12 U.S.C. § 1715m — Rent supplement payments for qualified lower income families

**(a) Authorization; maximum term; maximum aggregate amount** The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (hereinafter referred to as the “Secretary”) is authorized to make, and contract to make, annual payments to a “housing owner” on behalf of “qualified tenants”, as those terms are defined herein, in such amounts and under such circumstances as are prescribed in or pursuant to this section. In no case shall a contract provide for such payments with respect to any housing for a period exceeding forty years. The aggregate amount of the contracts to make such payments shall not exceed amounts approved in appropriation Acts, and payments pursuant to such contracts shall not exceed $150,000,000 per annum prior to July 1, 1969, which maximum dollar amount shall be increased by $40,000,000, on July 1, 1969, by $100,000,000 on July 1, 1970, and by $40,000,000 on July 1, 1971. **(b) “Housing owner” defined; limitation on payments to housing owner** As used in this section, the term “housing owner” means a private nonprofit corporation or other private nonprofit legal entity, a limited dividend corporation or other limited dividend legal entity, or a cooperative housing corporation, which is a mortgagor under section 221(d)(3) of the National Housing Act [[12 U.S.C. 1715](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title12-section1715&num=0&edition=prelim)l(d)(3)] and which, after August 10, 1965, has been approved for mortgage insurance thereunder and has been approved for receiving the benefits of this section: Provided, That, except as provided in subsection (j), no payments under this section may be made with respect to any property financed with a mortgage receiving the benefits of the interest rate provided for in the proviso in section 221(d)(5) of that Act [[12 U.S.C. 1715](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title12-section1715&num=0&edition=prelim)l(d)(5)]. Such term also includes a private nonprofit corporation or other private nonprofit legal entity, a limited dividend corporation or other limited dividend legal entity, or a cooperative housing corporation, which is the owner of a rental or cooperative housing project financed under a State or local program providing assistance through loans, loan insurance, or tax abatement and which may involve either new or existing construction and which is approved for receiving the benefits of this section. Subject to the limitations provided in subsection (j), the term “housing owner” also has the meaning prescribed in such subsection. Nothing in this section shall be construed as preventing payments to a housing owner with respect to projects in which all or part of the dwelling units do not contain kitchen facilities; but of the total amount of contracts to make annual payments approved in appropriation Acts pursuant to subsection (a) after December 31, 1970, not more than 10 per centum in the aggregate shall be made with respect to such projects. **(c) Definitions** As used in this section, the term— (1) “qualified tenant” means any individual or family having an income which would qualify such individual or family for assistance under [section 1437f of title 42](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title42-section1437f&num=0&edition=prelim), except that such term shall also include any individual or family who was receiving assistance under this section on the day preceding December 21, 1979, so long as such individual or family continues to meet the conditions for such assistance which were in effect on such day; and (2) “income” means income from all sources of each member of the household, as determined in accordance with criteria prescribed by the Secretary. In determining amounts to be excluded from income, the Secretary may, in the Secretary’s discretion, take into account the number of minor children in the household and such other factors as the Secretary may determine are appropriate. The terms “qualified tenant” and “tenant” include a member of a cooperative who satisfies the foregoing requirements and who, upon resale of his membership to the cooperative, will not be reimbursed for any equity increment accumulated through payments under this section. With respect to members of a cooperative, the terms “rental” and “rental charges” mean the charges under the occupancy agreements between such members and the cooperative. **(d) Annual payment amount** The amount of the annual payment with respect to any dwelling unit shall be the lesser of (1) 70 per centum of the fair market rent, or (2) the amount by which the fair market rental for such unit exceeds 30 per centum of the tenant’s adjusted income. **(e) Criteria and procedure for determining eligibility and rental charges; recertification of income; agreements for services required in selection of tenants; delegation of authority to issue certificates** (1) For purposes of carrying out the provisions of this section, the Secretary shall establish criteria and procedures for determining the eligibility of occupants and rental charges, including criteria and procedures with respect to periodic review of tenant incomes and periodic adjustment of rental charges. (2) Procedures adopted by the Secretary hereunder shall