HUD has created Microsoft Word files for the four model forms included in the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) final rule that was published in the Federal Register on November 16, 2016. These forms are now available on the Office of Multifamily Housing’s web page. (https://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/housing/mfh)
The forms are:
*Notice of Occupancy Rights Under VAWA;
*Model Emergency Transfer Plan;
*Certification of Domestic Violence; and
*Emergency Transfer Request.
These forms are model forms and owners may customize them as long as they contain the same information and language.
During the 12-month period following the effective date of the VAWA regulation, owners/agents (O/As) must give each household the notice of occupancy rights and the certification form either during the annual recertification or lease renewal process, or, if there will be no recertification or lease renewal for a household during the first year after the rule takes effect, through other means. The 12-month period is December 16, 2016, through December 15, 2017.
Beginning on December 16, 2017, O/As must provide the Notification of Occupancy Rights and Certification forms to applicants when assistance is being denied or at the time the new household moves into the property. The forms do not have to be provided to every applicant on a property’s waiting list.
The Office of Multifamily Housing will be updating the current VAWA certification form, HUD-91066. In the meantime, O/As should use the current form.
O/As are required to develop and implement an Emergency Transfer Plan by June 14, 2017, and should use the Departmental Emergency Transfer Plan form as a guide.
O/As may require tenants seeking an emergency transfer to provide a written Emergency transfer request. To make this process easier, O/As may provide the Departmental Request for to tenants.
Multifamily housing will be updating the Lease Addendum form, HUD-91067 in the future. In the meantime, O/As may continue to use the current form.
All O/As operating properties under HUD’s Office of Multifamily Housing should download the model documents noted above and begin the implementation process, keeping in mind the June 14, 2017, deadline for the Emergency Transfer Plan.