HUD HCV Guidebook § 2.8
Owner Certification of Rents Charged for Other Units (HUD HCV Guidebook)
Operative Text
By accepting each monthly housing assistance payment from the PHA, the owner certifies that the rent to owner is not more than rent charged by the owner for comparable unassisted units on the premises. The owner must16 provide information requested by the PHA on rents charged by the owner for other units on the premises, including the rents charged for the three most recently leased, unassisted units in the project, if the project has 4 or more units. The Request for Tenancy Approval (Form HUD-52517) includes information on comparable unassisted units on the premises. In determining the reasonableness of rents for units located in a multifamily project that is not substantially assisted, the PHA may17 base its determination on the rents charged for the three comparable unassisted units identified by the owner on the RFTA. In such cases, the PHA does not have to obtain additional rent comparables in other multifamily housing in the area. Additionally, the PHA may choose to only consider the most recent rentals in determining the rents that the owner is charging for comparable unassisted units. In some markets, new families routinely pay higher rents than the rents that longer time families in comparable units may be paying (often due to local rent stabilization programs or ordinances that limit rent increases for existing families). An owner who offers a rent concession for unassisted units at the property (those not qualifying as units in converted properties; see section 2.4.2 above) must also offer them to HCV/PBV participants.18 The PHA must use the actual amount of the rent for such unassisted units (that is, the rent with the concession) in determining the reasonable rent amount. For example, an HCV family is looking to rent a unit in Property A. The rent to owner is generally $800, but the owner offers a rent credit (a rent concession) of $100 during the first two months of occupancy. During the initial lease term, the rent amount that the PHA must use for determining the reasonable rent is $700 for two months ($1,400) and $800 for the remaining ten months ($8,000) in a 12-month period, or $783 (($1,400+$8,000)/12) per month for 12 months. 14 24 CFR § 982.507(c)(2) 15 24 CFR § 982.507(c)(2) 16 24 CFR § 982.507(d) 17 Notice PIH 2003-12: Determination of Rent Reasonableness – Revision of Request for Tenancy Approval, Form HUD-52517 18 Notice PIH 2020-19: Rent Reasonableness – Defining Assisted Units for the Housing Choice Voucher and Project- Based Voucher Programs Rent Reasonableness 6
Under HUD Housing Choice Voucher Guidebook § 2.8, an owner who accepts monthly housing assistance payments automatically certifies that the rent charged for a voucher-assisted unit is no higher than what the owner charges for comparable unassisted units on the same property. Owners of properties with four or more units must disclose rent data for the three most recently leased unassisted units, and PHAs may use that information as the basis for rent reasonableness determinations. Additionally, any rent concessions offered to unassisted tenants must be extended equally to HCV and PBV participants, and the PHA must factor those concessions into its calculation of the reasonable rent.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under HUD Housing Choice Voucher Guidebook § 2.8, compliant operators ensure that the rent requested for any voucher-assisted unit does not exceed what they charge for comparable unassisted units on the same premises. When completing the Request for Tenancy Approval (Form HUD-52517), owners of properties with four or more units typically document the rents for the three most recently leased unassisted units to support the PHA's rent reasonableness review. Owners who advertise or apply rent concessions to unassisted units are required to extend those same concessions to HCV and PBV participants, and the PHA will calculate the reasonable rent using the actual, post-concession amount.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
HUD Housing Choice Voucher Guidebook § 2.8 establishes that the rent an owner charges a voucher holder cannot exceed what the owner charges for comparable unassisted units on the same property, providing a built-in protection against overcharging HCV participants. If a tenant believes their rent exceeds what unassisted neighbors pay for comparable units, they may raise this concern with their local Public Housing Authority, which is responsible for verifying rent reasonableness. Tenants can also contact a local tenant-rights organization or HUD's resources for HCV participants to better understand how rent reasonableness determinations are made and what options may be available.
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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