USDA Issues Updates for Rural Development Property Compliance

The United States Department of Agriculture USDA Rural Development administration issued reminders in January that affordable multifamily housing communities in rural areas must maintain compliance with sections of Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards for Rural Development Multi-Family Housing. On Jan. 10, USDA released an Unnumbered Letter to provide reminders and updated guidance to the field office staff and borrowers for compliance with the Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards for Rural Development Multi-Family Housing Sections 514, 515, 516, and 521 housing programs. The letter is a reminder that owners and property managers need to ensure that they have current Accessibility Plans . In an article published by the Pennsylvania-Delaware Affordable Housing Management Association’s PennDel News, RealPage Compliance Services Vice President Greg Proctor said, “Rural Development has made clear that many previous plans either have not been completed or there are new areas of non-compliance due to changes to the property.”   Compliance highlights The article highlights the following points in RD’s notice: Borrowers receiving Federal financial assistance are subject to the requirements of Section 504 for the period during which the real property or structures are used for the purpose for which Federal financial assistance is extended or for another purpose involving the provision of similar services or benefits. Regardless of when a project was ready for occupancy, all borrowers are required to have policies and practices that do not discriminate against persons with disabilities. We are requesting that all properties within your State are brought into compliance within 12 months of the date of this issuance. Borrowers with properties having 15 dwelling units or less with a referral agreement will be considered in compliance with the 5 percent UFAS requirement for as long as the referral agreement is in place. The cost of...