3 - PUBLIC HEARING ANNUAL ACTION PLAN

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Administrative Plan 4/1/2016 Page 17-41 SAHA Policy If an owner’s HAP contract allows vacancy payments to be made, and the owner wishes to receive vacancy payments, the owner must have properly notified SAHA of the vacancy in accordance with the policy in Section 17-VI.F. regarding filling vacancies. In order for a vacancy payment request to be considered, it must be made within 14 days of the end of the period for which the owner is requesting the vacancy payment. The request must include the required owner certifications and SAHA may require the owner to provide documentation to support the request. If the owner does not provide the information requested by SAHA within 14 days of SAHA’s request, no vacancy payments will be made. 17-IX.C. TENANT RENT TO OWNER [24 CFR 983.353] The tenant rent is the portion of the rent to owner paid by the family. The amount of tenant rent is determined by SAHA in accordance with HUD requirements. Any changes in the amount of tenant rent will be effective on the date stated in SAHA notice to the family and owner. The family is responsible for paying the tenant rent (total tenant payment minus the utility allowance). The amount of the tenant rent determined by SAHA is the maximum amount the owner may charge the family for rental of a contract unit. The tenant rent covers all housing services, maintenance, equipment, and utilities to be provided by the owner. The owner may not demand or accept any rent payment from the tenant in excess of the tenant rent as determined by SAHA. The owner must immediately return any excess payment to the tenant. Tenant and SAHA Responsibilities The family is not responsible for the portion of rent to owner that is covered by the housing assistance payment and the owner may not terminate the tenancy of an assisted family for nonpayment by SAHA. Likewise, SAHA is responsible only for making the housing assistance payment to the owner in accordance with the HAP contract. SAHA is not responsible for paying tenant rent, or any other claim by the owner, including damage to the unit. SAHA may not use housing assistance payments or other program funds (including administrative fee reserves) to pay any part of the tenant rent or other claim by the owner. Utility Reimbursements If the amount of the utility allowance exceeds the total tenant payment, SAHA must pay the amount of such excess to the tenant as a reimbursement for tenant-paid utilities, and the tenant rent to the owner must be zero. SAHA may pay the utility reimbursement directly to the family or to the utility supplier on behalf of the family. If SAHA chooses to pay the utility supplier directly, SAHA must notify the family of the amount paid to the utility supplier. SAHA Policy SAHA will make utility reimbursements to the family. 3-429