(a) Eligible properties. Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, housing suitable for moderate rehabilitation as defined in § 882.102 is eligible for inclusion under the Moderate Rehabilitation Program. Existing structures of various types may be appropriate for this program, including single-family houses, multi-family structures and group homes.

(b) Ineligible properties. (1) Nursing homes, units within the grounds of penal, reformatory, medical, mental and similar public or private institutions, and facilities providing continual psychiatric, medical or nursing services are not eligible for assistance under the Moderate Rehabilitation Program.

(2) Housing owned by a State or unit of general local government is not eligible for assistance under this program.

(3) High rise elevator projects for families with children may not be utilized unless HUD determines there is no practical alternative. (HUD may make this determination for a locality's Moderate Rehabilitation Program in whole or in part and need not review each building on a case-by-case basis.)

(4) Single room occupancy (SRO) housing may not be utilized unless:

(i) The property is located in an area in which there is a significant demand for such units as determined by the HUD Field Office; and

(ii) The PHA and the unit of general local government in which the property is located approve of such units being utilized for such purpose.

(5) No Section 8 assistance may be provided with respect to any unit occupied by an Owner; however, cooperatives will be considered as rental housing for purposes of the Moderate Rehabilitation Program.

(a) Maximum Total ACC Commitments. The maximum total annual contribution that may be contracted for is the total of the Moderate Rehabilitation Fair Market Rents for all the units. The fee for the costs of PHA administration is payable out of the annual contribution.

(b) Project account. (1) A project account will be established and maintained by HUD as a specifically identified and segregated account for each project. The account will contain the sum of the amounts by which the maximum annual commitment exceeds the amount actually paid out for the project under the ACC each year. Payments will be made from this account when needed to cover increases in Contract Rents or decreases in Gross Family Contributions for (i) housing assistance (including vacancy) payments, (ii) the amount of the fee for PHA costs of administration, and (iii) other costs specifically approved by the Secretary.

(2) When a HUD-approved estimate of required payments under the ACC for a fiscal year exceeds the maximum annual commitment, and would cause the amount in the project account to be less than 40 percent of the maximum, HUD will, within a reasonable period of time, take such additional steps authorized by Section 8(c)(6) of the U.S. Housing Act of 1937, as may be necessary, to assure that payments under the ACC will be adequate to cover increases in Contract Rents and decreases in Gross Family Contributions.

(c) Term of Housing Assistance Payments Contract. The Contract for any unit rehabilitated in accordance with the Program must be for a term of 15 years.

(d) Term of Lease. (1) The initial lease between the family and the Owner must be for at least one year or the term of the HAP contract, whichever is shorter. In cases where there is less than one year remaining on the HAP contract, the owner and the PHA may mutually agree to terminate the unit from the HAP contract instead of leasing the unit to an eligible family.

(2) Any renewal or extension of the lease term for any unit must in no case extend beyond the remaining term of the HAP contract.

(a) Compliance with physical condition standards. Housing in this program must be maintained and inspected in accordance with the requirements in 24 CFR part 5, subpart G.

(b) Space and security. In addition to the standards in 24 CFR part 5, subpart G, a dwelling unit used in the Section 8 moderate rehabilitation program that is not SRO housing must have a living room, a kitchen area, and a bathroom. Such a dwelling unit must have at least one bedroom or living/sleeping room for each two persons.

(c) Special housing types. The following provisions in 24 CFR part 982, subpart M (Special Housing Types) apply to the Section 8 moderate rehabilitation program:

(1) 24 CFR 982.605(b) (for SRO housing). For the Section 8 moderate rehabilitation SRO program under subpart H of this part 882, see also § 882.803(b).

(2) 24 CFR 982.609(b) (for congregate housing).

(3) 24 CFR 982.614(c) (for group homes).

(a) Types. Any type of public or private financing may be utilized with the exception of the rehabilitation loan program under Section 312 of the Housing Act of 1964.

(b) Use of Contract as security for financing. An Owner may pledge, or offer as security for any loan or obligation, an Agreement or Contract entered into pursuant to this Program, Provided That (1) such security is in connection with a unit(s) rehabilitated pursuant to this Program and (2) the terms of the financing or any refinancing must be approved by the PHA in accordance with standards provided by HUD. Any pledge of the Agreement or Contract, or payments thereunder, will be limited to the amounts payable under the Contract in accordance with its terms.

(a) The moderate rehabilitation program is subject to applicable Federal requirements in 24 CFR 5.105 and to the requirements for protection for victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking in 24 CFR part 5, subpart L (Protection for Victims of Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, or Stalking).

(b) In order to facilitate emergency transfers for victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking, covered housing providers have discretion to adopt and modify any existing admission preferences or transfer waitlist priorities for victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking.

