HUD HCV Guidebook § 2.1
Debarment and Other Causes for Disapproval (HUD HCV Guidebook)
Operative Text
The PHA must6 not approve an owner’s participation in the program if:
The PHA is informed (by HUD or otherwise) that the owner is debarred, suspended, or subject
to a limited denial of participation under 24 C.F.R. part 24;
HUD informs the PHA that the federal government has instituted an administrative or judicial
action against the owner for a violation of the Fair Housing Act or other federal equal
opportunity requirements, including, but not limited to, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, Section
504 of the Rehabilitation Act, or the Americans with Disabilities Act, and such action is
pending;
HUD informs the PHA that a court or administrative agency has determined that the owner
violated the Fair Housing Act or other federal equal opportunity requirements, including, but
not limited to, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, or the
Americans with Disabilities ActUnder HUD Housing Choice Voucher Guidebook § 2.1, a Public Housing Authority (PHA) is prohibited from approving a landlord's participation in the Housing Choice Voucher program under three specific circumstances: the owner is debarred, suspended, or subject to a limited denial of participation; a federal administrative or judicial action for a Fair Housing Act or equal opportunity violation is pending against the owner; or a court or administrative agency has already found the owner violated those same laws. These restrictions are designed to protect voucher holders from being placed with owners who have demonstrated or alleged violations of civil rights and fair housing protections. The rule applies regardless of how the PHA learns of a debarment, though HUD is the designated source for the other two categories of disqualifying information.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners seeking to participate in the Housing Choice Voucher program should be aware that § 2.1 of the HUD Housing Choice Voucher Guidebook requires PHAs to screen owners for debarment status and civil rights compliance history before approving their participation. Compliant operators generally maintain a clear record with federal debarment registries and resolve any outstanding fair housing or equal opportunity matters before seeking program approval. An owner with a pending or adjudicated federal fair housing action should understand that PHAs are obligated to deny participation for the duration of those circumstances.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under HUD Housing Choice Voucher Guidebook § 2.1, voucher holders have a structural protection ensuring that PHAs cannot place them with owners who are federally debarred or who have pending or confirmed fair housing violations. If a tenant believes a PHA has approved an owner despite one of these disqualifying conditions, they may raise this concern directly with the PHA, contact HUD, or reach out to a local tenant-rights organization for guidance on available options. Tenants can also consult the federal System for Award Management (SAM.gov) to independently check whether an owner appears on debarment lists.
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 26, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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