provide for recertifications of the incomes of occupants no less frequently than annually for the purpose of adjusting rental charges and annual payments on the basis of occupants’ incomes, but in no event shall rental charges adjusted under this section for any dwelling exceed the fair market rental of the dwelling. (3) The Secretary may enter into agreements, or authorize housing owners to enter into agreements, with public or private agencies for services required in the selection of qualified tenants, including those who may be approved, on the basis of the probability of future increases in their incomes, as lessees under an option to purchase (which will give such approved qualified tenants an exclusive right to purchase at a price established or determined as provided in the option) dwellings, and in the establishment of rentals. The Secretary is authorized (without limiting his authority under any other provision of law) to delegate to any such public or private agency his authority to issue certificates pursuant to this subsection. (4) No payments under this section may be made with respect to any property for which the costs of operation (including wages and salaries) are determined by the Secretary to be greater than similar costs of operation of similar housing in the community where the property is situated. **(f) Omitted** **(g) Authority of Secretary** The Secretary is authorized to make such rules and regulations, to enter into such agreements, and to adopt such procedures as he may deem necessary or desirable to carry out the provisions of this section. Nothing contained in this section shall affect the authority of the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development with respect to any housing assisted under this section, section 221(d)(3), section 231(c)(3), or section 236 of the National Housing Act [[12 U.S.C. 1715](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title12-section1715&num=0&edition=prelim)l(d)(3), 1715v(c)(3), 1715z–1], or [section 1701q of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title12-section1701q&num=0&edition=prelim), including the authority to prescribe occupancy requirements under other provisions of law or to determine the portion of such housing which may be occupied by qualified tenants. To ensure that qualified tenants occupying that number of units with respect to which assistance was being provided under this section immediately prior to November 30, 1983, receive the benefit of assistance contracted for under this section, the Secretary shall offer annually to amend contracts entered into with owners of projects assisted under this section but not subject to mortgages insured under title II of the National Housing Act [[12 U.S.C. 1707](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title12-section1707&num=0&edition=prelim) et seq.] to provide sufficient payments to cover 100 percent of the necessary rent increases and changes in the incomes of qualified tenants, subject to the availability of authority for such purpose under [section 1437c(c) of title 42](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title42-section1437c/c&num=0&edition=prelim). The Secretary shall take such actions as may be necessary to ensure that payments, including payments that reflect necessary rent increases and changes in the incomes of tenants, are made on a timely basis for all units covered by contracts entered into under this section. **(h) Authorization of appropriations** There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this section, including, but not limited to, such sums as may be necessary to make annual payments as prescribed in this section, pay for services provided under (or pursuant to agreements entered into under) subsection (e), and provide administrative expenses. **(i) Omitted** **(j) Additional definition of housing owner; restrictions on payments** (1) For the purpose of assisting housing under this section on an experimental basis, subject to the limitations of this subsection, the term “housing owner” (in addition to the meaning prescribed in subsection (b)) includes— (A) a private nonprofit corporation or other private nonprofit legal entity, a limited dividend corporation or other limited dividend legal entity, or a cooperative housing corporation, which is a mortgagor under a mortgage which receives the benefits of the interest rate provided for in the proviso in section 221(d)(5) of the National Housing Act [[12 U.S.C. 1715](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title12-section1715&num=0&edition=prelim)l(d)(5)] and which, after August 10, 1965, has been approved for mortgage insurance under section 221(d)(3) of the National Housing Act and has been approved for receiving the benefits of this section; (B) a private nonprofit corporation or other private nonprofit legal entity which is a mortgagor under a mortgage insured under section 231(c)(3) of the National Housing Act [[12 U.S.C. 1715v(c)(3)](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title12-section1715v/c/3&num=0&edition=prelim)] and which, after August 10, 1965, has obtained final endorsement of such mortgage for mortgage insurance and has been approved for receiving the benefits of this section; (C) a private nonprofit corporation, a public body or agency, or a