Housing Assistance Payments Contract (HAP Contract)

Section 8 Tenant-Based Assistance

Housing Choice Voucher Program

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

Office of Public and Indian Housing

Part A of the HAP Contract: Contract Information

1. Contents of Contract

This HAP contract has three parts:

Part A: Contract Information

Part B: Body of Contract

Part C: Tenancy Addendum

2. Tenant

3. Contract Unit

4. Household

5. Initial Lease Term

6. Initial Rent to Owner

7. Initial Housing Assistance Payment

8. Utilities and Appliances

Part B of HAP Contract: Body of Contract

1. Purpose

a. This is a HAP contract between the PHA and the owner. The HAP contract is entered to provide assistance for the family under the Section 8 voucher program (see HUD program regulations at 24 Code of Federal Regulations Part 982).

b. The HAP contract only applies to the household and contract unit specified in Part A of the HAP contract.

c. During the HAP contract term, the PHA will pay housing assistance payments to the owner in accordance with the HAP contract.

d. The family will reside in the contract unit with assistance under the Section 8 voucher program. The housing assistance

payments by the PHA assist the tenant to lease the contract unit from the owner for occupancy by the family.

2. Lease of Contract Unit

a. The owner has leased the contract unit to the tenant for occupancy by the family with assistance under the Section 8 voucher program.

b. The PHA has approved leasing of the unit in accordance with requirements of the Section 8 voucher program.

c. The lease for the contract unit must include word-forword all provisions of the tenancy addendum required by HUD (Part C of the HAP contract).

d. The owner certifies that:

(1) The owner and the tenant have entered into a lease of the contract unit that includes all provisions of the tenancy addendum.

(2) The lease is in a standard form that is used in the locality by the owner and that is generally used for other unassisted tenants in the premises.

(3) The lease is consistent with State and local law.

e. The owner is responsible for screening the family’s behavior or suitability for tenancy. The PHA is not responsible for such screening. The PHA has no liability or responsibility to the owner or other persons for the family’s behavior or the family’s conduct in tenancy.

3. Maintenance, Utilities, and Other Services

a. The owner must maintain the contract unit and premises in accordance with the housing quality standards (HQS).

b. The owner must provide all utilities needed to comply with the HQS.

c. If the owner does not maintain the contract unit in accordance with the HQS, or fails to provide all utilities needed to comply with the HQS, the PHA may exercise any available remedies. PHA remedies for such breach include recovery of overpayments, suspension of housing assistance payments, abatement or other reduction of housing assistance payments, termination of housing assistance payments, and termination of the HAP contract. The PHA may not exercise such remedies against the owner because of an HQS breach for which the family is responsible, and that is not caused by the owner.

d. The PHA shall not make any housing assistance payments if the contract unit does not meet the HQS, unless the owner corrects the defect within the period specified by the PHA and the PHA verifies the correction. If a defect is life threatening, the owner must correct the defect within no more than 24 hours. For other defects, the owner must correct the defect within the period specified by the PHA.

e. The PHA may inspect the contract unit and premises at such times as the PHA determines necessary, to ensure that the unit is in accordance with the HQS.

f. The PHA must notify the owner of any HQS defects shown by the inspection.

g. The owner must provide all housing services as agreed to in the lease.

4. Term of HAP Contract

a. Relation to lease term. The term of the HAP contract begins on the first day of the initial term of the lease, and terminates on the last day of the term of the lease (including the initial lease term and any extensions).

b. When HAP contract terminates.

(1) The HAP contract terminates automatically if the lease is terminated by the owner or the tenant.

(2) The PHA may terminate program assistance for the family for any grounds authorized in accordance with HUD requirements. If the PHA terminates program assistance for the family, the HAP contract terminates automatically.

(3) If the family moves from the contract unit, the HAP contract terminates automatically.

(4) The HAP contract terminates automatically 180 calendar days after the last housing assistance payment to the owner.

(5) The PHA may terminate the HAP contract if the PHA determines, in accordance with HUD requirements, that available program funding is not sufficient to support continued assistance for families in the program.

(6) The PHA may terminate the HAP contract if thePHA determines that the contract unit does not provide adequate space in accordance with the HQS because of an increase in family size or a change in family composition.

