Finding 1238421 (2025-002)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
P
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2025
Accepted
2026-09-29
Audit: 413281
Organization: New Hope Housing, Inc. (TX)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: There are discrepancies between the rental rates recorded in the property management system and those in signed lease agreements.
  • Impacted Requirements: The lack of a consistent review process for rental rates violates internal control standards set by management.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Establish a secondary review process for rental agreements and implement periodic reconciliations between rent rolls and lease files.

Finding Text

Finding #2025-002 – Significant Deficiency and Other Noncompliance. Federal Awards: U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Passed through City of Houston, Assistance Listing #: 14.239, Contract number: 4600016100, 4600008347, 4600015112, 4600013379, 460000866, 4600009893, 4600010749, and 03-0774/FC55324, Contract period: Grant agreement expires 15-30 years from the date of completion. U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Passed through Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs, Assistance Listing #: 14.239, Contract number: 92230123418 and 1000084, Contract period: Grant agreement expires 20-30 years from the date of completion. Criteria: Management of New Hope Housing, Inc. and Affiliates is responsible for establishing and maintaining an effective system of internal control over tenant rent files. This system must ensure that monthly rental income in the property management system is in agreement with the base rent terms in the signed lease agreements and amendments. Condition and context: In a sample of 40 tenant files, we noted four instances where the monthly rental rate recorded on the property’s rent roll did not match the rate authorized in the signed lease contract. Cause: There are no consistent processes in place for a secondary review of the rental rates in the lease agreement to those actually invoiced in the property management system. Effect: Potential understatement or overstatement of scheduled rental revenue and errors of rent charged to tenants. Recommendation: Implement a secondary review of rental agreements and rates per the property management system. Consider periodic reconciliation compliance procedures that compares a sample of active rent rolls directly against executed lease files. Views of responsible officials and planned corrective actions: Management agrees with the finding. See Corrective Action Plan.

Corrective Action Plan

Finding #2025-002 – Significant Deficiency and Other Noncompliance. Federal Awards: U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Passed through City of Houston, Assistance Listing #: 14.239, Contract number: 4600016100, 4600008347, 4600015112, 4600013379, 460000866, 4600009893, 4600010749, and 03-0774/FC55324, Contract period: Grant agreement expires 15-30 years from the date of completion. U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Passed through Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs, Assistance Listing #: 14.239, Contract number: 92230123418 and 1000084, Contract period: Grant agreement expires 20-30 years from the date of completion. Condition and context: In a sample of 40 tenant files, we noted four instances where the monthly rental rate recorded on the property’s rent roll did not match the rate authorized in the signed lease contract. Recommendation: Implement a secondary review of rental agreements and rates per the property management system. Consider periodic reconciliation compliance procedures that compares a sample of active rent rolls directly against executed lease files. Planned corrective action: Effective October 1, 2026, NHH’s Property Management team will conduct monthly reconciliations comparing a sample of active rent rolls and property management system records directly against executed lease agreements and amendments. A minimum of 10% of active tenant files at each property will be reviewed monthly. Any discrepancies identified will be corrected promptly. NHH’s Compliance team will perform quarterly oversight reviews beginning January 2027 to verify that the monthly reconciliations are completed and documented and that identified discrepancies are resolved. NHH’s Vice President of Property Management and Maintenance will review the quarterly reconciliations. Responsible officer: Stacey Lastovica, Vice President of Property Management and Maintenance. Estimated completion date: Monthly Property Management reconciliations will begin on October 1, 2026, with quarterly Compliance oversight beginning in January 2027. These controls will remain ongoing.

Categories

Significant Deficiency Internal Control / Segregation of Duties

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1238420 2025-002
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
21.027 CORONAVIRUS STATE AND LOCAL FISCAL RECOVERY FUNDS $18.54M
14.228 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANTS/STATE'S PROGRAM AND NON-ENTITLEMENT GRANTS IN HAWAII $13.20M
14.239 HOME INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIPS PROGRAM $10.98M