Apartment Trends Magazine April 2019 | Page 36

APARTMENT ADVOCATE NATIONAL APARTMENT ASSOCIATION / NATIONAL MULTIFAMILY HOUSING COUNCIL Nationwide Update: What's Up With HUD? While the government shutdown stalled the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) from starting 2019 at full speed, the agency resumed business in February with two new policy changes to REAC and the FHA pilot program. These changes will have an immediate effect on HUD-assisted properties and affordable housing. owners and operators 14 calendar days prior to a property inspection through the Real Estate Assessment Center (REAC). If a property owner or operator refuses the REAC inspection, a score of zero will be recorded. However, if the property is successfully inspected within 7 calendar days after the initial declined visit, the resulting score will be recorded. HUD announced a recent policy change that will drastically reduce the time frame required to provide notice of inspection to rental housing providers that operate HUD-assisted housing or subsidized property developments. While we understand owners and operators take great care to prepare for REAC inspections on an ongoing basis, HUD says this change will encourage program participants to maintain their properties year-round, instead of short- term fixes to pass a specific inspection. This new policy will take place 30 days after the posted notice. According to the new standard, HUD employees and contract inspectors will provide a notice to participating property In addition to the REAC change, HUD will be hosting listening sessions across the United States to collect input from the public and private HUD partners about a potential pilot program that will bring a new approach to inspections of HUD-assisted properties. NAA highly encourages owners and operators to participate in HUD’s listening sessions to ensure the industry’s voice is heard. The first round of listening sessions is scheduled for the following locations: Philadelphia, Fort Worth, Atlanta, Detroit, and Seattle. Of equal importance, Secretary Ben Carson also announced in February that the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) FLAGS BY SUSAN WWW.FLAGSBYSUSAN.COM ORDER ONLINE TODAY! • Custom Flags • Affordable Flagpoles for Apartments • No Helium Balloons • Banners / Signs • Quality U.S., State and Country Flags (303) 317-3612 34 | TRENDS APRIL 2019 www.aamdhq.org