(a) The policies and procedures in subparts A and B of this part apply to the making of Housing Assistance Payments on behalf of Eligible Families leasing newly constructed housing pursuant to the provisions of section 8 of the 1937 Act. They are applicable only to proposals submitted by the Department of Agriculture/Farmers Home Administration (now the Department of Agriculture/Rural Housing and Community Development Service) that have been charged against the set-aside of section 8 contract authority specifically established for projects to be funded under section 515 of title V of the Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 1485).

(b) For the purpose of these subparts A and B, “new construction” shall mean newly constructed housing for which, prior to the start of construction, an Agreement to Enter into Housing Assistance Payments Contract is executed between the Owner and HUD or a Public Housing Agency.

The terms Fair Market Rent (FMR), HUD, Public housing agency (PHA), and Secretary are defined in 24 CFR part 5.

Agreement to enter into housing assistance payments contract (“agreement”). (a) In the case of a Private-Owner Project or a PHA-Owner Project, a written agreement between the Owner and HUD that, upon satisfactory completion of the housing in accordance with the HUD-approved Proposal and submission by RHCDS of the required certifications, HUD will enter into a Housing Assistance Payments Contract with the Owner.

(b) In the case of a Private-Owner/PHA Project, a written agreement between the private owner and the PHA, approved by HUD, that, upon satisfactory completion of the housing in accordance with the HUD-approved Proposal and submission by RHCDS of the required certifications, the PHA will enter into a Housing Assistance Payments Contract with the Private Owner.

Annual contributions contract (“ACC”). In the case of a Private-Owner/PHA Project, a written agreement between HUD and the PHA to provide annual contributions to the PHA with respect to the project.

Annual income. As defined in part 5 of this title.

Contract. See definition of Housing Assistance Payments Contract.

Contract rent. The rent payable to the Owner under his Contract including the portion of the rent payable by the Family. In the case of a cooperative, the term “Contract Rent” means charges under the occupancy agreements between the members and the cooperative.

Covered housing provider. For the Section 8 Housing Assistance Payments Programs, New Construction Set-Aside for Section 515 Rural Rental Housing, “covered housing provider,” as such term is used in HUD's regulations at 24 CFR part 5, subpart L (Protection for Victims of Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, or Stalking), refers to the owner.

Decent, safe, and sanitary. Housing is decent, safe, and sanitary if it meets the physical condition requirements in 24 CFR part 5, subpart G.

Drug-related criminal activity. The illegal manufacture, sale, distribution, use or possession with the intent to manufacture, sell, distribute, or use, of a controlled substance as defined in section 102 of the Controlled Substances Act, 21 U.S.C. 802.

Family. As defined in part 5 of this title.

HCD Act. The Housing and Community Development Act of 1974.

Housing Assistance Payment. The payment made by the contract administrator to the Owner of an assisted unit as provided in the Contract. Where the unit is leased to an eligible Family, the payment is the difference between the Contract Rent and Tenant Rent. An additional Housing Assistance Payment is made to the Family when the Utility Allowance is greater than the Total Tenant Payment. A Housing Assistance Payment may be made to the Owner when a unit becomes vacant, in accordance with the terms of the Contract.

Housing assistance payments contract (“Contract”). (a) In the case of a Private-Owner Project or a PHA-Owner Project, a written contract between the Owner and HUD for the purpose of providing housing assistance payments to the Owner on behalf of Eligible Families.

(b) In the case of a Private-Owner/PHA Project, a written contract between the private Owner, and the PHA, approved by HUD, for the purpose of providing housing assistance payments to the Owner on behalf of Eligible Families.

Income. Income from all sources of each member of the household as determined in accordance with criteria established by HUD and as defined in 24 CFR part 5, subpart F.

Lease. A written agreement between an Owner and an Eligible Family for the leasing of a Decent, Safe, and Sanitary dwelling unit in accordance with the applicable Contract, which agreement is in compliance with the provisions of this part.

