HUD Handbook 4350.3 § 7-5

A.       Key Requirement

                  Annual recertifications must be completed by the tenant’s recertification
                  anniversary date.

         B.       Determining Recertification Anniversary Dates

                  1.       The recertification anniversary date is the first day of the month in which
                           the tenant moved into the property. A tenant moving in with no
                           assistance payment, such as a Section 236 or a Section 221(d)(3) BMIR
                           tenant, who later begins receiving assistance payments, will have his or
                           her annual recertification date changed to the first day of the month that
                           the tenant began receiving assistance from HUD.

2.       The recertification anniversary date does not change if a tenant transfers
                           from one unit to another unit at the same property.

         C.       HUD Approval of Alternative Recertification Anniversary Dates

                  With the approval of the HUD Field Office or the Contract Administrator, owners
                  may establish alternative recertification anniversary dates. Examples of
                  acceptable reasons for requesting alternative dates include the following:

                  1.       In properties for the elderly and/or the disabled, owners may request that
                           the recertification anniversary date be based on the issuance of the cost-
                           of-living adjustments for the Social Security or other assistance programs.

                  2.       For coordination purposes, owners may request that the recertification
                           anniversary date for all tenants be based on the anniversary date of the
                           assistance payment contract for the property.

                  3.       For coordination purposes, owners may request that the recertification
                           anniversary date be assigned by building or unit number to better
                           coordinate recertification and inspection activities.

Examples – Recertification Anniversary Dates
      New Tenants
      If a family moves in on September 1, its anniversary date is September 1.
      If a family moves in on September 15, its anniversary date is September 1.
      If a family moves in on September 30, its anniversary date is September 1.
      Existing Tenants Who Receive a New Form of Assistance
      The Johnson family moves in on April 15 and pays the market rent. During the following
      January, the family qualifies to receive Section 8 assistance at the property and begins
      receiving rental assistance on February 1. The owner must set the Johnson’s anniversary date
      at February 1.
      The Murray family moves into a Section 236 project on April 15 and pays the Section 236
      market rent established for the property. As a market renter, the Murrays are not required to
      complete annual recertifications. During October of the following year, the Murrays request that
      the owner complete an initial certification to determine their eligibility for paying less than the
      market rent. The family begins paying $42 less than the market rent on November 1. The new
      anniversary date is November 1.
      The Chiu family moves into a Section 236 project on April 15 and pays the Section 236 basic
      rent. The owner must set the family’s anniversary date at April 1. During the following July, the
      Finnigans qualify for one of the RAP slots at the property and begin to receive rental assistance
      on August 1. The owner must set a new anniversary date for the Finnigans of August 1.
      The Padilla family moves into a BMIR project on June 15 and pays the BMIR rent. The owner
      must set the anniversary date for the family at June 1. During August of the following year, the
      Riddles qualify for the Rent Supplement Program at the property and begin to receive rental
      assistance on September 1. The owner must set a new anniversary date for the Riddles of
      September 1.
      The Kreutz family moves into a BMIR project on July 15 and pays the BMIR rent. The owner
      must set the anniversary date for the family at July 1. During the annual recertification process
      two years later the owner determines the Kreutz’s income to be more than 110% of the income
      limit and the family begins paying 110% of the BMIR rent. During the following December, the
      Kreutzes request that the owner complete a new certification to determine their eligibility to pay
      the BMIR rent. The recertification results show that they are eligible and the family begins
      paying the BMIR rent on January 1. The owner must set a new anniversary date for the
      Kreutzes at January 1.