1. (a) Applicability. For participants of the Department's Multifamily HOME and NSP Direct Loan program, where Commitment of Funds occurred on or after August 23, 2013, the Department is required by 24 CFR §92.252(f) and for all National Housing Trust Fund (NHTF) participants by 24 CFR §93.302(c)(2), to review and approve or disapprove HOME/NSP/NHTF rents on an annual basis. The Department is also required by 24 CFR §92.219 and §92.252(d)(2) to approve rents where Multifamily Direct Loan funds (including TCAP-RF) are used as HOME match. Development Owners must submit documentation for the review of HOME/NSP/NHTF/TCAP-RF rents by no later than July 1st of each year as further described in the Post Award Activities Manual.
2. (b) Documentation for Review. The Department will furnish a rent approval request packet for this purpose that will include a request for Development information and an Owner's proposed rent schedule and will require submission of a current rent roll or unit status report, a copy of information used to determine gross Direct Loan rents, and utility allowance information. The Department may request additional documentation to perform a determination, as needed, including but not limited to annual operating statements, market surveys, or other information related to determining whether rents are sufficient to maintain the financial viability of a project or are in compliance with maximum rent limits.
3. (c) Review Process. Rents will be approved or disapproved within 30 days of receipt of all items required to be submitted by the Development Owner, and will be issued in the form of a signed letter from the Asset Management Division. Development Owners must keep copies of all approval letters on file at the Development site to be reviewed at the time of Compliance Monitoring reviews.
4. (d) Compliance. Development Owners for whom this section is applicable are subject to compliance under §10.622 of this chapter (relating to Special Rules Regarding Rents and Limit Violations) and may be subject to penalties under §10.625 of this chapter (relating to Events of Noncompliance). Approval of rents by the Asset Management Division will be limited to a review of the documentation submitted and will not guarantee compliance with the Department's rules or otherwise absolve an Owner of any past, current, or future non-compliance related to Department rules, guidance, Compliance Monitoring visits, or any other rules or guidance to which the Development or its Owner may be subject.

Source Note:The provisions of this §10.403 adopted to be effective February 5, 2020, 45 TexReg 722.