HUD HCV Guidebook § 3.3.3
PHA Policies Addressing Denial of Family Moves for Insufficient Funding (HUD HCV Guidebook)
Operative Text
The PHA must28 establish policies in its Administrative Plan that state how the PHA will address families
whose request to move are denied due to insufficient funding once the PHA determines funds are available
for those moves. At a minimum, the PHA policy must29 address:
25
PIH Notice 2016-09(7)(b)
26
PIH Notice 2016-09(7)(c)
27
PIH Notice 2016-09(7)(c)
28
PIH Notice 2016-09(7)(d)
29
PIH Notice 2016-09(7)(d)
Moves and Portability 9
1. How the PHA will inform families of the PHA’s local policy regarding moves denied due to insufficient
funding (e.g. information contained in briefing packets or in a letter to the tenant at the time the move
is denied).
2. How long the family’s request to move will be open for consideration.
3. How the PHA will notify families with open requests when funds become available (which will be no
later than January 1st of the following calendar year).Under HUD Housing Choice Voucher Guidebook § 3.3.3, Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) are required to have written policies in their Administrative Plans that explain what happens when a voucher family's move request is turned down solely because the PHA lacks sufficient funding. At a minimum, those policies must cover three things: how the PHA communicates the denial to the family, how long the family's move request stays open for reconsideration, and how the PHA will notify families when funding becomes available—no later than January 1st of the following calendar year. This provision ensures that a funding-based denial is not simply a dead end, but a documented, time-limited pause with a defined follow-up process.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Although § 3.3.3 of the HUD Housing Choice Voucher Guidebook primarily governs PHA administrative obligations rather than private landlord conduct, property owners and managers who participate in the Housing Choice Voucher program benefit from understanding this framework. Compliant PHAs maintain Administrative Plans that clearly document their procedures for funding-based move denials, which can affect the timeline and availability of voucher holders seeking to lease new units. Operators who regularly work with voucher tenants generally stay informed about their local PHA's Administrative Plan policies so they can anticipate potential delays in move approvals tied to funding cycles.
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 § 3.3.3, if a PHA denies a voucher holder's request to move because of insufficient funding, the PHA is required to have a written policy explaining how it will handle that situation—including how long the request stays open and how the family will be notified when funds become available (no later than January 1st of the following year). Tenants in this situation can ask their PHA for a copy of the relevant section of its Administrative Plan to understand the specific local procedures that apply. Tenant-rights organizations and HUD's local field offices can be resources for understanding whether a PHA's policies and practices align with the requirements of § 3.3.3.
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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