24 C.F.R. § 982.1
§ 982.1 Programs: purpose and structure. (24 CFR Part 982)
Operative Text
(a) General description. (1) In the HUD Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program, HUD pays rental subsidies so eligible families can afford decent, safe, and sanitary housing. The HCV program is generally administered by State or local governmental entities called public housing agencies (PHAs). HUD provides housing assistance funds to the PHA. HUD also provides funds for PHA administration of the program. (2) Families select and rent units that meet program housing quality standards. If the PHA approves a family's unit and tenancy, the PHA contracts with the owner to make rent subsidy payments on behalf of the family. A PHA may not approve a tenancy unless the rent is reasonable. (3) Subsidy in the HCV program is based on a local “payment standard” that reflects the cost to lease a unit in the local housing market. If the rent is less than the payment standard, the family generally pays 30 percent of adjusted monthly income for rent. If the rent is more than the payment standard, the family pays a larger share of the rent. (b) Tenant-based and project-based assistance. (1) Section 8 assistance may be “tenant-based” or “project-based”. In project-based programs, rental assistance is paid for families who live in specific housing developments or units. With tenant-based assistance, the assisted unit is selected by the family. The family may rent a unit anywhere in the United States in the jurisdiction of a PHA that runs a voucher program. (2) To receive tenant-based assistance, the family selects a suitable unit. After approving the tenancy, the PHA enters into a contract to make rental subsidy payments to the owner to subsidize occupancy by the family. The PHA contract with the owner only covers a single unit and a specific assisted family. If the family moves out of the leased unit, the contract with the owner terminates. The family may move to another unit with continued assistance so long as the family is complying with program requirements.
Under 24 CFR Part 982 § 982.1, the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program is a federally funded rental assistance structure in which HUD channels subsidy payments through local public housing agencies (PHAs) to help eligible low-income families afford housing that meets defined quality standards. The amount a family pays out of pocket is tied to a locally set 'payment standard,' with families generally contributing around 30 percent of adjusted monthly income when rent falls at or below that benchmark and a higher share when it exceeds it. Assistance can be either tenant-based, meaning the family chooses and moves with the voucher, or project-based, meaning the subsidy is attached to a specific unit or development.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 982.1, owners who participate in the HCV program enter into a contract with the PHA — not directly with HUD — to receive rental subsidy payments on behalf of an approved assisted family. Compliant operators ensure that the unit meets program housing quality standards before approval and that the proposed rent is reasonable, since a PHA is prohibited from approving a tenancy that does not satisfy that standard. Because the contract under tenant-based assistance is tied to a specific family and unit, owners generally understand that the subsidy contract terminates if the family vacates, and they account for that structure when managing assisted tenancies.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 982.1 establishes that tenant-based HCV assistance belongs to the family, not the unit, meaning a voucher holder generally retains the ability to move to a new unit anywhere a PHA runs a voucher program as long as program requirements are being met. Families have the right to select their own unit, and the PHA must find the rent reasonable before approving the tenancy — a protection that limits what an owner can charge under the program. Tenants who believe their PHA is not administering these rules correctly can raise concerns directly with their local PHA, contact HUD's regional office, or reach out to a local tenant-rights organization for guidance on options available under § 982.1.
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 3, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
Effective Timeline
References Out
No outbound references recorded yet for this provision.
References In
No inbound references recorded yet for this provision.