24 C.F.R. § 966.54
§ 966.54 Informal settlement of grievance. (24 CFR Part 966)
Operative Text
Any grievance shall be personally presented, either orally or in writing, to the PHA office or to the office of the project in which the complainant resides so that the grievance may be discussed informally and settled without a hearing. A summary of such discussion shall be prepared within a reasonable time and one copy shall be given to the tenant and one retained in the PHA's tenant file. The summary shall specify the names of the participants, dates of meeting, the nature of the proposed disposition of the complaint and the specific reasons therefor, and shall specify the procedures by which a hearing may be obtained if the complainant is not satisfied.
Under 24 CFR Part 966 § 966.54, public housing grievances must first go through an informal settlement step before any formal hearing takes place. A tenant or complainant brings the grievance—orally or in writing—directly to the public housing authority (PHA) office or the relevant project office, where both sides discuss the matter and attempt to resolve it. Within a reasonable time after that discussion, the PHA must prepare a written summary documenting who participated, when they met, what resolution was proposed, why, and how the complainant can request a formal hearing if the informal outcome is unsatisfactory.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Public housing authorities and property managers operating under 24 CFR Part 966 § 966.54 generally maintain a clear intake process for receiving grievances—whether submitted orally or in writing—at the appropriate office. Compliant operators prepare a written summary of each informal discussion within a reasonable timeframe, retain a copy in the tenant's file, and provide a copy to the tenant. That summary typically includes the names of all participants, the date of the meeting, the proposed disposition and its rationale, and a description of the steps available to the tenant if they wish to pursue a formal hearing.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under 24 CFR Part 966 § 966.54, tenants in public housing have the right to bring a grievance—orally or in writing—to the PHA office or their project office for an informal discussion before any formal hearing is required. After that meeting, the PHA must give the tenant a written summary that includes the proposed resolution and an explanation of how to request a formal hearing if the informal outcome is not satisfactory. Tenants who believe this process was not followed, or who are unsatisfied with the informal result, may explore options such as requesting a formal grievance hearing, contacting a local tenant-rights organization, or reaching out to HUD's regional office for guidance.
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
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