24 C.F.R. § 883.603

§ 883.603 Term of contract. (24 CFR Part 883)

In Force
Verified 8/21/2026 · Next check 9/20/2026
effective 8/21/2026FederalAffordable Housing Programs

Operative Text

24 C.F.R. § 883.603
(a) New Construction. The term of the Contract will be governed by the following provisions:

(1) For assisted units in a project financed with the aid of a loan insured by the Federal government (including coinsurance under Section 244 of the National Housing Act) or a loan made, guaranteed or intended for purchase by the Federal government and for assisted units in newly constructed manufactured home parks, the term of the Contract will be 20 years.

(2) For assisted units in a project owned by or financed by a loan or loan guarantee from a State or local agency, where the assisted units are intended for occupancy by non-elderly families and where it is located in an area designated by the Assistant Secretary as one requiring special financial assistance, the Contract will be for an initial term of 20 years for any dwelling unit, with provision for renewal for additional terms of not more than 5 years each. The total term of initial and renewal terms will not exceed the lesser of (i) 40 years for any dwelling unit, or (ii) the term of the permanent financing (but not less than 20 years).

(3) For assisted units in all other projects, the Contract will be for an initial term of 20 years for any dwelling unit, with provision for renewal for additional terms of not more than 5 years each. The total term of initial and renewal terms will not exceed the lesser of (i) 30 years for any dwelling unit, or (ii) the term of the permanent financing (but not less than 20 years).

(b) Substantial Rehabilitation. The Contract will be for a term which is consistent with paragraph (b)(1) and with paragraph (b) (2), (3), or (4) of this section.

(1) The Contract term will cover the longest term, but not less than 20 years, of a single credit instrument covering:

(i) The cost of rehabilitation or

(ii) The existing indebtedness, or

(iii) The cost of rehabilitation and the refinancing of the existing indebtedness, or

(iv) The cost of rehabilitation and the acquisition of the property; and

(2) For assisted units in a project financed with the aid of a loan (including coinsurance under Section 244 of the National Housing Act), or a loan made, guaranteed or intended for purchase by the Federal Government, and for assisted units in a substantially rehabilitated manufactured home park, the term of the Contract will not exceed 20 years; or

(3) For assisted units in a project owned or financed by a loan or loan guarantee from a State or local agency where the assisted units are intended for occupancy by non-elderly families and where it is located in an area designated by the Assistant Secretary as one requiring special financial assistance, the Contract will be for an initial term of 20 years for any dwelling unit. There will be a provision for renewal for additional terms of not more than 5 years each. The total of initial and renewal terms will not exceed the lesser of (i) 40 years for any dwelling unit, or (ii) the term of the permanent financing (but not less than 20 years); or

(4) For assisted units in projects financed other than as described in paragraph (b) (2) or (3) of this section, the Contract will be for an initial term of 20 years for any dwelling unit. There will be a provision for renewal for additional terms of not more than 5 years each. The total of initial and renewal terms will not exceed the lesser of (i) 30 years for any dwelling unit, or (ii) the term of the permanent financing (but not less than 20 years).

(c) Staged Projects. If a project is completed in stages, the term of the Contract must relate separately to the units in each stage unless the Agency and the owner agree that only the units in the first stage will be assisted for the maximum term of the Contract. The total Contract term, for the units in all stages, beginning with the effective date of the Contract for the first stage, may not exceed the overall maximum term allowable for any one unit under this section, plus two years.
Source: Legislative text reproduced verbatim
Plain English

Under 24 CFR Part 883 § 883.603, the length of a Housing Assistance Payments (HAP) contract for assisted rental units depends on how the project was financed and whether it involves new construction or substantial rehabilitation. Most contracts begin with a 20-year initial term, with some categories allowing renewal periods of up to 5 years at a time, subject to overall caps of either 30 or 40 years depending on the project type. For projects built or rehabilitated in stages, the contract term is calculated separately for each stage, though the combined duration across all stages cannot exceed the maximum allowable term for any single unit plus two additional years.

Written by anthropic/claude-sonnet-4.6 · Reviewed on September 4, 2026

Plain English — not legal advice.

For Property Managers

Operators and owners of projects assisted under 24 CFR Part 883 § 883.603 generally track which financing category applies to their property — federal loan, state or local agency loan, or other — because that classification determines both the initial contract length and whether renewal options are available. Compliant operators maintain documentation of their permanent financing term, since § 883.603 ties the contract ceiling to that term in several scenarios. For staged projects, owners typically work with the relevant Agency to confirm whether each stage carries its own contract term or whether only the first-stage units are designated for the maximum assisted term.

General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.

For Tenants

Tenants living in units assisted under 24 CFR Part 883 § 883.603 have an interest in knowing how long their building's HAP contract remains in effect, because the contract's expiration can affect the availability of rental assistance. When a contract term is approaching its end or a renewal is in question, tenants may find it useful to contact a local tenant-rights organization or HUD's regional office to understand what protections or notice requirements may apply. If a landlord's actions appear inconsistent with the contract term established under § 883.603, tenants can raise that concern through HUD complaint channels or seek guidance from a housing counselor.

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

Current
Aug 21, 2026
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Related Rules

§ 1437
Declaration of policy and public housing agency organization
§ 5.100
§ 5.100 Definitions.
§ 5.107
§ 5.107 Audit requirements for non-profit organizations.

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