HUD Returns to In-Person Management and Occupancy Reviews

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Office of Multifamily Housing has announced a reinstatement of in-person Management and Occupancy Reviews (MORs) by Performance-Based Contract Administrators (PBCAs) beginning Jan. 1, 2024, superseding pandemic-era guidance regarding remote MORs. MORs are designed to verify property compliance with HUD regulations and contracts and are typically conducted by PBCAs every one to three years for each property on a risk-based schedule.

During the height of the pandemic, HUD allowed MORs to be conducted with remote elements, such as allowing PBCAs to enter a vacant unit instead of an inhabited one or to receive files virtually ahead of the visit. HUD’s recent memo highlights the value the agency sees in completely on-site MORs, including the opportunity to receive feedback from residents and to interview staff in person, to observe property conditions, to evaluate files and records, and to protect tenants’ personal information. PBCAs will now be required to conduct MORs in person unless an alternative method is approved by HUD in advance. Authorization for an alternative could be based on federal, state, or local laws; health codes; or emerging health and safety issues.

The memo refers only to MORs conducted by PBCAs – not HUD-conducted MORs at Section 202 Project Rental Assistance Contract (PRAC) properties. Find more information from LeadingAge National here.

Contact: Annalyse Komoroske Denio, akomoroskedenio@leadingageny.org, 518-867-8866