(7) If the family breaks up, the PHA may terminate the HAP contract, or may continue housing assistance payments on behalf of family members who remain in the contract unit.

(8) The PHA may terminate the HAP contract if the PHA determines that the unit does not meet all

requirements of the HQS, or determines that the owner has otherwise breached the HAP contract.

5. Provision and Payment for Utilities and Appliances

a. The lease must specify what utilities are to be provided or paid by the owner or the tenant.

b. The lease must specify what appliances are to be provided or paid by the owner or the tenant.

c. Part A of the HAP contract specifies what utilities and appliances are to be provided or paid by the owner or the tenant. The lease shall be consistent with the HAP contract.

6. Rent to Owner: Reasonable Rent

a. During the HAP contract term, the rent to owner may at no time exceed the reasonable rent for the contract unit as most recently determined or redetermined by the PHA in accordance with HUD requirements.

b. The PHA must determine whether the rent to owner is reasonable in comparison to rent for other comparable unassisted units. To make this determination, the PHA must consider:

(1) The location, quality, size, unit type, and age of the contract unit; and

(2) Any amenities, housing services, maintenance and utilities provided and paid by the owner.

c. The PHA must redetermine the reasonable rent when required in accordance with HUD requirements. The PHA may redetermine the reasonable rent at any time.

d. During the HAP contract term, the rent to owner may not exceed rent charged by the owner for comparable unassisted units in the premises. The owner must give the PHA any information requested by the PHA on rents charged by the owner for other units in the premises or elsewhere.

7. PHA Payment to Owner

a. When paid

(1) During the term of the HAP contract, the PHA must make monthly housing assistance payments to the owner on behalf of the family at the beginning of each month.

(2) The PHA must pay housing assistance payments promptly when due to the owner.

(3) If housing assistance payments are not paid promptly when due after the first two calendar months of the HAP contract term , the PHA shall pay the owner penalties in accordance with generally accepted practices and law, as applicable in the local housing market, governing penalties for late payment by a tenant. However, the PHA shall not be obligated to pay any late payment penalty if HUD determines that late payment by the PHA is due to factors beyond the PHA’s control. Moreover, the PHA shall not be obligated to pay any late payment penalty if housing assistance payments by the PHA are delayed or denied as a remedy for owner breach of the HAP contract (including any of the following PHA remedies: recovery of overpayments, suspension of housing assistance payments, abatement or reduction of housing assistance payments, termination of housing assistance payments and termination of the contract).

(4) Housing assistance payments shall only be paid to the owner while the family is residing in the contract unit during the term of the HAP contract. The PHA shall not pay a housing assistance payment to the owner for any month after the month when the family moves out.

b. Owner compliance with HAP contract. Unless the owner has complied with all provisions of the HAP contract, the owner does not have a right to receive housing assistance payments under the HAP contract.

c. Amount of PHA payment to owner

(1) The amount of the monthly PHA housing assistance payment to the owner shall be determined by the PHA in accordance with HUD requirements for a tenancy under the voucher program.

(2) The amount of the PHA housing assistance payment is subject to change during the HAP contract term in accordance with HUD requirements. The PHA must notify the family and the owner of any changes in the amount of the housing assistance payment.

(3) The housing assistance payment for the first month of the HAP contract term shall be pro-rated for a partial month.

d. Application of payment. The monthly housing assistance payment shall be credited against the monthly rent to owner for the contract unit.

e. Limit of PHA responsibility.

(1) The PHA is only responsible for making housing assistance payments to the owner in accordance with the HAP contract and HUD requirements for a tenancy under the voucher program.

(2) The PHA shall not pay any portion of the rent to owner in excess of the housing assistance payment. The PHA shall not pay any other claim by the owner against the family.

f. Overpayment to owner. If the PHA determines that the owner is not entitled to the housing assistance payment or any part of it, the PHA, in addition to other remedies, may deduct the amount of the overpayment from any amounts due the owner (including amounts due under any other Section 8 assistance contract).

