Flat Rent Rule Plays Havoc with Residents and Agency Finances
Using a “One Size Fits All” Approach Does Not Work
The “Quality Housing and Work Responsibility Act of
1998” (QHWRA) required Housing Authorities (HAs)
to establish private unassisted market rental values of each of
their public housing developments – flat rents – based on their
location, quality, size, unit type, age, amenities, housing services,
maintenance, and utilities. However, the FY 2014 Consolidated
Appropriations Act required HAs to set flat rents at no less than
80 percent of HUD’s Fair Market Rents (FMRs) regardless of the
individual characteristics as established under QHWRA.
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