Local housing assistance plan. A housing assistance plan submitted by a unit of general local government and approved by HUD under Section 104 of the HCD Act or, in the case of a unit of general local government not participating under Title I of the HCD Act, a housing plan which contains the elements set forth in Section 104(a)(4) of the HCD Act and which is approved by the Secretary as meeting the requirements of Section 213 of that Act.

Low-income family. As defined in part 5 of this title.

Owner. Any private person or entity, including a cooperative or a PHA, having the legal right to lease or sublease newly constructed dwelling units.

PHA-owner proposal and PHA-owner project. A proposal for a project under this part (and the resulting project) to be owned by a PHA throughout the term of the Agreement and Contract where such Agreement and Contract are to be entered into between the PHA and HUD.

Private-owner/PHA proposal and private-owner/PHA project. A proposal for a project under this part (and the resulting project) to be owned by a private Owner throughout the term of the Agreement and Contract where such Agreement and Contract are to be entered into between the private Owner and the PHA pursuant to an ACC between the PHA and HUD. The term also covers the situation where the ACC is with one PHA and the Owner is another PHA.

Private-owner proposal and private-owner project. A proposal for a project under this part (and the resulting project) to be owned by a private Owner throughout the term of the Agreement and Contract where such Agreement and Contract are to be entered into between the private Owner and HUD.

Project account. The account established and maintained in accordance with § 884.104 or § 884.105.

Proposal. A proposal for a Private-Owner or PHA-Owner/PHA Project to provide newly constructed housing submitted to HUD by RHCDS on the prescribed RHCDS form.

RHCDS. The Rural Housing and Community Development Service.

Tenant rent. As defined in part 5 of this title.

Total tenant payment. As defined in part 5 of this title.

Utility allowance. As defined in part 5 of this title.

Utility reimbursement. As defined in part 5 of this title.

Very low-income family. As defined in part 5 of this title.

(a) Maximum total annual contract commitment. The maximum total annual housing assistance payments that may be committed under the Contract shall be the total of the Gross Rents for all the Contract units in the project.

(b) Project account. In order to assure that housing assistance payments will be increased on a timely basis to cover increases in Contract Rents or decreases in Family Incomes:

(1) A Project Account shall be established and maintained in an amount as determined by the Secretary consistent with his responsibilities under Section 8(c)(6) of the Act, out of amounts by which the maximum annual Contract commitment per year exceeds amounts paid under the Contract for any year. This account shall be established and maintained by HUD as a specifically identified and segregated account, and payment shall be made therefrom only for the purposes of (i) housing assistance payments, and (ii) other costs specifically authorized or approved by the Secretary.

(2) Whenever a HUD-approved estimate of required housing assistance payments for a fiscal year exceeds the maximum annual Contract commitment, and would cause the amount in the Project Account to be less than an amount equal to 40 percent of such maximum annual Contract commitment, HUD shall, within a reasonable period of time, take such additional steps authorized by Section 8(c)(6) of the Act as may be necessary to carry out this assurance, including (as provided in that section of the Act) “the reservation of annual contributions authority for the purpose of amending housing assistance contracts or the allocation of a portion of new authorizations for the purpose of amending housing assistance contracts.”

(a) Maximum total ACC commitment. The maximum total annual contribution that may be contracted for in the ACC for a project shall be the total of the Contract Rents plus any utility allowances for all the Contract units in the project, plus a fee for the regular costs of PHA administration. HUD-approved preliminary costs for administration (including administrative costs in connection with PHA activities related to relocation of occupants) shall be payable out of this total.

(b) Project account. In order to assure that housing assistance payments will be increased on a timely basis to cover increases in Contract Rents or decreases in Family Incomes:

(1) A Project Account shall be established and maintained, in an amount as determined by the Secretary consistent with his responsibilities under Section 8(c)(6) of the 1937 Act, out of amounts by which the maximum ACC commitment per year exceeds amounts paid under the ACC for any year. This account shall be established and maintained by HUD as a specifically identified and segregated account, and payment shall be made therefrom only for the purposes of (i) housing assistance payments and (ii) other costs specifically authorized or approved by the Secretary.