8. Owner Certification

During the term of this contract, the owner certifies that:

a. The owner is maintaining the contract unit and premises in accordance with the HQS.

b. The contract unit is leased to the tenant. The lease includes the tenancy addendum (Part C of the HAP contract), and is in accordance with the HAP contract and program requirements. The owner has provided the lease to the PHA, including any revisions of the lease.

c. The rent to owner does not exceed rents charged by the owner for rental of comparable unassisted units in the premises.

d. Except for the rent to owner, the owner has not received and will not receive any payments or other consideration

(from the family, the PHA, HUD, or any other public or private source) for rental of the contract unit during the HAP contract term.

e. The family does not own or have any interest in the contract unit.

f. To the best of the owner’s knowledge, the members of the family reside in the contract unit, and the unit is the family’s only residence.

g. The owner (including a principal or other interested party) is not the parent, child, grandparent, grandchild, sister, or brother of any member of the family, unless the PHA has determined (and has notified the owner and the family of such determination) that approving rental of the unit, notwithstanding such relationship, would provide

reasonable accommodation for a family member who is a person with disabilities.

9. Prohibition of Discrimination. In accordance with applicable equal opportunity statutes, Executive Orders, and regulations:

a. The owner must not discriminate against any person because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, familial status, or disability in connection with the HAP contract.

b. The owner must cooperate with the PHA and HUD in conducting equal opportunity compliance reviews and complaint investigations in connection with the HAP contract.

10. Owner’s Breach of HAP Contract

a. Any of the following actions by the owner (including a principal or other interested party) is a breach of the HAP contract by the owner:

(1) If the owner has violated any obligation under the HAP contract, including the owner’s obligation to maintain the unit in accordance with the HQS.

(2) If the owner has violated any obligation under any other housing assistance payments contract under Section 8.

(3) If the owner has committed fraud, bribery or any other corrupt or criminal act in connection with any Federal housing assistance program.

(4) For projects with mortgages insured by HUD or loans made by HUD, if the owner has failed to comply with the regulations for the applicable mortgage insurance or loan program, with the mortgage or mortgage note, or with the regulatory agreement; or if the owner has committed fraud, bribery or any other corrupt or criminal act in connection with the mortgage or loan.

(5) If the owner has engaged in any drug-related criminal activity or any violent criminal activity.

b. If the PHA determines that a breach has occurred, the PHA may exercise any of its rights and remedies under the HAP contract, or any other available rights and remedies for such breach. The PHA shall notify the owner of such determination, including a brief statement of the reasons for the determination. The notice by the PHA to the owner may require the owner to take corrective action, as verified or determined by the PHA, by a deadline prescribed in the notice.

c. The PHA’s rights and remedies for owner breach of the HAP contract include recovery of overpayments, suspension of housing assistance payments, abatement or other reduction of housing assistance payments, termination of housing assistance payments, and termination of the HAP contract.

d. The PHA may seek and obtain additional relief by judicial order or action, including specific performance, other injunctive relief or order for damages.

e. Even if the family continues to live in the contract unit, the PHA may exercise any rights and remedies for owner breach of the HAP contract.

f. The PHA’s exercise or non-exercise of any right or remedy for owner breach of the HAP contract is not a waiver of the right to exercise that or any other right or remedy at any time.

11. PHA and HUD Access to Premises and Owner’s Records

a. The owner must provide any information pertinent to the HAP contract that the PHA or HUD may reasonably require.

b. The PHA, HUD and the Comptroller General of the United States shall have full and free access to the contract unit and the premises, and to all accounts and other records of the owner that are relevant to the HAP contract, including the right to examine or audit the records and to make copies.

c. The owner must grant such access to computerized or other electronic records, and to any computers, equipment or facilities containing such records, and must provide any information or assistance needed to access the records.

12. Exclusion of Third Party Rights

a. The family is not a party to or third party beneficiary of Part B of the HAP contract. The family may not enforce any provision of Part B, and may not exercise any right or remedy against the owner or PHA under Part B.

b. The tenant or the PHA may enforce the tenancy addendum (Part C of the HAP contract) against the owner, and may exercise any right or remedy against the owner under the tenancy addendum.

c. The PHA does not assume any responsibility for injury to, or any liability to, any person injured as a result of the owner’s action or failure to act in connection with management of the contract unit or the premises or with implementation of the HAP contract, or as a result of any other action or failure to act by the owner.

d. The owner is not the agent of the PHA, and the HAP contract does not create or affect any relationship between the PHA and any lender to the owner or any suppliers, employees, contractors or subcontractors used by the owner in connection with management of the contract unit or the premises or with implementation of the HAP contract.

