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Fostering Collaboration with State and Local Government Inspection and Code Enforcement Officials

This memorandum is intended to foster greater collaboration with state and local government inspection and code enforcement officials in cases where a project receiving projectbased rental assistance from HUD receives a score below 60 or where state or local officials identify code violations.

Fostering Collaboration with State and Local Government Inspection and Code Enforcement Officials
 
This memorandum is intended to foster greater collaboration with state and local government inspection and code enforcement officials in cases  where a project receiving projectbased rental assistance from HUD receives a score below 60 or where state or local officials identify code violations.  Section 219 of Division H, Title II, of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020 (“Section 219”) and previous appropriations bills require HUD to issue  a Notice of Default of Housing Assistance Payments (HAP) Contract (NOD) to owners in cases where a project receives an inspection score below  60. The statute also requires HUD to provide local government with a copy of the NOD as well1. However, after publishing the 2020 Appropriation,  Congress took the additional step of requiring that the Department issue guidance to local field staff to improve collaboration and leverage local and  regional coordination between and among field offices and units of local government (including building inspectors) to monitor and assist troubled  properties, enforce corrective actions as necessary and hold owners accountable for meeting the terms and conditions of business agreements with  HUD.

To fulfill this requirement we ask that Regional and Satellite offices reach out to state and local government inspection officials to determine if and how we can better share HUD's inspection results and be aware of state and local code enforcement actions in cases where the physical condition of a project may threaten the health and safety of residents. Local code enforcement can play an important role in support of HUD's efforts to hold owners accountable for property conditions. Since Field Policy and Management (FPM) staff are also responsible for communicating the priorities and policies of the Secretary and for developing community relationships, it may be useful to request their help in establishing and supporting these relationships. 

In addition to Regional and Satellite efforts to encourage more collaboration with state and local government inspection and code enforcement officials, it should be noted that HUD's Real Estate Assessment Center (REAC) is exploring ways to exchange physical condition data  with localities through the NSPIRE Demonstration, which will take place over the next two years. The new NSPIRE model and regulations will require that owners notify the Department of local code violations through the owner self-inspection process. if you have any questions, please contact Brandt Witte at (202) 402-2614 or at Brandt.T.Witte @hud.gov.

Click here to view the memorandum as a PDF

 

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