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HCV News
Did you
know many of the forms that are required to report income changes and family composition changes are available on our website? Simply visit out website at
www.seminolecountyhousing authority.org
and click
on the FORMS section.
REMEMBER,
you have 10 business days to report any changes in writing to your case worker.
In addition,
when you are searching for a new home to rent, you may encounter a landlord or owner that has never participated in the HCV
program before. Please refer them to our website as well. There is an entire section that will provide valuable information to prospective or current landlords about
the Housing Choice Voucher Program.
Landlord Corner
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Information for New and Existing Landlords |
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LANDLORD NOTICE!
FRAUD ALERT!
The Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) Contract
that each landlord signs specifically states:
Section
5-part e:
The Owner
may not charge or accept, from the family or from any other source, any payment for rent of the unit in addition to the rent
to owner.
Please be advised that charging or accepting side payments or having a separate signed
agreement, such as another lease or addendum, constitutes FRAUD on the part of both the Landlord and Tenant.
The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has issued a Federal Regulation
FR5230-01:
Section
II: Fraud Information Bulletin: Excess Rent
Purpose-This Bulletin highlights a recurring problem
in the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program. Specifically, this Bulletin discusses
the submission by landlord of false claims for periodic payments under Housing Assistance Payment contracts, where such landlords
have violated their continuing obligations to not charge tenants rent in excess of what is authorized by the HAP contracts.
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Penalty:
Pursuant to the False Claims Act, 31 U.S.C. 3729 et seq., persons
who submit to HUD or a HUD intermediary claims that are false, fictitious or fraudulent are liable for an assessment equal
to three times the amount of the claim, plus a penalty of between $5,500 and $11, 000 per claim. The United States may take the position that the entire amount of its HAP payment, not merely the amount
of the excess payment by the tenant, is the claim that should be trebled where landlords make false certifications concerning
excess rent charged. Additionally, each periodic rent payment constitutes a separate
claim.
In other words if you are accepting side payments of any kind from any source regarding a client of the Housing Choice Voucher program, THEY MUST STOP IMMEDIATELY!
The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) is currently investigating several accusations in local
jurisdictions. If you are found
to be charging or accepting any payments in addition to the amounts stated in your HAP contract or most recent addendum, YOU
MAY BE PROSECUTED!
If you wish to read the bulletin in its entirety, or any other Federal Regulations, please visit www.hudclips.com
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