13. Conflict of Interest

a. “Covered individual” means a person or entity who is a member of any of the following classes:

(1) Any present or former member or officer of the PHA (except a PHA commissioner who is a participant in the program);

(2) Any employee of the PHA, or any contractor, subcontractor or agent of the PHA, who formulates policy or who influences decisions with respect to the program;

(3) Any public official, member of a governing body, or State or local legislator, who exercises functions or responsibilities with respect to the program; or

(4) Any member of the Congress of the United States.

b. A covered individual may not have any direct or indirect interest in the HAP contract or in any benefits or payments under the contract (including the interest of an immediate family member of such covered individual) while such person is a covered individual or during one year thereafter.

c. “Immediate family member” means the spouse, parent (including a stepparent), child (including a stepchild),

grandparent, grandchild, sister or brother (including a stepsister or stepbrother) of any covered individual.

d. The owner certifies and is responsible for assuring that no person or entity has or will have a prohibited interest, at execution of the HAP contract, or at any time during the HAP contract term.

e. If a prohibited interest occurs, the owner shall promptly and fully disclose such interest to the PHA and HUD.

f. The conflict of interest prohibition under this section may be waived by the HUD field office for good cause.

g. No member of or delegate to the Congress of the United States or resident commissioner shall be admitted to any share or part of the HAP contract or to any benefits which may arise from it.

14. Assignment of the HAP Contract

a. The owner may not assign the HAP contract to a new owner without the prior written consent of the PHA.

b. If the owner requests PHA consent to assign the HAP contract to a new owner, the owner shall supply any information as required by the PHA pertinent to the proposed assignment.

c. The HAP contract may not be assigned to a new owner that is debarred, suspended or subject to a limited denial of participation under HUD regulations (see 24 Code of Federal Regulations Part 24).

d. The HAP contract may not be assigned to a new owner if HUD has prohibited such assignment because:

(1) The Federal government has instituted an administrative or judicial action against the owner or proposed new owner for violation of the Fair Housing Act or other Federal equal opportunity requirements, and such action is pending; or

(2) A court or administrative agency has determined that the owner or proposed new owner violated the Fair Housing Act or other Federal equal opportunity requirements.

e. The HAP contract may not be assigned to a new owner if the new owner (including a principal or other interested party) is the parent, child, grandparent, grandchild, sister or brother of any member of the family, unless the PHA has determined (and has notified the family of such determination) that approving the assignment, notwithstanding such relationship, would provide reasonable accommodation for a family member who is a person with disabilities.

f. The PHA may deny approval to assign the HAP contract if the owner or proposed new owner (including a principal or other interested party):

(1) Has violated obligations under a housing assistance payments contract under Section 8;

(2) Has committed fraud, bribery or any other corrupt or criminal act in connection with any Federal housing program;

(3) Has engaged in any drug-related criminal activity or any violent criminal activity;

(4) Has a history or practice of non-compliance with the HQS for units leased under the Section 8 tenantbased programs, or non-compliance with applicable housing standards for units leased with projectbased Section 8 assistance or for units leased under any other Federal housing program;

(5) Has a history or practice of failing to terminate tenancy of tenants assisted under any Federally assisted housing program for activity engaged in by the tenant, any member of the household, a guest or another person under the control of any member of the household that:

(a) Threatens the right to peaceful enjoyment of the premises by other residents;

(b) Threatens the health or safety of other residents, of employees of the PHA, or of owner employees or other persons engaged in management of the housing;

(c) Threatens the health or safety of, or the right to peaceful enjoyment of their residents by, persons residing in the immediate vicinity of the premises; or

(d) Is drug-related criminal activity or violent criminal activity;

(6) Has a history or practice of renting units that fail to meet State or local housing codes; or

(7) Has not paid State or local real estate taxes, fines or assessments.

g. The new owner must agree to be bound by and comply with the HAP contract. The agreement must be in writing, and in a form acceptable to the PHA. The new owner must give the PHA a copy of the executed agreement.