(2) Whenever a HUD-approved estimate of required Annual Contribution exceeds the maximum ACC commitment then in effect, and would cause the amount in the Project Account to be less than an amount equal to 40 percent of such maximum ACC commitment, HUD shall, within a reasonable period of time, take such additional steps authorized by Section 8(c)(6) of the 1937 Act as may be necessary to carry out this assurance, including (as provided in that section of the Act) “the reservation of annual contributions authority for the purpose of amending housing assistance contracts or the allocation of a portion of new authorizations for the purpose of amending housing assistance contracts.”

(a) General. Housing Assistance Payments shall be paid to Owners for units under lease by eligible families, in accordance with the Contract and as provided in this section. These Housing Assistance Payments will cover the difference between the Contract Rent and the Tenant Rent. Where applicable, the Utility Reimbursement will be paid to the Family as an additional Housing Assistance Payment. The Contract will provide that the Owner will make this payment on behalf of the contract administrator. Funds will be paid to the Owner in trust solely for the purpose of making this additional payment. If the Family and the utility company consent, the Owner may pay the utility reimbursement jointly to the Family and the utility company or directly to the utility company. No Section 8 assistance may be provided for any unit occupied by an Owner; however, cooperatives are considered rental housing, rather than Owner-occupied housing, for this purpose.

(b) Vacancies during rent-up. If a Contract Unit is not leased as of the effective date of the Contract, the Owner shall 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, in accordance with the procedure set forth in § 884.213(b): Provided, That the Owner: (1) Commenced marketing and otherwise complied with § 884.211(e), (2) has taken and continues to take all feasible actions to fill the vacancy, including, but not limited to, contacting applicants on his waiting list, if any, requesting the PHA and other appropriate sources to refer eligible applicants, and advertising the availability of the unit, and (3) has not rejected any eligible applicant, except for good cause acceptable to HUD or the PHA, as the case may be.

(c) Vacancies after rent-up. (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 shall receive housing assistance payments in the amount of 80 percent of the Contract Rent for a vacancy period not exceeding 60 days; provided, however, That if the Owner collects any of the Family's share of the rent for this period in an amount which, when added to the 80 percent payments, results in more than the Contract Rent, such excess shall be payable to HUD or as HUD may direct. (See also § 884.115). The Owner shall not be entitled to any payment under this paragraph (c)(1) unless he: (i) Immediately upon learning of the vacancy, has notified HUD or the PHA, as the case may be, of the vacancy or prospective vacancy and the reasons for the vacancy, and (ii) has taken and continues to take the actions specified in paragraphs (b) (2) and (3) of this section.

(2) If the Owner evicts an Eligible Family, he shall not be entitled to any payment under paragraph (c)(1) of this section unless the request for such payment is supported by a certification that: (i) He gave such Family a written notice of the proposed eviction, stating the grounds and advising the Family that it had 10 days within which to present its objections to the Owner in writing or in person and (ii) the proposed eviction was not in violation of the Lease or the Contract or any applicable law.

(d) Debt-service vacancy payments. (1) If a unit continues to be vacant after the 60-day period specified in paragraph (b) or (c) of this section, the owner may submit a claim to receive additional housing assistance payments on a semiannual basis with respect to the vacant unit in an amount equal to the principal and interest payments required to amortize the portion of the debt attributable to that unit for the period of the vacancy, whether the vacancy commenced during rent-up or after rent-up.

(2) Additional payments under this paragraph (d) for any unit shall not be for more than 12 months for any vacancy period, and shall be made only if:

(i) The unit was in decent, safe and sanitary condition during the vacancy period for which payments are claimed.

(ii) The Owner has taken and is continuing to take the actions specified in paragraphs (b) (1), (2) and (3) or paragraphs (c)(1) (i) and (ii) and (c)(2) of this section, as appropriate.

(iii) The owner has demonstrated, in connection with the semiannual claim on a form and in accordance wih the standards prescribed by HUD with respect to the period of the vacancy, that the project is not providing the owner with revenues at least equal to the project costs incurred by the owner and that the amount of the payments requested is not in excess of the amount needed to make up the deficiency.

