Streamlining Administrative Regulations for Public Housing: Revisions to Public Housing Flat Rents

Section 238 of the Department of Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Act, 2015 (2015 Appropriations Act) amended the requirements in the United States Housing Act of 1937 (1937 Act) for public housing agencies (PHAs) to set flat rents in public housing. These requirements were previously amended by Department of Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Act, 2014 (2014 Appropriations Act). This interim rule amends HUD regulations implementing the Fiscal Year (FY) 2014 statutory language regarding public housing flat rents to allow PHAs to take advantage of the FY 2015 authority that provides PHAs with more flexibility in setting flat rents. This interim rule supersedes the portion of a proposed rule issued by HUD earlier this year that addressed the issue of setting flat rents in public housing, and HUD continues to seek comment on this issue.