15. Written Notices. Any notice by the PHA or the owner in connection with this contract must be in writing.

16. Entire Agreement: Interpretation

a. The HAP contract contains the entire agreement between the owner and the PHA.

b. The HAP contract shall be interpreted and implemented in accordance with HUD requirements, including the HUD program regulations at 24 Code of Federal Regulations Part 982.

Part C of HAP Contract: Tenancy Addendum

1. Section 8 Voucher Program

a. The owner is leasing the contract unit to the tenant for occupancy by the tenant’s family with assistance for a tenancy under the Section 8 housing choice voucher program (voucher program) of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

b. The owner has entered into a Housing Assistance Payments Contract (HAP contract) with the PHA under the voucher program. Under the HAP contract, the PHA will make housing assistance payments to the owner to assist the tenant in leasing the unit from the owner.

2. Lease

a. The owner has given the PHA a copy of the lease, including any revisions agreed by the owner and the tenant. The owner certifies that the terms of the lease are in accordance with all provisions of the HAP contract and that the lease includes the tenancy addendum.

b. The tenant shall have the right to enforce the tenancy addendum against the owner. If there is any conflict between the tenancy addendum and any other provisions of the lease, the language of the tenancy addendum shall control.

3. Use of Contract Unit

a. During the lease term, the family will reside in the contract unit with assistance under the voucher program.

b. The composition of the household must be approved by the PHA. The family must promptly inform the PHA of the birth, adoption or court-awarded custody of a child. Other persons may not be added to the household without prior written approval of the owner and the PHA.

c. The contract unit may only be used for residence by the PHA-approved household members. The unit must be the family’s only residence. Members of the household may engage in legal profitmaking activities incidental to primary use of the unit for residence by members of the family.

d. The tenant may not sublease or let the unit.

e. The tenant may not assign the lease or transfer the unit.

4. Rent to Owner

a. The initial rent to owner may not exceed the amount approved by the PHA in accordance with HUD requirements.

b. Changes in the rent to owner shall be determined by the provisions of the lease. However, the owner may not raise the rent during the initial term of the lease.

c. During the term of the lease (including the initial term of the lease and any extension term), the rent to owner may at no time exceed:

(1) The reasonable rent for the unit as most recently

determined or redetermined by the PHA in accordance with HUD requirements, or

(2) Rent charged by the owner for comparable unassisted units in the premises.

5. Family Payment to Owner

a. The family is responsible for paying the owner any portion of the rent to owner that is not covered by the PHA housing assistance payment.

b. Each month, the PHA will make a housing assistance payment to the owner on behalf of the family in accordance with the HAP contract. The amount of the monthly housing assistance payment will be determined by the PHA in accordance with HUD requirements for a tenancy under the Section 8 voucher program.

c. The monthly housing assistance payment shall be credited against the monthly rent to owner for the contract unit.

d. The tenant is not responsible for paying the portion of rent to owner covered by the PHA housing assistance payment under the HAP contract between the owner and the PHA. A PHA failure to pay the housing assistance payment to the owner is not a violation of the lease. The owner may not terminate the tenancy for nonpayment of the PHA housing assistance payment.

e. The owner may not charge or accept, from the family or from any other source, any payment for rent of the unit in addition to the rent to owner. Rent to owner includes all housing services, maintenance, utilities and appliances to be provided and paid by the owner in accordance with the lease.

f. The owner must immediately return any excess rent payment to the tenant.

6. Other Fees and Charges

a. Rent to owner does not include cost of any meals or supportive services or furniture which may be provided by the owner.

b. The owner may not require the tenant or family members to pay charges for any meals or supportive services or furniture which may be provided by the owner. Nonpayment of any such charges is not grounds for termination of tenancy.

c. The owner may not charge the tenant extra amounts for items customarily included in rent to owner in the locality, or provided at no additional cost to unsubsidized tenants in the premises.

