A. J. Johnson

How Land Use and Zoning Reforms Can Increase the Availability of Affordable Housing

May 29, 2023

At present, there is a shortfall of more than 1.5 million affordable housing units in the United States (see Overcoming the Nation’s Daunting Housing Supply Shortage, Urban Institute, 2021). As a result of the housing shortage, families pay more for…

HUD Sends Reminder on Owner Obligations Regarding Tenant Screening and Notice Requirements

May 28, 2023

A. J. Johnson

The Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) recently published a reminder for HUD multifamily-assisted property owners of relevant legal requirements relating to the use of tenant screening reports and the disclosure of the contents of those reports to tenants. …

HUD Issues Guidance on Treatment of Solar Benefits for Residents in Master-metered Buildings

May 20, 2023

A. J. Johnson

The Acting Director for the HUD Office of Asset Management and Portfolio Oversight recently provided guidance for participants in HUD Multifamily Housing Programs regarding how to handle the benefits of community solar programs that are now being offered by a…

HUD Publishes 2023 Income Limits

May 16, 2023

A. J. Johnson

On May 15, 2023, HUD published the 2023 income limits for HUD programs as well as for the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit and Tax-Exempt Bond programs. The limits are effective on May 15, 2023. The limits for the LIHTC and…

Owner Successfully Uses “Mrs. Murphy” Fair Housing Exemption

May 13, 2023

A. J. Johnson

In Weilburg v. Castellane, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of NY ruled in favor of an apartment building owner in a religious discrimination case. The fair housing suit was brought by one of the tenants on the…

A. J. Johnson Partners with Mid-Atlantic AHMA for June Affordable Housing Training

May 9, 2023

A. J. Johnson

During the month of June 2023, A. J. Johnson will be partnering with the MidAtlantic Affordable Housing Management Association for six training sessions intended for real estate professionals, particularly those in the affordable multifamily housing field. Four of the sessions…

Department of Justice Shows Interest in Algorithm-Based Tenant Selection Case

May 7, 2023

A. J. Johnson

Algorithms are increasingly being used by landlords and property managers to select tenants. These algorithms use data such as credit scores, criminal records, and rental history to determine a potential tenant’s suitability. One common algorithm used in tenant selection is…

Understanding the Federal Fair Housing Testing Program

April 17, 2023

A. J. Johnson

Since its creation in 1991, the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Fair Housing Testing Program has used covert testing to uncover evidence of discrimination and unlawful treatment by landlords, lenders, places of public accommodation, and others in all 50 states and…

Guest Cards – A Fair Housing Best Practice

April 15, 2023

A. J. Johnson

Housing operators are constantly looking for ways to prevent fair housing complaints, and when the inevitable complaints do come, managers need to apply an effective defense. One of the best (and most overlooked) tools for defense against a fair housing…

How Public/Private Partnerships Increase the Stock of Affordable Housing

April 14, 2023

A. J. Johnson

Some of the most successful affordable housing projects in the United States are the result of public/private partnerships. An integrated approach to affordable housing leads to the most thriving developments. This “integrated approach” amplifies the connective role that housing plays…

A. J. Johnson Partners with Mid-Atlantic AHMA for May Training on Affordable Housing

April 10, 2023

A. J. Johnson

During the month of May 2023, A. J. Johnson will be partnering with the MidAtlantic Affordable Housing Management Association for three training sessions intended for real estate professionals, particularly those in the affordable multifamily housing field. The three sessions will…

HOTMA Final Rule – Impact on HOPWA Program

March 27, 2023

A. J. Johnson

The Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) has released a Final Rule implementing the Housing Opportunity Through Modernization Act of 2016 (HOTMA). This final rule was published in the Federal Register on February 14, 2023. With the exception of…

HOTMA Final Rule – Impact on the Housing Trust Fund (HTF) Program

March 25, 2023

A. J. Johnson

The Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) has released a Final Rule implementing the Housing Opportunity Through Modernization Act of 2016 (HOTMA). This final rule was published in the Federal Register on February 14, 2023. With the exception of…

HOTMA Final Rule – Impact on the HOME Program

March 18, 2023

A. J. Johnson

The Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) has released a Final Rule implementing the Housing Opportunity Through Modernization Act of 2016 (HOTMA). This final rule was published in the Federal Register on February 14, 2023. With the exception of…

A. J. Johnson Partners with Mid-Atlantic AHMA for April Training on Affordable Housing

March 15, 2023

A. J. Johnson

During the month of April 2023, A. J. Johnson will be partnering with the MidAtlantic Affordable Housing Management Association for three training sessions intended for real estate professionals, particularly those in the affordable multifamily housing field. The three sessions will…

Biden Administration Introduces “Renters Bill of Rights”

March 12, 2023

A. J. Johnson

In late January 2023, the Biden administration released a Blueprint for a Renters Bill of Rights. This blueprint describes federal actions around five guiding renter protections: Safe, Quality, Accessible, and Affordable Housing; Clear and Fair Leases; Education; Enforcement and Enhancement…

HOTMA Final Rule – Limitation on Eligibility for Assistance Based on Assets

March 7, 2023

A. J. Johnson

The Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) has released a Final Rule implementing the Housing Opportunity Through Modernization Act of 2016 (HOTMA). This final rule was published in the Federal Register on February 14, 2023. With the exception of…

Rural Development to Implement Model Lease for Section 515 Program

March 5, 2023

A. J. Johnson

The Biden Administration has instructed the U.S. Department of Agriculture to institute a broad set of actions with regard to leases in the Rural Development (RD) Section 515 program. Specifically, RD is developing a “model” lease for the Section 515…