(iv) The owner has submitted to HUD or the PHA, as appropriate, in connection with the semiannual claim, a statement with relevant supporting evidence that there is a reasonable prospect that the project can achieve financial soundness within a reasonable time. The statement shall indicate the causes of the deficiency; the corrective steps that have been and will be taken; and the time by which it is expected that the project revenues will at least equal project costs without the additional payments provided under this paragraph.

(3) HUD or the PHA, as appropriate, may deny any claim for additional payments or suspend or terminate payments if it determines that, based on the owner's statement and other evidence, there is not a reasonable prospect that the project can achieve financial soundness within a reasonable time.

(e) Prohibition of double compensation for vacancies. The Owner shall not be entitled to housing assistance payments with respect to vacant units under this section to the extent he 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 or payments under § 884.115).

(a) Except in the case of a Contract described in paragraph (b) of this section, the Contract shall be for an initial term of 20 years: Provided, That at the end of such Contract term and at the request of RHCDS, HUD may, subject to the availability of contract and budget authority, authorize the execution of a new Contract providing for a total Contract term of an additional 20 years.

(b) In the case of a Contract under which housing assistance payments are made with respect to a project owned by a State or local agency, the total Contract term may be equal to the term of such financing but may not exceed 40 years for any dwelling unit.

(c) If the project is completed in stages, the dates for the initial and the renewal terms shall be separately related to the units in each stage: Provided, however, That the total Contract term for the units in all the stages, beginning with the effective date of the Contract with respect to the first stage, may not exceed the overall maximum term allowable for any one unit, plus two years.

(a) The Contract will provide that the owner will notify each assisted family, at least 90 days before the end of the Contract term, of any increase in the amount the family will be required to pay as rent which may occur as a result of its expiration. If the Contract is to be renewed but with a reduction in the number of units covered by it, this notice shall be given to each family who will no longer be assisted under the Contract.

(b) The notice provided for in paragraph (a) of this section shall be accomplished by: (1) Sending a letter by first class mail, properly stamped and addressed, to the family at its address at the project, with a proper return address, and (2) serving a copy of the notice on any adult person answering the door at the leased dwelling unit, or if no adult responds, by placing the notice under or through the door, if possible, or else by affixing the notice to the door. Service shall not be considered to be effective until both required notices have been accomplished. The date on which the notice shall be considered to be received by the family shall be the date on which the owner mails the first class letter provided for in this paragraph, or the date on which the notice provided for in this paragraph is properly given, whichever is later.

(c) The notice shall advise each affected family that, after the expiration date of the Contract, the family will be required to bear the entire cost of the rent and that the owner will be free (to the extent the project is not otherwise regulated by HUD) to alter the rent without HUD approval, but subject to any applicable requirements or restrictions under the lease or under State or local law. The notice shall also state: (1) The actual (if known) or the estimated rent which will be charged following the expiration of the Contract; (2) the difference between the rent and the Total Tenant Payment toward rent under the Contract; and (3) the date the Contract will expire.

(d) The owner shall give HUD a certification that families have been notified in accordance with this section with an example of the text of the notice attached.

(e) This section applies to all Contracts entered into pursuant to an Agreement executed on or after October 1, 1981, or entered into pursuant to an Agreement executed before October 1, 1981, but renewed or amended on or after October 1, 1984.

(a) Funding of adjustments. Housing assistance payments will be made in increased amounts commensurate with Contract Rent adjustments under this paragraph, up to the maximum amount authorized under the Contract. (See §§ 884.104 and 884.105).

(b) Automatic annual adjustments. (1) Automatic Annual Adjustment Factors will be determined by HUD at least annually; interim revisions may be made as market conditions warrant. Such Factors and the basis for their determination will be published in the Federal Register. These published Factors will be reduced appropriately by HUD where utilities are paid directly by Families.

(2) On each anniversary date of the Contract, the Contract Rents shall be adjusted by applying the applicable Automatic Annual Adjustment Factor most recently published by HUD. Contract Rents may be adjusted upward or downward, as may be appropriate; however, in no case shall the adjusted rents be less than the Contract Rents on the effective date of the Contract.

