24 C.F.R. § 886.139
§ 886.139 Emergency transfers for victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. (24 CFR Part 886)
Operative Text
(a) Covered housing providers must develop and implement an emergency transfer plan that meets the requirements in 24 CFR 5.2005(e). (b) In order to facilitate emergency transfers for victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking, covered housing providers have discretion to adopt new, and modify any existing, admission preferences or transfer waitlist priorities. (c) In addition to following requirements in 24 CFR 5.2005(e), when a safe unit is not immediately available for a victim of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking who qualifies for an emergency transfer, covered housing providers must: (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, covered housing providers must submit to HUD data on all emergency transfers requested under 24 CFR 5.2005(e), including data on the outcomes of such requests.
Under 24 CFR Part 886 § 886.139, housing providers covered by this regulation are required to have a written emergency transfer plan in place for residents who are victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking. When a safe unit is not immediately available, the provider must review its own inventory for the next available vacancy and supply the affected resident with a list of nearby HUD-subsidized rental properties along with local HUD field office contact information. Covered providers may also adjust admission preferences or waitlist priorities to help facilitate these transfers, and they must report annual data to HUD on all emergency transfer requests and their outcomes.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators subject to 24 CFR Part 886 § 886.139 generally maintain a written emergency transfer plan that satisfies the standards set out in 24 CFR 5.2005(e) and keep it current. When a qualifying resident requests an emergency transfer and no safe unit is immediately available, a compliant operator typically documents a review of its unit inventory, projects the next available vacancy, and provides the resident with a list of nearby HUD-subsidized properties and the local HUD field office's contact information. Compliant operators also track all emergency transfer requests and their outcomes throughout the year and submit that data to HUD on the required annual basis, and they may revisit their admission preferences or waitlist priorities to better accommodate emergency transfer needs.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
As a resident in a property covered by 24 CFR Part 886 § 886.139, you have the right to request an emergency transfer if you are experiencing domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking, and your housing provider is required to have a plan in place to respond to such requests. If no safe unit is immediately available, the provider must give you information about nearby HUD-subsidized rental options and the local HUD field office, which can itself be a resource for understanding your options. If you believe a covered provider is not following the requirements of § 886.139, you may consider reaching out to your local HUD field office, raising the issue with a tenant-rights organization, or exploring whether the provider's noncompliance can be raised as part of any relevant proceeding.
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 11, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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