Section 10. General program description

The following rules and regulations will be applicable to the assistance of existing certificate and voucher rental housing units subsidized under Section 8 of the U.S. Housing Act of 1937 (42 USCS § 1437 et seq.), as amended ("section 8") and the applicable rules and regulations ("section 8 rules and regulations") 24 CFR 882 and 887 promulgated pursuant thereto. These rules and regulations are intended to provide a general description of the authority's processing requirements and are not intended to include all actions which may be involved or required. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the executive director is authorized to waive or modify any provision herein where deemed appropriate by him for good cause. These rules and regulations are subject to change at any time by the board of the authority.

The section 8 existing certificate and voucher housing assistance payments program (the "program") provides rental assistance from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development ("HUD") to eligible families and persons whose incomes do not exceed the limitations established by HUD pursuant to the section 8 rules and regulations. Once certified as income eligible under the program, such families or individuals must locate and select a rental housing unit in the private market. If such unit meets the housing quality standards established by HUD for decent, safe and sanitary housing, a lease may be executed by the owner of the unit and the family or individual, and the owner and the authority simultaneously therewith enter into a housing assistance payments contract (the "HAP contract"). The rent under the lease, plus an allowance for utilities (other than telephone) not furnished by the owner, must normally not exceed the fair market rent established by HUD for the area. Any such allowance for utilities shall be established by the authority from time to time in accordance with the section 8 rules and regulations. The amount that the tenant pays for rent and utilities is determined in accordance with the applicable section 8 rules and regulations. The difference between the rent (plus any utility allowance) and the tenant's contribution is paid as housing assistance payments ("housing assistance payments") to the owner by the authority with section 8 subsidy funds received from HUD. The housing assistance payments are applied by the owner toward the payment of the rent on the rental housing unit. The tenant pays directly to the owner the portion of the rent not paid by the authority. In certain instances, the amount of the housing assistance payments may exceed the contract rent, and the balance is paid by the authority to the tenant as a utility allowance.

The authority acts as the statewide administrator of the program by allocating its set-aside of section 8 subsidy funds received from HUD to those local governmental agencies or entities participating or wishing to participate in the program as administrative agents ("administrative agents") of the authority. The authority receives an administrative fee from HUD for its services as administrator of the program, and the authority shares this fee with the administrative agents.

Upon the completion of the moderate rehabilitation of rental housing unit(s) pursuant to the authority's rules and regulations for section 8 moderate rehabilitation program, these rules and regulations shall govern the administration of the section 8 subsidy and the HAP contract for such rental housing unit(s). The term "section 8 rules and regulations" shall, when used with respect to moderate rehabilitation units, be deemed to refer to the rules and regulations applicable to the section 8 moderate rehabilitation program.

Housing assistance payments may be made available to eligible persons and families pursuant to these rules and regulations only if and to the extent that the authority has received from HUD section 8 subsidy funds therefor.

The program shall in all respects be governed by, and administered in accordance with, the section 8 rules and regulations and all other applicable procedures and requirements imposed by HUD with respect to the program. The section 8 rules and regulations and such other procedures and requirements imposed by HUD shall control over any inconsistent provision herein.

The executive director or any authorized officer of the authority acting under his supervision is authorized to act on behalf of the authority with respect to all matters hereunder. The executive director or such authorized officer may delegate all or part of his authority to any employee who is acting under his control and supervision.

Historical Notes

Derived from VR400-02-0006 § 1, eff. July 1, 1989; amended, Volume 11, Issue 17, eff. May 1, 1995.

Statutory Authority

§ 36-55.30:3 of the Code of Virginia.