(c) Special additional adjustments. Special additional adjustments shall be granted, when approved by HUD, to reflect increases in the actual and necessary expenses of owning and maintaining the Contract Units which have resulted from substantial general increases in real property taxes, utility rates, or similar costs (i.e., assessments, and utilities not covered by regulated rates), but only if and to the extent that the Owner clearly demonstrates that such general increases have caused increases in the Owner's operating costs which are not adequately compensated for by automatic annual adjustments. The Owner shall submit to HUD financial statements which clearly support the increase.

(d) Overall limitation. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this part, adjustments as provided in this section shall not result in material differences between the rents charged for assisted and comparable unassisted units, as determined by HUD: Provided, however, That this limitation shall not be construed to prohibit differences in rents between assisted and comparable unassisted units to the extent that such differences may have existed with respect to the initial Contract Rents.

(a) Newly constructed single-family houses and multifamily structures may be utilized in this program. Congregate housing may be developed for elderly, disabled, or handicapped Families and individuals. Except in the case of housing predominantly for the elderly, high-rise elevator projects for Families with children may not be utilized unless HUD determines there is no practical alternative.

(b) Participation in this program requires compliance with:

(1) [Reserved]

(2) In the case of congregate housing, the appropriate HUD guidelines and standards;

(3) HUD requirements pursuant to section 209 of the HCD Act for projects for the elderly, disabled, or handicapped;

(4) HUD requirements pertaining to noise abatement and control; and

(5) Applicable State and local laws, codes, ordinances, and regulations.

(c) Housing assisted under this part shall be modest in design. Amenities in projects assisted under this part (except partially assisted projects) will be limited to those amenities, as determined by HUD, which are generally provided in unassisted, decent, safe and sanitary housing for low-income families, in the market area. The use of more durable, high-quality materials to control or reduce maintenance, repair and replacement costs will not be considered an excess amenity.

(d) Smoke detectors—(1) Performance requirement. After October 30, 1992, each dwelling unit must include at least one battery-operated or hard-wired smoke detector, in proper working condition, on each level of the unit. If the unit is occupied by hearing-impaired persons, smoke detectors must have an alarm system, designed for hearing-impaired persons, in each bedroom occupied by a hearing-impaired person.

(2) Acceptability criteria. The smoke detector must be located, to the extent practicable, in a hallway adjacent to a bedroom, unless the unit is occupied by a hearing-impaired person, in which case each bedroom occupied by a hearing-impaired person must have an alarm system connected to the smoke detector installed in the hallway.

(a) Types. Eligible projects under this program shall be financed under Section 515, Title V of the Housing Act of 1949.

(b) Use of contract as security for financing. (1) An Owner may pledge, or offer as security for any loan or obligation, an Agreement or Contract entered into pursuant to this part: Provided, however, That such security is in connection with a project constructed pursuant to this part, and the terms of the financing or any refinancing have been approved by HUD. It is the Owner's responsibility to request such approval in sufficient time before he needs the financing to permit review of the method and terms of the financing and the instrument of pledge, offer or other assignment that HUD is requested to approve.

(2) Any pledge of the Agreement, Contract, or ACC, or payments thereunder, shall be limited to the amounts payable under the Contract or ACC in accordance with its terms.

(3) In the event of foreclosure and in the event of assignment or sale agreed to by HUD, housing assistance payments shall continue in accordance with the Terms of the Contract.

(a) An Owner may require Families to pay a security deposit in an amount equal to one month's Gross Family Contribution. If a Family vacates its unit, the Owner, subject to State and local laws, may utilize the deposit as reimbursement for any unpaid rent or other amount owed under the Lease. If the Family has provided a security deposit, and it is insufficient for such reimbursement, the Owner may claim reimbursement from HUD or the PHA, as appropriate, not to exceed an amount equal to the remainder of one month's Contract Rent. Any reimbursement under this section shall be applied first toward any unpaid rent. If a Family vacates the unit owing no rent or other amount under the Lease or if such amount is less than the amount of the security deposit, the Owner shall refund the full amount or the unused balance, as the case may be, to the Family.