HOTMA Final Rule – Educational Assistance

March 4, 2023

A. J. Johnson

The Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) has released a Final Rule implementing the Housing Opportunity Through Modernization Act of 2016 (HOTMA). This final rule was published in the Federal Register on February 14, 2023. With the exception of…

HOTMA Final Rule – New Rules on Hardship Exemptions

March 3, 2023

A. J. Johnson

The Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) has released a Final Rule implementing the Housing Opportunity Through Modernization Act of 2016 (HOTMA). This final rule was published in the Federal Register on February 14, 2023. With the exception of…

Federal Court Rules that Applicant May Request Reasonable Accommodation on Behalf of Roommate

February 26, 2023

A. J. Johnson

In McClendon v. Bresler, the Ninth Circuit affirmed a district court decision that statements made in an email by a rental co-applicant to an apartment owner supporting the need for a reasonable accommodation (a support animal) suffice as a request…

HOTMA Final Rule – Revised Exclusions to Income

February 19, 2023

A. J. Johnson

The Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) has released a Final Rule implementing the Housing Opportunity Through Modernization Act of 2016 (HOTMA). This final rule was published in the Federal Register on February 14, 2023. With the exception of…

A. J. Johnson Partners with Mid-Atlantic AHMA for March Training on Affordable Housing

February 18, 2023

A. J. Johnson

During the month of March 2023, A. J. Johnson will be partnering with the MidAtlantic Affordable Housing Management Association for four training sessions intended for real estate professionals, particularly those in the affordable multifamily housing field. All four sessions will…

HOTMA Final Rule – Overview of Program Changes

February 11, 2023

A. J. Johnson

The Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) has released a Final Rule implementing the Housing Opportunity Through Modernization Act of 2016 (HOTMA). This final rule has not yet been published in the Federal Register. Publication in the Federal Register…

HUD Announces Move to NSPIRE Protocol

February 4, 2023

A. J. Johnson

The Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) has published a notice that effective April 1, 2023, HUD-assisted sites enrolled in HUD’s NSPIRE demonstration program will change from receiving “advisory” housing safety inspections to receiving “inspections or record.” NSPIRE stands…

HUD Releases Final Rule Implementing HOTMA

February 3, 2023

A. J. Johnson

The Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) has released a Final Rule implementing the Housing Opportunity Through Modernization Act of 2016 (HOTMA). This final rule has not yet been published in the Federal Register. Publication in the Federal Register…

HUD Announces New Proposed “Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing Rule”

January 29, 2023

A. J. Johnson

The Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) is preparing to publish a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in the Federal Register. The rule will be titled “Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH),” and is designed to meet President Biden’s call to…

Reminder- HUD CO Alarm Requirement in Effect

January 28, 2023

A. J. Johnson

All HUD-assisted units with carbon monoxide sources must have carbon monoxide (CO) alarms or detectors installed. This requirement was in place as of December 27, 2022. The requirement applies to units covered under Public Housing, Project-Based Rental Assistance, Housing Choice…

Dealing with Drug Use Without Violating Fair Housing Law

January 22, 2023

A. J. Johnson

Drug users are not a protected class under either federal or state fair housing laws. Drug abuse may result in criminal activity, violence, and property destruction. However, drug and alcohol dependency are also considered diseases and may be considered “disabilities”…

New Age Requirement for Required Minimum Distributions

January 13, 2023

A. J. Johnson

Affordable housing managers know that regular distributions from retirement accounts are considered income, and when the distributions begin, the accounts are no longer considered assets. For this reason, knowing when a person is required to begin taking minimum distributions is…

Posts by A. J. Johnson

How Land Use and Zoning Reforms Can Increase the Availability of Affordable Housing

HUD Sends Reminder on Owner Obligations Regarding Tenant Screening and Notice Requirements

HUD Issues Guidance on Treatment of Solar Benefits for Residents in Master-metered Buildings

HUD Publishes 2023 Income Limits

Owner Successfully Uses “Mrs. Murphy” Fair Housing Exemption

A. J. Johnson Partners with Mid-Atlantic AHMA for June Affordable Housing Training

Department of Justice Shows Interest in Algorithm-Based Tenant Selection Case

Understanding the Federal Fair Housing Testing Program

Guest Cards – A Fair Housing Best Practice

How Public/Private Partnerships Increase the Stock of Affordable Housing

A. J. Johnson Partners with Mid-Atlantic AHMA for May Training on Affordable Housing

HOTMA Final Rule – Impact on HOPWA Program

HOTMA Final Rule – Impact on the Housing Trust Fund (HTF) Program

HOTMA Final Rule – Impact on the HOME Program

A. J. Johnson Partners with Mid-Atlantic AHMA for April Training on Affordable Housing

Biden Administration Introduces “Renters Bill of Rights”

HOTMA Final Rule – Limitation on Eligibility for Assistance Based on Assets

Rural Development to Implement Model Lease for Section 515 Program

HOTMA Final Rule – Educational Assistance

HOTMA Final Rule – New Rules on Hardship Exemptions

Federal Court Rules that Applicant May Request Reasonable Accommodation on Behalf of Roommate

HOTMA Final Rule – Revised Exclusions to Income

A. J. Johnson Partners with Mid-Atlantic AHMA for March Training on Affordable Housing

HOTMA Final Rule – Overview of Program Changes

HUD Announces Move to NSPIRE Protocol

HUD Releases Final Rule Implementing HOTMA

HUD Announces New Proposed “Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing Rule”

Reminder- HUD CO Alarm Requirement in Effect

Dealing with Drug Use Without Violating Fair Housing Law

New Age Requirement for Required Minimum Distributions

Online Training

Guidance

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