24 C.F.R. § 881.201

§ 881.201 Definitions. (24 CFR Part 881)

In Force
Verified 8/21/2026 · Next check 9/20/2026
effective 8/21/2026FederalAffordable Housing Programs

Operative Text

24 C.F.R. § 881.201
Agreement. (Agreement to Enter into Housing Assistance Payments Contract) The Agreement between the owner and the contract administrator which provides that, upon satisfactory completion of the project in accordance with the HUD-approved final proposal, the administrator will enter into the Contract with the owner.

Annual Contributions Contract (ACC). As defined in part 5 of this title.

Annual income. As defined in part 5 of this title.

Assisted unit. A dwelling unit eligible for assistance under a Contract.

Contract. (Housing Assistance Payments Contract) The Contract entered into by the owner and the contract administrator upon satisfactory completion of the project, which sets forth the rights and duties of the parties with respect to the project and the payments under the Contract.

Contract Administrator. The entity which enters into the Contract with the owner and is responsible for monitoring performance by the owner. The contract administrator is a PHA in the case of private-owner/PHA projects, and HUD is private-owner/HUD and PHA-owner/HUD projects.

Contract rent. The total amount of rent specified in the contract as payable to the owner for a unit.

Decent, safe, and sanitary. Housing is decent, safe, and sanitary if it meets the physical condition requirements in 24 CFR part 5, subpart G.

Elderly family. As defined in part 5 of this title.

Fair Market Rent (FMR). As defined in part 5 of this title.

Family. As defined in part 5 of this title.

Final proposal. The detailed description of a proposed project to be assisted under this part, which an owner submits after selection of the preliminary proposal, except where a preliminary proposal is not required under § 881.303(c). The final proposal becomes an exhibit to the Agreement and is the standard by which HUD judges acceptable construction of the project.

Housing assistance payment. The payment made by the contract administrator to the owner of an assisted unit as provided in the contract. Where the unit is leased to an eligible family, the payment is the difference between the contract rent and the tenant rent. An additional payment is made to the family when the utility allowance is greater than the total tenant payment. A housing assistance payment, known as a “vacancy payment”. may be made to the owner when an assisted unit is vacant, in accordance with the terms of the contract.

HUD. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Independent Public Accountant. A Certified Public Accountant or a licensed or registered public accountant, having no business relationship with the owner except for the performance of audit, systems work and tax preparation. If not certified, the Independent Public Accountant must have been licensed or registered by a regulatory authority of a State or other political subdivision of the United States on or before December 31, 1970. In States that do not regulate the use of the title “public accountant,” only Certified Public Accountants may be used.

Low income family. As defined in part 5 of this title.

NOFA. As defined in part 5 of this title.

Owner. Any private person or entity (including a cooperative) or a public entity which qualifies as a PHA, having the legal right to lease or sublease substantially rehabilitated dwelling units assisted under this part. The term owner also includes the person or entity submitting a proposal under this part.

Partially-assisted Project. A project for non-elderly families under this part which includes more than 50 units of which 20 percent or fewer are assisted.

PHA-Owner/HUD Project. A project under this part which is owned by a PHA. For this type of project, the Agreement and the Contract are entered into by the PHA, as owner, and HUD, as contract administrator.

Private-Owner/HUD Project. A project under this part which is owned by a private owner. For this type of project, the Agreement and Contract are entered into by the private owner, as owner, and HUD, as contract administrator.

Private-Owner/PHA Project. A project under this part which is owned by a private owner. For this type of project, the Agreement and Contract are entered into by the private owner, as owner, and the PHA, as contract administrator, pursuant to an ACC between the PHA and HUD. The term also covers the situation where the ACC is with one PHA and the owner is another PHA.

Project Account. A specifically identified and segregated account for each project which is established in accordance with § 881.503(b) out of the amounts by which the maximum annual commitment exceeds the amount actually paid out under the Contract or ACC, as applicable, each year.

Public Housing Agency (PHA). As defined in part 5 of this title.

Rent. In the case of an assisted unit in a cooperative project, rent means the carrying charges payable to the cooperative with respect to occupancy of the unit.

