The terms Fair Market Rent (FMR), HUD, and Public Housing Agency (PHA) are defined in 24 CFR part 5.

ACC (Annual Contributions Contract). The contract between the State Agency and HUD under which HUD commits to provide the Agency with the funds needed to make housing assistance payments to the Owner and to pay the Agency for administrative fees in cases where it is eligible for them.

Agency. See State Agency.

Agreement—(Agreement to enter into Housing Assistance Payments Contract). The agreement between the owner and the State Agency on new construction and substantial rehabilitation projects which provides that, upon satisfactory completion of the project in accordance with the HUD-approved proposal or final proposal, the Agency will enter into a Housing Assistance Payments Contract with the owner.

Annual Income. As defined in part 5 of this title.

Assisted unit. A dwelling unit eligible for assistance under a Contract.

Application. A request, submitted by a State Agency, to assign a portion of its set-aside to a specific jurisdiction or project.

Contract—(Housing Assistance Payments Contract). The Contract entered into by the owner and the State Agency upon satisfactory completion of a new construction or substantial rehabilitation project which sets forth the rights and duties of the parties with respect to the project and the payments under the Contract.

Contract Rent. The total amount of rent specified in the Contract as payable by the Agency and the tenant to the owner for an assisted unit. In the case of the rental of only a manufactured home space, “contract rent” is the total rent specified in the Contract as payable by the Agency and the tenant to the owner for rental of the space, including fees or charges for management and maintenance services with respect to the space, but excluding utility charges for the manufactured home.

Covered housing provider. For the Section 8 Housing Assistance Payments Programs—State Housing Agencies, “covered housing provider,” as such term is used in HUD's regulations in 24 CFR part 5, subpart L (Protection for Victims of Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, or Stalking), refers to the HFA or owner, as applicable given the responsibilities of the covered housing provider as set forth in 24 CFR part 5, subpart L. For example, the PHA is the covered housing provider responsible for providing the notice of occupancy rights under VAWA and certification form described at 24 CFR 5.2005(a), though the PHA may provide this notice and form to owners, and charge owners with distributing the notice and form to tenants. In addition, the owner is the covered housing provider that may choose to bifurcate a lease as described at 24 CFR 5.2009(a), while both the PHA and owner are both responsible for ensuring that an emergency transfer plan is in place in accordance with 24 CFR 5.2005(e), and the owner is responsible for implementing the emergency transfer plan when an emergency occurs.

Decent, safe, and sanitary. Housing is decent, safe, and sanitary if it meets the physical condition requirements in 24 CFR part 5, subpart G.

Existing Housing. Housing assisted under a contract entered into pursuant to 24 CFR part 882. (See subpart E of this part.)

Fast Track procedures. The procedures contained in subpart D for processing and construction of new construction and substantial rehabilitation projects. In order to be eligible for these procedures, a State Agency must provide permanent financing without Federal mortgage insurance or a Federal guarantee except coinsurance under Section 244 of the National Housing Act.

Financing Cost Contingency (FCC). The maximum amount of contract authority which may be used to amend the Annual Contributions Contract (ACC) and Housing Assistance Payments Contract (HAP Contract) to provide increased contract rents to cover higher than anticipated debt service on the loan for a new construction or substantial rehabilitation project.

Gross Rent. As defined in part 813 of this chapter.

Household type. The three household types are (1) elderly and handicapped, (2) family, and (3) large family.

Housing Assistance Payment. The payment made to the Owner of an assisted unit by the State Agency as provided in the Contract. Where the unit is leased to an eligible Family, the payment is the difference between the Contract Rent and the Tenant Rent. An additional payment is made to the Family when the Utility Allowance is greater than Total Tenant Payment. In the case of a Family renting only a manufactured home space as provided in §883.303(i), the Housing Assistance Payment is the difference between Gross Rent and the Total Tenant Payment, but such payment may not exceed the Contract Rent for the space, and no additional payment is made to the Family. A Housing Assistance Payment, known as a “vacancy payment”, may be made to the Owner when an assisted unit is vacant, as provided in §883.712.

Housing Assistance Plan (HAP). A housing plan submitted by a unit of general local or State government and approved by HUD as being acceptable under the standards of 24 CFR part 570.

Housing type. The three housing types are new construction, substantial rehabilitation, and existing housing/moderate rehabilitation.

HFA (Housing Finance Agency). A State Agency which provides permanent financing for newly constructed or substantially rehabilitated housing processed under subpart D and financed without Federal mortgage insurance or a Federal guarantee except coinsurance under Section 244 of the National Housing Act.

Independent Public Accountant. Certified Public Accountant or a licensed or registered public accountant, none of which has a business relationship with the owner or State Agency except for the performance of audit, systems work and tax preparation. If not certified, the Independent Public Accountant must have been licensed or registered by a regulatory authority of a State or other political subdivision of the United States on or before December 31, 1970. In States that do not regulate the use of the title “public accountant,” only Certified Public Accountants may be used.

Moderate rehabilitation. The improvement of dwelling units in accordance with HUD requirements, under 24 CFR part 882.