(c) Covered housing providers must develop and implement an emergency transfer plan that meets the requirements in 24 CFR 5.2005(e), and when a safe unit is not immediately available for a victim of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking who qualifies for an emergency transfer, covered housing providers must, at a minimum:

(1) Review the covered housing provider's existing inventory of units and determine when the next vacant unit may be available; and

(2) Provide a listing of nearby HUD subsidized rental properties, with or without preference for persons of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking, and contact information for the local HUD field office.

(d) Each year, the covered housing provider must submit to HUD data on all emergency transfers requested under 24 CFR 5.2005(e), pertaining to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking, including data on the outcomes of such requests.

(a) Fair Market Rent limitation. The Fair Market Rent Schedule for Moderate Rehabilitation is 120 percent of the Existing Housing Fair Market Rent Schedule, except that the Fair Market Rent limitation applicable to single room occupancy housing is 75 percent of the Moderate Rehabilitation Fair Market Rent for a 0-bedroom unit. The initial Gross Rent for any Moderate Rehabilitation unit must not exceed the Moderate Rehabilitation Fair Market Rent applicable to the unit on the date that the Agreement is executed except by up to 10 percent as provided in paragraph (b) of this section. Additionally, to the extent provided in paragraph (d) of this section, the PHA may approve changes in the Contract Rent subsequent to execution of the Agreement which result in an initial Gross Rent which exceeds the Moderate Rehabilitation Fair Market Rent applicable to the unit by up to 20 percent.

(b) Exception rents. With HUD Field Office approval, the PHA may approve initial Gross Rents which exceed the applicable Moderate Rehabilitation Fair Market Rents by up to 10 percent for all units of a given size in specified areas where HUD has determined that the rents for standard units suitable for the Existing Housing Program are more than 10 percent higher than the Existing Housing Fair Market Rents. The PHA must submit documentation demonstrating the necessity for such exception rents in the area to the HUD Field Office. In areas where HUD has approved the use of exception rents for 0-bedroom units, the single room occupancy housing exception rent will be 75 percent of the exception rent applicable to Moderate Rehabilitation 0-bedroom units.

(c) Determination Initial Contract Rents. (1) The initial Contract Rent and base rent for each unit must be computed in accordance with HUD requirements. These amounts may be determined in accordance with paragraph (c)(2), or in accordance with an alternative method prescribed by HUD. However, the initial Contract Rent may in no event be more than—

(i) The Moderate Rehabilitation Fair Market Rent or exception rent applicable to the unit on the date that the Agreement is executed, minus

(ii) Any applicable allowance for utilities and other services attributable to the unit.

(2) When the initial Contract Rent is computed under this paragraph, the rent will be equal to the base rent plus the monthly cost of a rehabilitation loan (but not more than the maximum stated in paragraph (c)(1)). The base rent must be calculated using the rent charged for the unit or the estimated costs to the Owner of owning, managing and maintaining the rehabilitated unit. The monthly cost of a rehabilitation loan must be calculated using:

(i) The actual interest rate on the portion of the rehabilitation costs borrowed by the Owner,

(ii) The HUD-FHA maximum interest rate for multifamily housing (or another rate prescribed by HUD) for rehabilitation costs paid by the Owner out of nonborrowed funds, and

(iii) At least a 15 year loan term, except that if the total amount of rehabilitation is less than $15,000, the actual loan term will be used for the portion of the rehabilitation costs borrowed by the Owner. (HUD Field Offices may authorize loan terms which differ from the above in accordance with HUD requirements.)

(d) Changes in Initial Contract Rents during rehabilitation. (1) The initial Contract Rents established pursuant to paragraph (c) of this section will be the Contract Rents on the effective date of the Contract except under the following circumstances:

(i) When, during rehabilitation, work items (including substantial and necessary design changes) which (A) could not reasonably have been anticipated or are necessitated by a change in local codes or ordinances, and (B) were not listed in the work write-up prepared or approved by the PHA, are subsequently required and approved by the PHA.

(ii) When the actual cost of the rehabilitation performed is less than that estimated in the calculation of Contract Rents for the Agreement or the actual, certified costs are more than estimated due to unforeseen factors beyond the owner's control (e.g., strikes, weather delays or unexpected delays caused by local governments).

(iii) When the PHA (or HUD) approves changes in financing.

(iv) When the actual relocation payments made by the Owner to temporarily relocated Families varies from the cost estimated in the calculation of Contract Rents for the Agreement.

(v) When necessary to correct errors in computation of the base and Contract Rents to comply with the HUD requirements.

(2) Should changes occur as specified in paragraph (d)(1) (either an increase or decrease), the PHA will approve any necessary change in work and amendment of the work write-up and cost estimate, recalculate the initial Contract Rents in accordance with paragraph (d)(3) of this section, and amend the Contract or Agreement, as appropriate, to reflect the revised rents.