cooperative housing corporation, which is a borrower under [section 1701q of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title12-section1701q&num=0&edition=prelim) and has been approved for receiving the benefits of this section: Provided, That, with respect to properties financed with loans under such section made on or before August 10, 1965, payments shall not be made with respect to more than 20 per centum of the dwelling units in any property so financed; and (D) a private nonprofit corporation or other private nonprofit legal entity, a limited dividend corporation or other limited dividend legal entity, or a cooperative housing corporation, which is assisted under section 236 of the National Housing Act [[12 U.S.C. 1715z–1](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title12-section1715z-1&num=0&edition=prelim)] and which has been approved for receiving the benefits of this section: Provided, That payments shall not be made with respect to more than 20 per centum of the dwelling units in any property so financed, except that the foregoing limitation may be increased to 40 per centum of the dwelling units in any such property if the Secretary determines that such increase is necessary and desirable in order to provide additional housing for individuals and families meeting the requirements of subsection (c). (2) Of the amounts approved in appropriation Acts pursuant to subsection (a) for payments under this section in any year, not more than 5 per centum in the aggregate shall be paid with respect to properties of housing owners as defined in paragraph (1)(A) of this subsection, and not more than 5 per centum in the aggregate shall be paid with respect to properties of housing owners as defined in paragraphs (1)(B) and (1)(C) of this subsection. **(k) Repealed. Pub. L. 105–276, title V, § 514(d), Oct. 21, 1998, 112 Stat. 2548** **(l) Additional available assistance authority** Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) and any other provision of law, the Secretary may utilize additional authority under [section 1437c(c) of title 42](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title42-section1437c/c&num=0&edition=prelim) made available by appropriation Acts on or after October 1, 1979, to supplement assistance authority available under this section. The Secretary shall utilize, to the extent necessary after September 30, 1984, any authority under this section that is recaptured either as the result of the conversion of housing projects covered by assistance under this section to contracts for assistance under [section 1437f of title 42](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title42-section1437f&num=0&edition=prelim) or otherwise (1) for the purpose of making assistance payments, including amendments as provided in subsection (g), with respect to housing projects assisted under this section, but not subject to mortgages insured under the National Housing Act [[12 U.S.C. 1701](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title12-section1701&num=0&edition=prelim) et seq.], that remain covered by assistance under this section; and (2) if not required to provide assistance under this section, and notwithstanding any other provision of law, for the purpose of contracting for assistance payments under section 236(f)(2) of the National Housing Act [[12 U.S.C. 1715z–1(f)(2)](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title12-section1715z–1/f/2&num=0&edition=prelim)]. **(m) Payments for benefit of certain projects having mortgages made by State or local housing finance or government agencies** The Secretary shall, not later than 45 days after receipt of an application by the mortgagee, provide interest reduction and rental assistance payments for the benefit of projects assisted under this section whose mortgages were made by State or local housing finance agencies or State or local government agencies for a term equal to the remaining mortgage term to maturity on projects assisted under this section to the extent of— (1) unexpended balances of amounts of authority as set forth in certain letter agreements between the Department of Housing and Urban Development and such State or local housing finance agencies or State or local government agencies, and (2) existing allocation under section 236 contracts on projects whose mortgages were made by State or local housing finance agencies or State or local government agencies which are not being funded, to the extent of such excess allocation, for any purposes permitted under the provisions of this section. An application shall be eligible for assistance under the previous sentence only if the mortgagee submits the application within 548 days after February 5, 1988, along with a certification of the mortgagee that amounts are to be utilized hereunder for the purpose of either (A) reducing rents or rent increases to tenants, or (B) making repairs or otherwise increasing the economic viability of a related project. Unexpended balances referred to in the first sentence of this subsection which remain after disposition of all such applications is favorably concluded shall be rescinded. The authority conferred by this subsection to provide interest reduction and rental assistance payments shall be available only to the extent approved in appropriation Acts.