7. Maintenance, Utilities, and Other Services

a. Maintenance

(1) The owner must maintain the unit and premises in accordance with the HQS.

(2) Maintenance and replacement (including redecoration) must be in accordance with the standard practice for the building concerned as established by the owner.

b. Utilities and appliances

(1) The owner must provide all utilities needed to comply with the HQS.

(2) The owner is not responsible for a breach of the HQS caused by the tenant’s failure to:

(a) Pay for any utilities that are to be paid by the tenant.

(b) Provide and maintain any appliances that are to be provided by the tenant.

c. Family damage. The owner is not responsible for a breach of the HQS because of damages beyond normal wear and tear caused by any member of the household or by a guest.

d. Housing services. The owner must provide all housing services as agreed to in the lease.

8. Termination of Tenancy by Owner

a. Requirements. The owner may only terminate the tenancy in accordance with the lease and HUD requirements.

b. Grounds. During the term of the lease (the initial term of the lease or any extension term), the owner may only terminate the tenancy because of:

(1) Serious or repeated violation of the lease;

(2) Violation of Federal, State, or local law that imposes obligations on the tenant in connection with the occupancy or use of the unit and the premises;

(3) Criminal activity or alcohol abuse (as provided in

paragraph c); or

(4) Other good cause (as provided in paragraph d).

c. Criminal activity or alcohol abuse.

(1) The owner may terminate the tenancy during the term of the lease if any member of the household, a guest or another person under a resident’s control commits any of the following types of criminal activity:

(a) Any criminal activity that threatens the health or safety of, or the right to peaceful enjoyment of the premises by, other residents (including property management staff residing on the premises);

(b) Any criminal activity that threatens the health or safety of, or the right to peaceful enjoyment of their residences by, persons residing in the immediate vicinity of the premises;

(d) Any drug-related criminal activity on or near the premises.

(2) The owner may terminate the tenancy during the term of the lease if any member of the household is:

(a) Fleeing to avoid prosecution, or custody or confinement after conviction, for a crime, or attempt to commit a crime, that is a felony under the laws of the place from which the individual flees, or that, in the case of the State of New Jersey, is a high misdemeanor; or

(b) Violating a condition of probation or parole under Federal or State law.

(3) The owner may terminate the tenancy for criminal activity by a household member in accordance with this section if the owner determines that the household member has committed the criminal activity, regardless of whether the household member has been arrested or convicted for such activity.

(4) The owner may terminate the tenancy during the term of the lease if any member of the household has engaged in abuse of alcohol that threatens the health, safety or right to peaceful enjoyment of the premises by other residents.

d. Other good cause for termination of tenancy

(1) During the initial lease term, other good cause for termination of tenancy must be something the family did or failed to do.

(2) During the initial lease term or during any extension term, other good cause includes:

(a) Disturbance of neighbors,

(b) Destruction of property, or

(3) After the initial lease term, such good cause includes:

(a) The tenant’s failure to accept the owner’s offer of a new lease or revision;

(b) The owner’s desire to use the unit for personal or family use or for a purpose other than use as a residential rental unit; or

(c) A business or economic reason for termination of the tenancy (such as sale of the property, renovation of the unit, the owner’s desire to rent the unit for a higher rent).

e. Eviction by court action. The owner may only evict the tenant by a court action.

f. Owner notice of grounds

(1) At or before the beginning of a court action to evict the tenant, the owner must give the tenant a notice that specifies the grounds for termination of tenancy. The notice may be included in or combined with any owner eviction notice.

(2) The owner must give the PHA a copy of any owner eviction notice at the same time the owner notifies the tenant.

(3) Eviction notice means a notice to vacate, or a complaint or other initial pleading used to begin an eviction action under State or local law.

9. Lease: Relation to HAP Contract

If the HAP contract terminates for any reason, the lease terminates automatically.

10. PHA Termination of Assistance

The PHA may terminate program assistance for the family for any grounds authorized in accordance with HUD requirements. If the PHA terminates program assistance for the family, the lease terminates automatically.

11. Family Move Out

The tenant must notify the PHA and the owner before the family moves out of the unit.

