15 Ark. Code of Rules § 86-406
Tenant income verification
Operative Text
15 CAR § 86-406. Tenant income verification. (a)(1) Owners/site managers must remember that the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development Handbook 4350.3 is the reference guide to be used for identifying income to be included or excluded when determining household income. (2) Determination of annual income of individuals and area median gross income must be made in a manner consistent with the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development Section 8 income definitions and guidelines. (b)(1) The earned income of every prospective household member aged eighteen (18) or older must be verified. (2) Unearned income, assets, and asset income of all household members, including minors, must be verified. (3) Verifications must be received by the owner or site manager prior to the execution of the certification of tenant eligibility and lease. (c)(1) Third-party verifications are valid for one hundred twenty (120) days before the effective date of the TIC. (2) Owners may not rely on verifications that are more than one hundred twenty (120) days old. (3) After this time, a new written verification must be obtained. (d)(1) Written third-party verifications are preferred. (2) An authorization to release information must: (A) Be signed by the applicant; and (B) Accompany verification requests. (3) Owners must send verifications directly to the source, and the source must return them directly to the owner. (4) Verifications must not be hand-carried by the applicant to or from the source. (5) The owner may obtain acceptable third-party written verifications by: (A) Facsimile; (B) Email; or (C) Internet. (6)(A) If written verification is not possible, direct contact with the source, in person or by telephone, is acceptable. (B) The owner must: (i) Document this verbal verification in the tenant file; and (ii) Obtain all information as requested on the written verification form.
Section 86-406 of the Arkansas Code of Regulations establishes the process by which owners and site managers must verify the income, assets, and asset income of prospective household members before finalizing a tenant's eligibility certification and lease. The rule requires that income determinations follow HUD Handbook 4350.3 and Section 8 definitions, and that all verifications come directly from third-party sources rather than being carried by the applicant. Verifications are only valid for 120 days before the effective date of the Tenant Income Certification (TIC), and any older documentation must be replaced with a fresh verification.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under 15 Ark. Code R. pt. 86 § 86-406, compliant operators verify the earned income of every prospective household member aged 18 or older, as well as the unearned income, assets, and asset income of all members including minors, before executing any certification of tenant eligibility or lease. Verifications are sent directly to the source and returned directly to the owner — never hand-carried by the applicant — and may be collected by written request, fax, email, or internet, with verbal verification documented in the tenant file only when written verification is not possible. Operators also track the age of each verification, replacing any that are more than 120 days old before the TIC effective date to remain in compliance.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 86-406 of the Arkansas Code of Regulations gives prospective tenants a clear picture of what to expect during the income verification process: owners and site managers are required to verify income and assets through direct contact with third-party sources, not through documents the applicant carries themselves. Applicants should expect to sign an authorization to release information so that the owner can request records directly from employers, financial institutions, or other sources. If a verification appears to have been handled improperly or eligibility was denied based on outdated documentation, tenants may wish to consult a tenant-rights organization or contact the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for guidance on their options.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 22, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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