(3) In establishing the revised Contract Rents, the PHA must determine that the resulting Gross Rents do not exceed the Moderate Rehabilitation Fair Market Rent or the exception rent in effect at the time of execution of the Agreement. The Fair Market Rent or exception rent, as appropriate, may only be exceeded when the PHA determines in accordance with paragraph (d)(1) of this section that it will be necessary for the revised Gross Rent to exceed the Moderate Rehabilitation Fair Market Rent or exception rent. Should this determination be made, the PHA may not execute a revised Agreement or Contract for Gross Rents exceeding the Fair Market Rents by more than 10 percent until it receives HUD Field Office approval. The HUD Field Office may approve revised Gross Rents which exceed the Fair Market Rents by up to 20 percent for reasons specified in paragraph (d)(1) of this section upon proper justification by the PHA of the necessity for the increase.

For a Contract where the initial Contract Rent was based upon a loan term shorter than 15 years, the Contract must provide for reduction of the Contract Rent effective with the rent for the month following the end of the term of the rehabilitation loan. The amount of the reduction will be the monthly cost of amortization of the rehabilitation loan. This reduction should result in a new Contract Rent equal to the base rent established pursuant to § 882.408(c) plus all subsequent adjustments.

(a) Annual and special adjustments. Contract Rents will be adjusted as provided in paragraphs (a) (1) and (2) of this section upon submittal to the PHA by the Owner of a revised schedule of Contract Rents, provided that the unit is in decent, safe, and sanitary condition and that the Owner is otherwise in compliance with the terms of the Lease and Contract. Subject to the foregoing, adjustments of Contract Rents will be as follows:

(1) The Annual Adjustment Factors which are published annually by HUD (see Schedule C, 24 CFR part 888) will be utilized. On or after each annual anniversary date of the Contract, the Contract Rents may be adjusted in accordance with HUD procedures, effective for the month following the submittal by the Owner of a revised schedule of Contract Rents. The changes in rent as a result of the adjustment cannot exceed the amount established by multiplying the Annual Adjustment Factor by the base rents. However, if the amounts borrowed to finance the rehabilitation costs or to finance purchase of the property are subject to a variable rate or are otherwise renegotiable, Contract Rents may be adjusted in accordance with other procedures as prescribed by HUD, and specified in the Contract, provided that the adjusted Contract Rents cannot exceed the rents established by multiplying the Annual Adjustment Factor by the Contract Rents. Adjusted Contract Rents must then be examined in accordance with paragraph (b) of this section and may be adjusted accordingly. Contract Rents may be adjusted upward or downward, as may be appropriate.

(2) Special Adjustments. (i) A special adjustment, to the extent determined by HUD to reflect increases in the actual and necessary expenses of owning and maintaining the unit which have resulted from substantial general increases in real property taxes, assessments, utility rates and utilities not covered by regulated rates, may be recommended by the PHA for approval by HUD. Subject to appropriations, a special adjustment may also be recommended by the PHA for approval by HUD when HUD determines that a project is located in a community where drug-related criminal activity is generally prevalent, and not specific to a particular project, and the project's operating, maintenance, and capital repair expenses have substantially increased primarily as a result of the prevalence of such drug-related activity. HUD may, on a project-by-project basis, provide adjustments to the maximum monthly rents, to a level no greater than 120 percent of the current gross rents for each unit size under a Housing Assistance Payments Contract, to cover the costs of maintenance, security, capital repairs and reserves required for the Owner to carry out a strategy acceptable to HUD for addressing the problem of drug-related criminal activity. Prior to approval of a special adjustment to cover the cost of physical improvements, HUD will perform an environmental review to the extent required by HUD's environmental regulations at 24 CFR part 50, including the applicable related authorities at 24 CFR 50.4.

(ii) The aforementioned special rent adjustments will only be approved if and to the extent the Owner clearly demonstrates that these general increases have caused increases in the owners operating costs which are not adequately compensated for by annual adjustments.

(iii) The Owner must submit financial information to the PHA which clearly supports the increase. For Contracts of more than twenty units, the Owner must submit audited financial information.

(b) Overall limitation. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this part, adjustments as provided in this section must not result in material differences between the rents charged for assisted and comparable unassisted units, as determined by the PHA (and approved by HUD in the case of adjustments under paragraph (a)(2) of this section). However, unless the rents have been adjusted in accordance with § 882.409, this limitation should not be construed to prohibit differences in rents between assisted and comparable unassisted units to the extent that differences existed with respect to the initial Contract Rents.