(b) In those jurisdictions where interest is payable by the Owner on security deposits, the refunded amount shall include the amount of interest payable. All security deposit funds shall be deposited by the Owner in a segregated bank account, and the balance of this account, at all times, shall be equal to the total amount collected from tenants then in occupancy, plus any accrued interest. The Owner shall comply with all State and local laws regarding interest payments on security deposits.

(c) Families shall be expected to obtain the funds to pay security and utility deposits, if required, from their own resources and/or other private or public sources.

(a) HUD will establish schedules of Income limits for determining whether families qualify as Low-Income Families and Very Low-Income Families.

(b) In the leasing of units, the Owner shall comply with HUD requirements concerning the permissible income levels of families, as prescribed in part 5 of this title.

To be eligible to become an owner of housing assisted under this part, the owner (other than a PHA) must meet the disclosure and verification requirements for Social Security and Employer Identification Numbers, as provided by 24 CFR part 5.

(a) The Owner shall be responsible (subject to post-review or audit by HUD or the PHA, as the case may be) for management and maintenance of the project. These responsibilities shall include but not be limited to:

(1) Payment for utilities and services (unless paid directly by the Family), insurance and taxes;

(2) Performance of all ordinary and extraordinary maintenance;

(3) Performance of all management functions, including the taking of applications; determining eligibility of applicants in accordance with part 5 of this title; selection of families, including verification of income, provision of Federal selection preferences in accordance with 24 CFR part 5, obtaining and verifying Social Security Numbers submitted by applicants (as provided by 24 CFR part 5), obtaining signed consent forms from applicants for the obtaining of wage and claim information from State Wage Information Collection Agencies (as provided in 24 CFR part 5), and other pertinent requirements; and determination of the amount of tenant rent in accordance with HUD established schedules and criteria;

(4) Collection of Tenant Rents;

(5) Termination of tenancies, including evictions;

(6) Preparation and furnishing of information required under the Contract;

(7) Reexamination of family income and composition; redetermination, as appropriate, of the amount of Tenant Rent and the amount of housing assistance payment in accordance with part 5 of this title; obtaining and verifying Social Security Numbers submitted by participants, as provided by 24 CFR part 5; and obtaining signed consent forms from participants for the obtaining of wage and claim information from State Wage Information Collection Agencies, as provided by 24 CFR part 5;

(8) Redetermination of amount of Tenant Rent and amount of housing assistance payment in accordance with part 5 of this title as a result of an adjustment by the PHA or HUD, as appropriate, of any applicable Utility Allowance; and

(9) Compliance with equal opportunity requirements issued by RHCDS and HUD with respect to project operation.

(b) Subject to HUD approval, any Owner may contract with any private or public entity to perform for a fee the services required by paragraph (a) of this section: Provided, That such contract shall not relieve the Owner of his responsibilities or obligations. However, no entity which is responsible for administration of the Contract (for example, a PHA in the case of a Private-Owner/PHA Project) may contract to perform management and maintenance of the project: Provided, however, That this prohibition shall not preclude management by the PHA in the event it takes possession as the result of foreclosure or assignment in lieu of foreclosure. (See, however, § 884.123(b), which permits conversion of a Private-Owner/PHA Project to a Private-Owner Project.)

(a) Contract administration. HUD is responsible for administration of the Contract. HUD may contract with another entity for the performance of some or all of its Contract administration functions.

(b) Defaults by owner. The Contract shall contain a provision to the effect (1) that if HUD determines that the Owner is in default under the Contract, HUD shall notify the Owner (with a copy to RHCDS) of the actions required to be taken to cure the default and of the remedies to be applied by HUD including abatement of housing assistance payments and recovery of overpayments, where appropriate; and (2) that if he fails to cure the default, HUD has the right to terminate the Contract or to take other corrective action.