12. Security Deposit

a. The owner may collect a security deposit from the tenant. (However, the PHA may prohibit the owner from collecting a security deposit in excess of private market practice, or in excess of amounts charged by the owner to unassisted tenants. Any such PHA-required restriction must be specified in the HAP contract.)

b. When the family moves out of the contract unit, the owner, subject to State and local law, may use the security deposit, including any interest on the deposit, as reimbursement for any unpaid rent payable by the tenant, any damages to the unit or any other amounts that the tenant owes under the lease.

c. The owner must give the tenant a list of all items charged against the security deposit, and the amount of each item. After deducting the amount, if any, used to reimburse the owner, the owner must promptly refund the full amount of the unused balance to the tenant.

d. If the security deposit is not sufficient to cover amounts the

tenant owes under the lease, the owner may collect the balance from the tenant.

13. Prohibition of Discrimination

In accordance with applicable equal opportunity statutes, Executive Orders, and regulations, the owner must not discriminate against any person because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, familial status or disability in connection with the lease.

14. Conflict with Other Provisions of Lease

a. The terms of the tenancy addendum are prescribed by HUD in accordance with Federal law and regulation, as a condition for Federal assistance to the tenant and tenant’s family under the Section 8 voucher program.

b. In case of any conflict between the provisions of the tenancy addendum as required by HUD, and any other provisions of the lease or any other agreement between the owner and the tenant, the requirements of the HUD-required tenancy addendum shall control.

15. Changes in Lease or Rent

a. The tenant and the owner may not make any change in the tenancy addendum. However, if the tenant and the owner agree to any other changes in the lease, such changes must be in writing, and the owner must immediately give the PHA a copy of such changes. The lease, including any changes, must be in accordance with the requirements of the tenancy addendum.

b. In the following cases, tenant-based assistance shall not be continued unless the PHA has approved a new tenancy in accordance with program requirements and has executed a new HAP contract with the owner:

(1) If there are any changes in lease requirements governing tenant or owner responsibilities for utilities or appliances;

(2) If there are any changes in lease provisions governing the term of the lease;

(3) If the family moves to a new unit, even if the unit is in the same building or complex.

c. PHA approval of the tenancy, and execution of a new HAP contract, are not required for agreed changes in the lease other than as specified in paragraph b.

d. The owner must notify the PHA of any changes in the amount

of the rent to owner at least sixty days before any such changes go into effect, and the amount of the rent to owner following any such agreed change may not exceed the

reasonable rent for the unit as most recently determined or redetermined by the PHA in accordance with HUD requirements.

16. Notices

Any notice under the lease by the tenant to the owner or by the owner to the tenant must be in writing.

17. Definitions

Contract unit. The housing unit rented by the tenant with assistance under the program.

Family. The persons who may reside in the unit with assistance under the program.

HAP contract. The housing assistance payments contract between the PHA and the owner. The PHA pays housing assistance payments to the owner in accordance with the HAP contract.

Household. The persons who may reside in the contract unit. The household consists of the family and any PHA-approved live-in aide. (A live-in aide is a person who resides in the unit to provide necessary supportive services for a member of the family who is a person with disabilities.)

Housing quality standards (HQS). The HUD minimum quality standards for housing assisted under the Section 8 tenant-based programs.

HUD. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

HUD requirements. HUD requirements for the Section 8 program. HUD requirements are issued by HUD headquarters, as regulations, Federal Register notices or other binding program directives.

Lease. The written agreement between the owner and the tenant for the lease of the contract unit to the tenant. The lease includes the tenancy addendum prescribed by HUD.

PHA. Public Housing Agency.

Premises. The building or complex in which the contract unit is located, including common areas and grounds.

Program. The Section 8 housing choice voucher program.

Rent to owner. The total monthly rent payable to the owner for the contract unit. The rent to owner is the sum of the portion of rent payable by the tenant plus the PHA housing assistance payment to the owner.

Section 8. Section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 United States Code 1437f).

Tenant. The family member (or members) who leases the unit from the owner.

Voucher program. The Section 8 housing choice voucher program. Under this program, HUD provides funds to an PHA for rent subsidy on behalf of eligible families. The tenancy under the lease will be assisted with rent subsidy for a tenancy under the voucher program.