24 C.F.R. § 886.102

§ 886.102 Definitions. (24 CFR Part 886)

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

Operative Text

24 C.F.R. § 886.102
The terms Fair Market Rent (FMR), HUD, Public Housing Agency (PHA), and Secretary are defined in 24 CFR part 5.

Act. The United States Housing Act of 1937.

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

Contract (See Section 8 Contract).

Contract Rent. The rent payable to the Owner as required by HUD in connection with its mortgage insurance and/or lending functions, including the portion of the rent payable by the Family, not to exceed the amount stated in the Section 8 Contract as such amount may be adjusted in accordance with § 886.112. In the case of a cooperative, the term “Contract Rent” means charges under the occupancy agreements between the members and the cooperative.

Covered housing provider. For the Section 8 Housing Assistance Payments Programs—Special Allocations, subpart A of this part, “covered housing provider,” as such term is used in HUD's regulations at 24 CFR part 5, subpart L (Protection for Victims of Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, or Stalking) refers to the owner.

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

Eligible Project. Any existing subsidized or unsubsidized multifamily residential project that is subject to a mortgage insured or any section of the National Housing Act; any such project subject to a mortgage that has been assigned to the Secretary; any such project acquired by the Secretary and thereafter sold under a Secretary-held purchase money mortgage; or a project for the elderly financed under section 202 of the Housing Act of 1959 (except projects receiving assistance under 24 CFR part 885).

Family. As defined in part 5 of this title.

HCD Act. The Housing and Community Development Act of 1974.

Housing Assistance Payment. The payment made by HUD 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 Housing Assistance Payment is made when the Utility Allowance is greater than the Total Tenant Payment. A Housing Assistance Payment may be made to the Owner when a unit is vacant, in accordance with § 886.109.

Income. Income from all sources of each member of the household as determined in accordance with criteria established by HUD and as defined in part 5 of this title.

Lease. A written agreement between the owner and a family for leasing of a decent, safe and sanitary dwelling unit to the family.

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

Owner. The mortgagor of record under a multifamily project mortgage insured, or held by the Secretary, including purchase money mortgages; the owner of a Section 202 project.

Project. See § 886.101.

Project Account. The account established and maintained in accordance with § 886.108.

Section 8 Contract (“Contract”). A written Contract between the Owner of an Eligible Project and HUD for providing Housing Assistance Payments to the Owner on behalf of Eligible Families pursuant to this part.

Subsidized Rent. In Section 221(d)(3) BMIR, Section 202, or Section 236 projects, the rent payable to the project, based on the particular circumstances of any assisted tenant in the absence of any Housing Assistance Payment.

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.

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

Section 886.102 establishes the working vocabulary for the Section 8 Special Allocations program under 24 CFR Part 886. Key terms include 'Contract Rent,' which covers the total rent HUD requires—including the tenant's share—up to the ceiling set in the Section 8 Contract; and 'Housing Assistance Payment,' which is the subsidy HUD pays an owner to cover the gap between Contract Rent and what the tenant owes. Several terms, such as 'Family,' 'Tenant Rent,' and 'Utility Allowance,' are defined by cross-reference to 24 CFR Part 5, making that regulation an essential companion to this one.

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

Plain English — not legal advice.

For Property Managers

Under § 886.102, compliant owners of Eligible Projects maintain a clear understanding of how 'Contract Rent' and 'Housing Assistance Payment' interact, since the subsidy covers only the difference between Contract Rent and Tenant Rent. Operators also recognize that their obligations as a 'covered housing provider' under 24 CFR Part 5, Subpart L extend VAWA protections to residents. Reviewing the Part 5 cross-references alongside § 886.102 is standard practice for ensuring accurate rent calculations and contract compliance.

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

For Tenants

The definitions in § 886.102 shape how your rent is calculated under the Section 8 Special Allocations program—specifically, 'Tenant Rent' and 'Utility Allowance' are determined by rules in 24 CFR Part 5, which also governs VAWA protections through the 'covered housing provider' definition. If a tenant believes rent charges or assistance payments are being applied incorrectly, raising the issue with the local Public Housing Agency (PHA) or a tenant-rights organization is a recognized path. Consulting a housing counselor familiar with Part 886 can help clarify how these definitions apply.

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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