24 C.F.R. § 882.510
§ 882.510 Adjustment of utility allowance. (24 CFR Part 882)
Operative Text
The PHA must determine, at least annually, whether an adjustment is required in the Utility Allowance applicable to the dwelling units in the Program, on grounds of changes in utility rates or other change of general applicability to all units in the Program. The PHA may also establish a separate schedule of allowances for each building of 20 or more assisted units, based upon at least one year's actual utility consumption data following rehabilitation under the Program. If the PHA determines that an adjustment should be made in its Schedule of Allowances or if it establishes a separate schedule for a building which will change the allowance, the PHA must then determine the amounts of adjustments to be made in the amount of rent to be paid by affected Families and the amount of housing assistance payments and must notify the Owners and Families accordingly. Any adjustment to the Allowance must be implemented no later than at the Family's next reexamination or at lease renewal, whichever is earlier.
Under 24 CFR Part 882 § 882.510, the Public Housing Authority (PHA) is required to review utility allowances at least once a year to determine whether changes in utility rates or other broadly applicable factors warrant an adjustment. For larger assisted buildings of 20 or more units, the PHA may develop a separate allowance schedule grounded in at least one year of actual post-rehabilitation consumption data. When an adjustment is warranted, the PHA must calculate the resulting changes to both the family's rent share and the housing assistance payment, notify all affected owners and families, and implement the new allowance no later than the family's next reexamination or lease renewal, whichever comes first.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under 24 CFR Part 882 § 882.510, compliant operators stay attentive to PHA communications regarding annual utility allowance reviews, since any approved adjustment directly affects the housing assistance payment amount and the rent owed by assisted families. Owners of buildings with 20 or more assisted units should be aware that the PHA may establish a separate allowance schedule for their property using actual consumption data, which could alter payment calculations. When the PHA issues a notice of adjustment, operators generally update their records and lease-related documents to reflect the revised figures by the applicable reexamination or lease renewal deadline.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
24 CFR Part 882 § 882.510 establishes that assisted families have a right to receive notice whenever the PHA adjusts the utility allowance, since such changes affect how much rent the family is responsible for paying. If a family believes the PHA has failed to conduct its required annual review or has not properly applied an adjustment, that concern can generally be raised with the local PHA, documented in writing, or brought to a tenant-rights organization for guidance. Families should also be aware that any approved adjustment must be reflected in their costs no later than their next scheduled reexamination or lease renewal, whichever occurs first.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated September 4, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
Effective Timeline
References Out
No outbound references recorded yet for this provision.
References In
No inbound references recorded yet for this provision.