Utility Allowances for Public & Section 8 Housing
HUD Requires annual updates of utility allowances for tenants of public and section 8 housing. We make this easy, with periodic reminders to our existing clients. Our utility allowance reports include easy-to follow reports that list existing utility use along with dollar amounts for each utility category.
With our methodology, we do not have to make an on-site audit of your communities unless you want us to. We can gather building, unit and structure information over the phone to keep your costs down. We provide customers’ choice of the Energy Consumption Model (ECM), or the HUD Model for reports.
Technical Energy Audits
Every five years, technical energy audits are conducted for public housing agencies. Once we receive your notice to proceed, we arrange the most convenient time for our auditors to conduct this study. Our on-site engineers are prompt, congenial and precise. They gather data by measuring the R-value of insulation, taking notes of the energy value of doors, windows and building structures – as well as that of appliances and lighting structures provided at your communities.
Once the data is received, your energy report provides your existing energy usage and a five-year recommendation for energy reduction – along with upfront expenses for each line item.
Flat Rent Reports
Annual flat rent reports can be tricky to navigate. We gather data for your un-subsidized comparable apartment communities and formulize flat rents based on a series of assets and disadvantages. We study existing housing markets within your area to provide an accurate measurement of your flat rent amounts.
HUD currently requires that any requests to lower flat rents be submitted between Fall (usually October) and the end of December of each calendar year. While housing agencies have a choice of methodologies for their flat rent reports, this is the only time of year when a request to lower can be submitted. We work hard to ensure that our clients have this option each year.
RAD Utility Allowance Baseline & Rent Reasonableness Studies
Many housing authorities have expanded their portfolio by converting communities to HUD’s Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) program. A RAD utility allowance baseline study involves gathering the billing history data from tenants. We work on your behalf – gathering information from utility providers once we have the tenant releases. Once a baseline is established, your utility report is updated with factors for two years before another baseline is conducted.
We also provide rent reasonableness studies for RAD PBRA communities – returning precise data for your system operations.
Tax Credit Utility Allowances
We work with many tax credit management agencies across the country. Our clients know that we deliver quick-turnaround and consistently accurate utility allowances using our energy consumption model.
See our tax credit utility allowance report >
