24 C.F.R. § 983.210
§ 983.210 Owner certification. (24 CFR Part 983)
Operative Text
By execution of the HAP contract, the owner certifies that at such execution and at all times during the term of the HAP contract: (a) The owner is maintaining the premises and all contract units in accordance with HUD's HQS under the requirements of this part 983. (b) The owner is providing all the services, maintenance, equipment, and utilities as agreed to under the HAP contract and the leases with assisted families. (c) Each contract unit for which the owner is receiving housing assistance payments is leased to an eligible family referred by the PHA or selected from the owner-maintained waiting list in accordance with § 983.251, and the lease is in accordance with the HAP contract and HUD requirements. (d) To the best of the owner's knowledge, the members of the family reside in each contract unit for which the owner is receiving housing assistance payments, and the unit is the family's only residence, except as provided in §§ 983.157(g)(6)(ii) and 983.212(a)(3)(ii). (e) The owner (including a principal or other interested party) is not the spouse, parent, child, grandparent, grandchild, sister, or brother of any member of a family residing in a contract unit unless needed as a reasonable accommodation under Section 504, the Fair Housing Act, or the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), for a household member who is a person with disabilities. (f) The amount of the housing assistance payment is the correct amount due under the HAP contract. (g) The rent to owner for each contract unit does not exceed rents charged by the owner for other comparable unassisted units. (h) Except for the housing assistance payment and the tenant rent as provided under the HAP contract, the owner has not received and will not receive any payment or other consideration (from the family, the PHA, HUD, or any other public or private source) for rental of the contract unit. (i) The family does not own or have any interest in the contract unit. The certification required by this section does not apply in the case of an assisted family's membership in a cooperative.
Under 24 CFR Part 983 § 983.210, when an owner signs a Housing Assistance Payments (HAP) contract, they are making a set of binding, ongoing certifications to the PHA and HUD that cover the entire contract term. These certifications address housing quality standards, service delivery, tenant eligibility, family residency, prohibited family relationships, correct payment amounts, rent comparability, and restrictions on receiving outside compensation. The rule also requires that the assisted family hold no ownership interest in the unit, with a narrow exception for cooperative membership.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Compliant operators under 24 CFR Part 983 § 983.210 treat the HAP contract signature as an ongoing commitment, not a one-time formality — meaning the certifications made at signing must remain accurate throughout the contract term. Operators generally maintain documentation showing that units meet HQS, that rents for assisted units do not exceed those charged for comparable unassisted units, that tenants were referred or selected through proper channels under § 983.251, and that no additional compensation beyond the HAP payment and tenant rent has been accepted from any source. Owners also confirm at all times that assisted families are actually residing in the units as their sole residence and that no disqualifying family relationship exists between the owner and any household member, unless a documented reasonable accommodation applies.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under 24 CFR Part 983 § 983.210, assisted families have a right to live in a unit where the owner has certified — on an ongoing basis — that the unit meets HQS, that all promised services and utilities are being provided, and that the rent charged is not inflated beyond what the owner charges for comparable unassisted units. If a tenant believes an owner is violating any of these certifications, they can raise the issue with the administering PHA, which oversees HAP contract compliance, or contact a local tenant-rights organization for guidance on available options. Tenants may also find it useful to document any conditions or discrepancies that appear inconsistent with the owner's obligations under § 983.210 as part of understanding their situation.
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.
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