accounting for less than 90% of total income also now have similar income recertification requirements.
  • Owners may:
    • Make utility reimbursements of $45 or less per quarter ($15/month) on a quarterly basis
    • Accept family declaration of assets under $5,000. Third-party verification of all assets required every three years.

To submit comments, reference Docket No. FR 5743–I–04 as well as the title “Streamlining Administrative Regulations for Multifamily Housing Programs and Implementing Family Income Reviews Under the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act” and submit comments electronically or by mail to:

Regulations Division, Office of General Counsel
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
451 7th Street SW, Room 10276
Washington, DC 20410