(a) Contract administration. The PHA is primarily responsible for administration of the Contract, subject to review and audit by HUD.

(b) Defaults by PHA and/or owner. (1) The ACC and the Contract shall contain a provision to the effect that in the event of failure of the PHA to comply with the Contract with the Owner, the Owner shall have the right, if he is not in default, to demand that HUD determine, after notice to the PHA giving it a reasonable opportunity to take corrective action, whether a substantial default exists, and if HUD determines that such a default exists, that HUD assure that the obligations of the PHA to the Owner are carried out.

(2) The ACC shall contain a provision to the effect that if the PHA fails to comply with any of its obligations (including specifically failure to enforce its rights under the Contract, in the event of any default by the Owner, to achieve compliance to the satisfaction of HUD or to terminate the Contract in whole or in part, as directed by HUD), HUD may, after notice to the PHA giving it a reasonable opportunity to take corrective action, determine that there is a substantial default and require the PHA to assign to HUD all of the PHA's rights and interests under the Contract. In such case, HUD will continue to pay annual contributions in accordance with the terms of the ACC and the Contract.

(3) The Contract shall contain a provision to the effect (i) that if the PHA determines that the Owner is in default under the Contract, the PHA shall notify the Owner, with a copy to HUD and RHCDS, of the actions required to be taken to cure the default and of the remedies to be applied by the PHA including abatement of housing assistance payments and recovery of overpayments, where appropriate; and (ii) that if he fails to cure the default, the PHA has the right to terminate the Contract or to take other corrective action, in its discretion or as directed by HUD.

The ACC and the Agreement shall contain a provision to the effect that in the event of failure of the PHA to comply with the Agreement with the Owner, the Owner shall have the right, if he is not in default, to demand that HUD determine, after notice to the PHA giving it a reasonable opportunity to take corrective action, whether a substantial default exists, and if HUD determines that such a default exists, that HUD assume the PHA's rights and obligations under the Agreement, and carry out the obligations of the PHA under the Agreement, including the obligation to enter into the Contract.

(a) In the case of a Private-Owner Project or a PHA-Owner Project, each Agreement and Contract shall constitute a separate project.

(b) In the case of a Private-Owner/PHA Project such project may not include more than one type of Section 8 assistance, shall be processed with a separate ACC List and ACC Part I and shall be assigned a separate project number. All new construction units to be placed under a single Contract shall comprise a separate project. However, the field office director may designate as a single project the units to be covered by two or more such Contracts for new construction projects where:

(1) The units are placed under ACC on the same date; and

(2) Such consolidation is necessary in the interest of administrative efficiency.

(a) Conversion of private-owner project to private-owner/PHA project. HUD may request the Owner of a Private-Owner Project and an appropriate PHA to agree, if they are willing, to a conversion of any such project to a Private-Owner/PHA Project if HUD determines that such conversion would promote efficient project administration.

(b) Conversion of private-owner/PHA project to private-owner project. The Private Owner and the PHA, in the case of a Private-Owner/PHA Project, may request HUD to agree to a conversion of any such project to a Private-Owner or PHA-Owner Project. HUD shall agree to such conversion if it determines it to be in the best interest of the project.

Where a non-Federal entity (as defined in 2 CFR 200.69) is the eligible owner of a project, or is a contract administrator under § 884.119 or § 884.120, receiving financial assistance under this part, the audit requirements in 2 CFR part 200, subpart F, shall apply.

Any new construction or substantial rehabilitation, as substantial rehabilitation is defined by 24 CFR 5.100, of a building with more than 4 rental units and that is subject to a Housing Assistance Payments contract executed or renewed after January 19, 2017 must include installation of broadband infrastructure, as this term is also defined in 24 CFR 5.100, except where the owner determines and documents the determination that:

(a) The location of the new construction or substantial rehabilitation makes installation of broadband infrastructure infeasible;

(b) The cost of installing broadband infrastructure would result in a fundamental alteration in the nature of its program or activity or in an undue financial burden; or

(c) The structure of the housing to be substantially rehabilitated makes installation of broadband infrastructure infeasible.