(a) Vacancies from execution of Contract to initial occupancy. If a Contract unit which has been rehabilitated in accordance with this Program is not leased within 15 days of the effective date of the Contract, the Owner will be entitled to housing assistance payments in the amount of 80 percent of the Contract Rent for the unit for a vacancy period not exceeding 60 days from the effective date of the Contract, provided that the Owner (1) has complied with §§ 882.506(d) and 882.508(c); (2) has taken and continues to take all feasible actions to fill the vacancy; and (3) has not rejected any eligible applicant except for good cause acceptable to the PHA.

(b) Vacancies after initial occupancy. (1) If an Eligible Family vacates its unit (other than as a result of action by the Owner which is in violation of the Lease or the Contract or any applicable law), the Owner may receive the housing assistance payments due under the Contract for so much of the month in which the Family vacates the unit as the unit remains vacant. Should the unit continue to remain vacant, the Owner may receive from the PHA a housing assistance payment in the amount of 80 percent of the Contract Rent for a vacancy period not exceeding an additional month. However, if the Owner collects any of the Family's share of the rent for this period, the payment must be reduced to an amount which, when added to the Family's payment, does not exceed 80 percent of the Contract Rent. Any such excess must be reimbursed by the Owner to the PHA. The Owner will not be entitled to any payment under this paragraph (b)(1) of this section unless the Owner:

(i) Immediately upon learning of the vacancy, has notified the PHA of the vacancy or prospective vacancy, and

(ii) has taken and continues to take all feasible actions specified in paragraphs (a) (2) and (3) of this section.

(2) If the Owner evicts an Eligible Family, the Owner will not be entitled to any payment under paragraph (b)(1) of this section unless the PHA determines that the Owner complied with all requirements of the Contract.

(c) Prohibition of double compensation for vacancies. The Owner will not be entitled to housing assistance payments with respect to vacant units under this section if the Owner is entitled to payments from other sources (for example, payments for losses of rental income incurred for holding units vacant for relocatees pursuant to Title I of the HCD Act of 1974 or payments for unpaid rent under § 882.414 (Security and Utility Deposits)).

(a) General. Any Owner may contract with any private or public entity to perform for a fee the services required by the Agreement, Contract or Lease, provided that such contract may not shift any of the Owner's responsibilities or obligations.

(b) PHA management. If the Owner and a PHA wish to enter into a management contract, they may do so provided that:

(1) The Housing Assistance Payments Contract with respect to the housing involved is administered by another PHA, or

(2) Should another PHA not be available and willing to administer the Housing Assistance Payments Contract and no other management alternative exists, the HUD Field Office may authorize PHA management of units administered by the PHA in accordance with specified criteria.

(3) Notwithstanding the provisions of § 882.408 (b) and (c), a PHA may not approve, without prior HUD approval, rents which exceed the appropriate Moderate Rehabilitation Fair Market Rent for a unit for which it provides the management functions under this section.

(a) A family receiving housing assistance under this Program must fulfill all of its obligations under the Lease and Statement of Family Responsibility.

(b) No family member may engage in drug-related criminal activity or violent criminal activity. Failure of the Family to meet its responsibilities under the Lease, the Statement of Family Responsibility, or this section shall constitute rounds for termination of assistance by the PHA. Should the PHA determine to terminate assistance to the Family, the provisions of § 882.514(f) must be followed.

(a) If at the time of the initial execution of the Lease the Owner wishes to collect a security deposit, the maximum amount shall be the greater of one month's Total Tenant Payment or $50. However, this amount shall not exceed the maximum amount allowable under State or local law. For units leased in place, security deposits collected prior to the execution of a Contract which are in excess of this maximum amount do not have to be refunded until the Family vacates the unit subject to the lease terms. The Family is expected to pay security deposits and utility deposits from its resources and/or other public or private sources.

(b) If a Family vacates the unit, the Owner, subject to State and local law, may use the security deposit as reimbursement for any unpaid Tenant Rent or other amount which the Family owes under the Lease. If a Family vacates the unit owing no rent or other amount under the Lease consistent with State or local law or if such amount is less than the amount of the security deposit, the Owner shall refund the full amount or the unused balance to the Family.

(c) In those jurisdictions where interest is payable by the Owner on security deposits, the refunded amount shall include the amount of interest payable. The Owner shall comply with all State and local laws regarding interest payments on security deposits.

(d) If the security deposit is insufficient to reimburse the Owner for the unpaid Tenant Rent or other amounts which the Family owes under the Lease, or if the Owner did not collect a security deposit, the Owner may claim reimbursement from the PHA for an amount not to exceed the lesser of:

(1) The amount owed the Owner, or

(2) Two month's Contract Rent; minus, in either case, the greater of the security deposit actually collected or the amount of security deposit the Owner could have collected under the program (pursuant to paragraph (a) of this section). Any reimbursement under this section must be applied first toward any unpaid Tenant Rent due under the Lease and then to any other amounts owed. No reimbursement may be claimed for unpaid rent for the period after the Family vacates.