Finding Text
Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Federal Program Titles: Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers Program Federal Assistance Listing Numbers: 14.871 Noncompliance – N. Special Tests and Provisions - Reasonable Rent Non Compliance Material to the Financial Statements: No Significant Deficiency in Internal Control over Compliance for Special Tests and Provisions Criteria: Reasonable Rent. The Authority must do the following: The Authority must determine that the rent to owner is reasonable at the time of initial leasing. Also, the Authority must determine reasonable rent during the term of the contract (a) before any increase in the rent to owner, and (b) at the HAP contract anniversary if there is a 5 percent decrease in the published Fair Market Rent in effect 60 days before the HAP contract anniversary. The Authority must maintain records to document the basis for the determination that rent to owner is a reasonable rent (initially and during the term of the HAP contract) (24 CFR sections 982.4, 982.54(d)(15), 982.158(f)(7), and 982.507). Condition: Based upon inspection of the Authority’s files and discussion with management, there were newly leased units, including unit transfers, for which the evaluation of rent reasonableness was not performed. Context: There were approximately twelve (12) newly leased units, including unit transfers. Of a sample size of two (2) units, two (2) units' documentation of reasonable rent was not available for examination. Our sample size is statistically valid. Known Questioned Costs: Unknown Cause: There is a significant deficiency in internal controls over the compliance for the special tests and provisions type of compliance related to reasonable rent. The Authority has not properly considered, designed, implemented, maintained and monitored a system of internal controls that reasonably assures the program is in compliance. Effect: The Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers program is in non-compliance with the special tests and provisions type of compliance related to reasonable rent. Recommendation: We recommend the Authority design and implement internal control procedures related to reasonable rent that will reasonably assure compliance with the Uniform Guidance and the compliance supplement. Authority Response: The Authority has recognized the significant deficiency in the Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers Program and has started to implement internal control procedures related to reasonable rent that will ensure compliance with federal regulations. Starting in August 2025, the Authority hired a third party vendor to complete rent reasonableness determinations for all Housing Choice Voucher units.