Chapter 1 - San Diego Housing Commission

Chapter 10 – Housing Quality Standards, Inspections, and Utility Allowances
[24 CFR Part 982, Subpart I]
correction(s) are not made within the 30-day time frame, SDHC will terminate assistance to the family,
after providing an opportunity for an informal hearing. In these cases, a Housing Supervisor must
approve extensions. The HAP will not be abated for items that are the family's responsibility.
If the tenant is responsible and corrections are not made, the HAP Contract will terminate when
assistance is terminated.
O. MOVING FORWARD: STANDARDIZED UTILITY ALLOWANCES
For Moving Forward participants, the utility allowance will be calculated using the lesser of the voucher
size or unit size. SDHC will set two utility schedules. The two schedules will provide each household
responsible for tenant supplied utilities with the average allowance based upon the unit bedroom size.
One schedule will be applied for households that have sewer/water included in the utility allowance and
one for those that do not have sewer/water included. Standardized utility allowances will only apply to
those households that are currently receiving a utility allowance, or moving to a unit where they are
required to pay for utilities.
P. UTILITY ALLOWANCE AND REIMBURSEMENT PAYMENTS [24 CFR 982.153, 982.517]
The same Utility Allowance Schedule is used for other (non-Moving Forward) tenant-based programs and
all building types. The schedule will be based on information available from local utility companies.
For families that provide their own range and refrigerator, SDHC will establish an allowance adequate
for the family to purchase or rent a range or refrigerator, even if the family already owns either
appliance.
SDHC will review the utility allowance schedule annually. If the review finds a utility rate has changed by
10% or more since the last revision, the schedule will be revised to reflect updated rates for all utilities.
The revised utility allowance will be applied to participant family’s rent calculation at their next
recertification.
On request from a family that includes a person with a disability, SDHC will approve a utility allowance
that is higher than the applicable amount on the utility allowance schedule if a higher utility allowance is
needed as a reasonable accommodation to accommodate a person with a disability. SDHC will review
six months of the family’s utility expenses to determine the average. The determined averaged amount
will be used as the utility allowance schedule for an accommodation for persons with a disability. This
may be reviewed on an annual basis at recertification.
Where the calculation on the HUD 50058 results in a utility reimbursement payment due the family,
SDHC will provide a Utility Reimbursement Payment for the family each month. The check will be
payable directly to the tenant.
Q. ROOMS USED FOR LIVING
When the unit includes a detached room/living space, the same criteria are used as if rating the room to
be used for a sleeping/living room. It must meet the requirements set forth by HUD HQS.
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