HUD HCV Guidebook § 10.1
Moving to Work (MTW) (HUD HCV Guidebook)
Operative Text
Requirements of the portability rule are applicable to MTW agencies, unless there are approved activities in their MTW plan to the contrary. An MTW agency must113 not apply its MTW flexibilities to a voucher holder living in another PHA’s jurisdiction. After having moved under portability, the family is subject to the receiving PHA’s policies. For example, MTW agencies that have adopted a voucher time limit must114 not apply that time limit to a participant who ported to another PHA.
Under HUD Housing Choice Voucher Guidebook § 10.1, the standard portability rules generally apply to Moving to Work (MTW) agencies unless their approved MTW plan specifically provides otherwise. A key boundary is established: an MTW agency's special flexibilities—such as voucher time limits or other locally adopted policies—cannot follow a voucher holder into another public housing authority's (PHA) jurisdiction. Once a family moves under portability, the receiving PHA's own rules govern their participation, not the policies of the agency that originally issued the voucher.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners participating in the Housing Choice Voucher program should be aware that under HUD Housing Choice Voucher Guidebook § 10.1, a tenant who has ported in from an MTW agency is governed by the receiving PHA's policies, not those of the originating agency. This means that MTW-specific rules—like shortened voucher time limits—do not travel with the voucher holder, and landlords in the receiving jurisdiction operate under that PHA's standard framework. Operators who work across multiple PHA jurisdictions generally maintain familiarity with each local PHA's policies rather than assuming MTW flexibilities from another agency apply.
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 § 10.1, voucher holders who move under portability are protected from having the originating MTW agency's restrictive policies—such as voucher time limits—applied to them in their new jurisdiction. The receiving PHA's own rules and procedures govern the tenancy after the move, which may be more or less flexible than those of the original agency. Tenants who believe an MTW flexibility is being improperly applied to their ported voucher may raise this as a concern with the receiving PHA directly, or seek guidance from a local tenant-rights organization or HUD's resources.
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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