• NAA ' s Take : A criminal background check is one important part of the overall resident screening process . Criminal record screening is an essential function , which helps owners and operators mitigate risk and ensure the safety and security of residents and community staff .
• NAA ' s Action : Submitted joint letter to the FTC and CFPB alongside the National Multifamily Housing Council ; submitted supplementary filing with member stories collected to highlight real-world experiences with these tools and mobilized nearly 1,000 members .
INSPECTIONS
• Agency Action : HUD launched the National Standards for the Physical Inspection of Real Estate ( NSPIRE ), which standardizes required inspection protocols for public housing and HUD-assisted housing like units utilizing Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers .
• NAA ' s Take : These changes better align the program with HUD ’ s mission to ensure HUD-funded housing complies with minimum health and safety standards and eliminate scoring based on arbitrary curb appeal-related factors . HUD should continue to seek industry input to enhance the program ’ s utility .
• NAA ' s Action : Facilitated virtual and in-person opportunities that have allowed hundreds of housing providers to learn more about the changes to their compliance responsibilities and to provide real-time feedback to HUD leaders .
Renter Protections / Rent Control
• Agency Action : The Federal Housing Finance Agency ( FHFA ) announced a request for input that asked stakeholders to comment on whether additional landlordtenant requirements should be imposed on enterprise-backed multifamily properties , namely through Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac . One such policy proposal could include a form of federal rent control .
• NAA ' s Take : There can be no singular federal approach to the highly local landlord / tenant relationship . Additional requirements would disincentivize participation in Fannie and Freddie programs . Federal rent control would be devastating to housing affordability and availability for renters .
• NAA ' s Action : Submitted comments to the FHFA alongside industry partners ; established campaign for affiliate partners to submit comments ; mobilized more than 3,000 members and provided FHFA with customized landlord-tenant research to help the agency better understand the breadth of the existing state and local policy landscape .
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EVICTION
• Agency Action : HUD issued a notice of proposed rulemaking that would require Public Housing Agencies that administer a public housing program and owners of project-based rental assistance properties to provide at least 30 days ’ notification of lease termination due to nonpayment of rent .
• NAA ' s Take : The proposed rule would interfere in a highly local process , exacerbate eviction court backlogs and disincentivize participation in HUD programs – worsening housing supply and affordability challenges .
• NAA ' s Action : Led industry partners to submit comments to HUD ; established campaign for affiliate partners to submit comments and mobilized more than 3,000 members .
FEES
• Agency Action : The FTC issued a notice of proposed rulemaking to prohibit American businesses from charging so-called “ unfair ” or “ deceptive ” fees and require all-in pricing disclosures including rental housing . Note : This was an additional action added after the Blueprint ’ s initial introduction .
• NAA ' s Take : NAA urged the FTC to exempt the rental housing industry from the proposed rule . It is virtually impossible to predict all rental housing fees and disclose them in advertisements as the rulemaking requires .
• NAA ' s Action : Submitted comments and led real estate coalition comments submitted to the FTC ; established campaign for affiliate partners to submit comments and mobilized nearly 4,000 members .
RESIDENT-CENTERED HOUSING
In response to the White House ’ s Resident-Centered Housing Challenge , NAA made a commitment to promote resident services and practices across the industry . Over the past year , NAA has worked internally and alongside housing providers of all portfolio types to develop the following resources as a part of its Challenge commitment .
Leasing Guide for Renters : NAA ’ s newest resource , Leasing 101 , guides prospective renters through the holistic rental application and leasing process . From developing a budget to searching for a rental home to signing a lease and understanding associated costs , the informational guide aims to help renters as they navigate their renting experience .
Case Studies in Resident-Centered Property Management : To identify relevant member programs and services , NAA culled through 2,500 NAA website pages to surface relevant items . Additionally , NAA surveyed its members , focusing on affordable housing c-suite , regionals , property managers and independent rental owners , distilling survey results down to 36 “ best-in-class ” responses . The resulting eight case studies are easily replicable by small , mid-size and large operators .
Know Your Costs Summary : Launching in 2024 , NAA ’ s lease product – NAA Click & Lease – will now include a “ Know Your Costs ” summary sheet on the first pages of every lease . The summary will display costs associated with the residency and represents both NAA and the industry ’ s steadfast and longstanding commitment to transparency in the leasing process .
Over the coming months , NAA will continue to stand strong for the rental housing industry through robust advocacy that amplifies the perspectives of our members nationwide . Thank you for your support and engagement over the past year . As always , your participation in these efforts is paramount .
MARCH 2024 TRENDS | 31