New construction. Housing for which construction starts after execution of an Agreement, or housing which is already under construction when the Agreement is executed provided that:

(a) At the date an application is submitted to HUD, a substantial amount of construction (generally at least 25 percent) remains to be completed;

(b) At the date of application to HUD, the project cannot be completed and occupied by eligible families without assistance under this part; and

(c) At the time construction was initiated, all of the parties reasonably expected that the project would be completed without assistance under this part.

Override. The difference between an HFA's cost of borrowing on obligations issued to finance a new construction or substantial rehabilitation project and the lending rate at which they provide permanent financing for the project.

Owner. Any private person or entity (including a cooperative) or a public entity, having the legal right to lease or sublease dwelling units assisted under this part. The term Owner also includes the person or entity submitting a proposal to a State Agency under this part.

Partially-assisted Project. A project for non-elderly families under this part which includes more than 50 units, of which the number of assisted units does not exceed the greater of (a) 20 percent of the units in the project, rounded to the next highest whole number of units, or (b) the minimum percentage required by State law as a condition of HFA permanent financing, if the Assistant Secretary approves such minimum percentage for purposes of applicability of this definition.

Permanent financing. An Agency is determined to provide permanent financing if HUD determines that (a) the Agency permanently finances a project from its own funds, including the sale of its obligations; or (b) permanent financing for projects developed or administered by the Agency is provided by the State government or by an agency or instrumentality thereof other than the Agency; or (c) the permanent financing (by a public or private entity other than the Agency) is backed by the commitment of the Agency to assume the risks of loss on default or foreclosure of the loan.

Project Account. A specifically identified and segregated account for each project which is established in accordance with §883.604(b) out of the amounts by which the maximum Annual Contributions Contract commitment exceeds the amount actually paid out under the ACC each year.

Proposal. A proposal for a project that is submitted by an HFA to HUD for Section 8 assistance under this part.

Rent. In the case of an assisted unit in a cooperative project, rent means the carrying charges payable to the cooperative with respect to occupancy of the unit.

Replacement cost—(a) New construction. The estimated construction cost of the project when the proposed improvements are completed. The replacement cost may include the land, the physical improvements, utilities within the boundaries of the land, architect's fees, miscellaneous charges incident to construction as approved by the Assistant Secretary.

(b) Substantial rehabilitation. The sum of the “as is” value before rehabilitation of the property as determined by the Agency and the estimated cost of rehabilitation, including carrying and finance charges.

Single Room Occupancy (SRO) Housing. A unit for occupancy by a single eligible individual capable of independent living, which does not contain food preparation and/or sanitary facilities and is located within a multifamily structure consisting of more than 12 units.

Secretary. The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (or designee).

Small Project. A project for non-elderly families under this part which includes a total of 50 or fewer units (assisted and unassisted).

State Agency (Agency). An agency which has been notified by HUD in accordance with §883.203 that it is authorized to apply for a set-aside and/or to use the Fast Track Procedures of this part.

Substantial rehabilitation. (a) The improvement of a property to decent, safe and sanitary condition in accordance with the standards of this part from a condition below these standards. Substantial Rehabilitation may vary in degree from gutting and extensive reconstruction to the cure of substantial accumulation of deferred maintenance. Cosmetic improvements alone do not qualify as Substantial Rehabilitation under this definition.

(b) Substantial Rehabilitation may also include renovation, alteration or remodeling for the conversion or adaptation of structurally sound property to the design and condition required for use under this part, or the repair or replacement of major building systems or components in danger of failure.

(c) Housing on which rehabilitation work has already started when the Agreement is executed is eligible for assistance as a Substantial Rehabilitation project under this part provided:

(1) At the date of application to HUD, a substantial amount of construction (generally at least 25 percent) remains to be completed;

(2) At the date of application to HUD, the project cannot be completed and occupied by eligible families without assistance under this part; and

(3) At the time construction was initiated, all of the parties reasonably expected that the project would be completed without assistance under this part.

Tenant Rent. The monthly amount defined in, and determined in accordance with part 813 of this chapter.

Total Tenant Payment. The monthly amount defined in, and determined in accordance with part 813 of this chapter.

Utility Allowance. As defined in part 813 of this chapter, made or approved by HUD.

Utility reimbursement. As defined in part 813 of this chapter.

Vacancy payments. The housing assistance payment made to the owner by the State Agency for a vacant, assisted unit if certain conditions are fulfilled as provided in the Contract. The amount of vacancy payment varies with the length of the vacancy period and is less after the first 60 days of any vacancy.

Very Low-Income Family. As defined in part 813 of this chapter.

[45 FR 6889, Jan. 30, 1980, as amended at 45 FR 56326, Aug. 22, 1980; 48 FR 12708, Mar. 28, 1983; 49 FR 17449, Apr. 24, 1984; 49 FR 19946, May 10, 1984; 61 FR 5213, Feb. 9, 1996; 61 FR 13592, Mar. 27, 1996; 63 FR 46579, Sept. 1, 1998; 70 FR 77744, Dec. 30, 2005; 81 FR 80813, Nov. 16, 2016]