24 C.F.R. § 982.161
§ 982.161 Conflict of interest. (24 CFR Part 982)
Operative Text
(a) Neither the PHA nor any of its contractors or subcontractors may enter into any contract or arrangement in connection with the HCV program in which any of the following classes of persons has any interest, direct or indirect, during tenure or for one year thereafter: (1) Any present or former member or officer of the PHA (except a participant commissioner); (2) Any employee of the PHA, or any contractor, subcontractor or agent of the PHA, who formulates policy or who influences decisions with respect to the programs; (3) Any public official, member of a governing body, or State or local legislator, who exercises functions or responsibilities with respect to the programs; or (4) Any member of the Congress of the United States. (b) Any member of the classes described in paragraph (a) of this section must disclose their interest or prospective interest to the PHA and HUD. (c) The conflict of interest prohibition under this section may be waived by the HUD field office for good cause.
Section 982.161 establishes conflict-of-interest rules for the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program by prohibiting certain categories of people — including PHA officers, employees who shape policy, relevant public officials, and members of Congress — from holding a financial or other interest in contracts or arrangements connected to the HCV program, both during their tenure and for one year after it ends. When someone in one of these categories does have such an interest, the rule requires them to disclose it to both the PHA and HUD. A HUD field office retains the authority to waive this prohibition if good cause is demonstrated.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 982.161, PHAs and their contractors are responsible for ensuring that covered individuals — such as PHA officers, policy-influencing employees, and relevant public officials — do not hold undisclosed interests in HCV-related contracts. Compliant housing authorities typically maintain internal screening and disclosure procedures to identify potential conflicts before executing agreements, and they document any disclosures received from covered persons. When a potential conflict surfaces, operators generally route waiver requests through the appropriate HUD field office rather than proceeding without authorization.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 982.161 is designed to protect the integrity of the HCV program by keeping financial self-interest out of the decisions that govern it, which can affect how vouchers are administered and how fairly program rules are applied. If a tenant believes that a conflict of interest has influenced a PHA decision — such as a contract award or policy determination — that concern can generally be raised with HUD's local field office or through the PHA's formal grievance process. Tenant-rights organizations and legal aid offices familiar with federal housing programs can help explain what options exist under this provision.
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 3, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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