Replacement cost. The sum of the “as is” value before rehabilitation of the property as determined by HUD and the estimated cost of rehabilitation, including carrying and finance charges.

Secretary. The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (or designee).

Single Room Occupancy (SRO) Housing. A unit for occupancy by a single eligible individual capable of independent living, which does not contain food preparation and/or sanitary facilities and is located within a multifamily structure consisting of more than 12 units.

Small project. A project for non-elderly families under this part which includes a total of 50 or fewer (assisted and unassisted) units.

Substantial rehabilitation. (a) The improvement of a property to decent, safe and sanitary condition in accordance with the standards of this part from a condition below those standards. Substantial rehabilitation may vary in degree from gutting and extensive reconstruction to the cure of substantial accumulation of deferred maintenance. Cosmetic improvements alone do not qualify as substantial rehabilitation under this definition.

(b) Substantial rehabilitation may also include renovation, alteration or remodeling for the conversion or adaptation of structurally sound property to the design and condition required for use under this part or the repair or replacement of major building systems or components in danger of failure.

Tenant rent. As defined in part 5 of this title.

Total tenant payment. As defined in part 5 of this title.

Utility allowance. As defined in part 5 of this title.

Utility reimbursement. As defined in part 5 of this title.

Vacancy payment. The housing assistance payment made to the owner by the contract administrator for a vacant assisted unit if certain conditions are fulfilled as provided in the Contract. The amount of the vacancy payment varies with the length of the vacancy period and is less after the first 60 days of any vacancy.

Very low income family. As defined in part 5 of this title.
Source: Legislative text reproduced verbatim
Plain English

Section 881.201 establishes the official definitions that govern the Section 8 Substantial Rehabilitation program under 24 CFR Part 881. These definitions set the precise meaning of terms—such as 'contract rent,' 'assisted unit,' 'housing assistance payment,' and 'substantial rehabilitation'—that appear throughout the rest of Part 881's regulations. Many terms, including 'family,' 'annual income,' and 'utility allowance,' are cross-referenced to 24 CFR Part 5, meaning their meanings are standardized across multiple HUD programs. Understanding these definitions is foundational to interpreting any right, obligation, or payment structure described elsewhere in Part 881.

Written by anthropic/claude-sonnet-4.6 · Reviewed on September 4, 2026

Plain English — not legal advice.

For Property Managers

Owners and operators participating in Part 881 projects should be familiar with the definitions in § 881.201, as these terms carry specific regulatory meanings that govern contractual obligations, payment calculations, and compliance standards. For example, the distinction between 'contract rent' and 'tenant rent' directly determines how housing assistance payments are calculated, and the definition of 'substantial rehabilitation' sets the threshold for qualifying improvements. Operators should also note that the 'Independent Public Accountant' definition in § 881.201 imposes specific credentialing requirements for auditors, which affects how financial reporting obligations are fulfilled. Reviewing these definitions alongside the relevant sections of 24 CFR Part 5—where many terms are further defined—supports consistent and compliant program administration.

General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.

For Tenants

For tenants living in units assisted under 24 CFR Part 881, the definitions in § 881.201 establish the foundational terms that shape key protections, including what qualifies as an 'assisted unit,' how 'housing assistance payments' are structured, and what 'decent, safe, and sanitary' housing means by reference to 24 CFR Part 5, Subpart G. The definition of 'vacancy payment' and 'utility allowance' in § 881.201 also affects how payments flow and whether a family may receive an additional payment when utility costs exceed the total tenant payment. Tenants who believe their unit does not meet the physical standards referenced in § 881.201 or that payment calculations are incorrect may find it useful to contact a local tenant-rights organization, a HUD-approved housing counselor, or the relevant contract administrator—either a PHA or HUD directly, depending on the project type.

General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.

Generated September 4, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.

Effective Timeline

Current
Aug 21, 2026
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Related Rules

§ 1437
Declaration of policy and public housing agency organization
§ 5.100
§ 5.100 Definitions.
§ 5.107
§ 5.107 Audit requirements for non-profit organizations.

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