HUD Handbook 4350.3 § 4-20
Removing Names from the Waiting List (HUD Occupancy Handbook 4350.3 REV-1 CHG-4)
Operative Text
The owner must document removal of any names from the waiting list with the time and
date of the removal.
A. The tenant selection plan must include a written policy that describes when
applicant names will be removed from the waiting list. Examples of applicant
removal policies an owner may adopt are:
1. The applicant no longer meets the eligibility requirements for the property
or program;
2. The applicant fails to respond to a written notice for an eligibility interview;
3. The applicant is offered and rejects two units in the property (or any
number of unit offers as specified in the owner's written policies);
4. *The applicant fails to provide SSNs for all household members.*
5. Mail sent to the applicant's address is returned as undeliverable; or
6. The unit that is needed – using family size as the basis – changes, and no
appropriate size unit exists in the property.
B. The owner must periodically print out electronic waiting lists or preserve backup
copies showing how the waiting list appeared before and after the removal of
each name.HUD Handbook 4350.3 REV-1 CHG-4 § 4-20 establishes that property owners participating in covered HUD programs must maintain documented records whenever an applicant's name is removed from a waiting list, including the exact time and date of removal. The owner's tenant selection plan must contain a written policy spelling out the specific circumstances under which names may be removed—such as loss of eligibility, failure to respond to interview notices, or repeated rejection of unit offers. Owners are also required to preserve electronic or backup records that show the state of the waiting list both before and after each removal.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under HUD Handbook 4350.3 REV-1 CHG-4 § 4-20, compliant operators maintain a written removal policy within their tenant selection plan that clearly enumerates the grounds on which an applicant may be taken off the waiting list. Operators routinely timestamp each removal event and retain electronic printouts or backup copies that capture the waiting list's state immediately before and after every change. Keeping these records current and accessible supports audit readiness and helps demonstrate that removals were carried out consistently with the property's stated policies.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
HUD Handbook 4350.3 REV-1 CHG-4 § 4-20 gives applicants an important baseline protection: owners must follow a written removal policy and document every removal with a time and date, meaning a name cannot be quietly dropped without a traceable, policy-based reason. If you believe your name was removed from a waiting list improperly, you may request a copy of the property's tenant selection plan to review the stated removal criteria. Tenant-rights organizations and HUD's complaint process are among the general paths available to applicants who want to understand or challenge a removal decision.
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 25, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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