HUD HCV Guidebook § 6
Reviewing and Revising Utility Allowances (HUD HCV Guidebook)
Operative Text
A PHA must24 review its utility allowance schedule annually, and must25 revise its allowance for a utility category if there has been a change of 10 percent or more in the utility rates or fuel costs since the last revision of the schedule. To conduct a utility allowance review, the PHA may obtain new rate schedules or quotes from utility and fuel suppliers. These new rates can be compared with the rates previously used to calculate the last revision to the utility allowance schedule to then determine whether an adjustment is needed. When a utility allowance adjustment is required, it may be calculated in the same way as the original allowance. Revising the previously used consumption figures might not be necessary, as there is generally very little variation in these figures over time. The new rates should be applied to the consumption figures for the locality to calculate the revised new utility allowances.
Under HUD Housing Choice Voucher Guidebook § 6, Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) are required to review their utility allowance schedules every year. If the cost of a utility or fuel has shifted by 10 percent or more since the last revision, the PHA must update the affected allowance category. The revised allowance is generally calculated by applying current rates to the same local consumption figures used previously, unless those figures have also changed meaningfully.
Plain English — not legal advice.
HUD Housing Choice Voucher Guidebook § 6 places the annual utility allowance review obligation on the PHA, not directly on property owners, but landlords participating in the Housing Choice Voucher program benefit from understanding how these reviews work. Compliant PHAs typically obtain updated rate schedules or supplier quotes each year and compare them against the figures used in the prior revision. Owners who notice significant utility rate changes in their area may find it useful to be aware that a 10-percent threshold triggers a mandatory schedule revision.
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 § 6 establishes that your PHA must review utility allowances every year and revise them when rates have risen or fallen by 10 percent or more. If you believe your utility allowance has not been updated to reflect significant rate changes, you may raise this concern directly with your local PHA or contact the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Tenant-rights organizations familiar with the Housing Choice Voucher program can also help you understand what a current allowance review should look like and what options are generally available to voucher holders.
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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