HUD Handbook 4350.3 § 5-20
*Security of EIV Data (HUD Occupancy Handbook 4350.3 REV-1 CHG-4)
Operative Text
The data in EIV contains personal information on individual tenants that is covered by
the Privacy Act. The information in EIV may only be used for limited official purposes.
A. Owners, in connection with the administration of their project, may only use the
employment and income information in EIV at the time of recertification, or at
other times as addressed in their policies and procedures.
B. Owners cannot share the EIV income information with governmental entities not
involved in the recertification process used for HUD’s assisted housing programs,
e.g., the LIHTC program and RHS Section 515 program.
See Chapter 9, Enterprise Income Verification (EIV), for additional information on official
use of EIV information.*Section 5-20 of HUD Handbook 4350.3 REV-1 CHG-4 establishes that the Enterprise Income Verification (EIV) system contains tenant personal information protected under the federal Privacy Act, and that this data may only be used for specific, limited official purposes. Owners are permitted to access employment and income data from EIV primarily during recertification or at other times defined by their own written policies and procedures. Sharing EIV income information with government entities that are not directly involved in the recertification process for HUD-assisted housing programs—such as the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program or RHS Section 515—is expressly prohibited.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 5-20 of HUD Handbook 4350.3 REV-1 CHG-4, compliant owners and property managers limit their use of EIV employment and income data strictly to recertification activities and any additional uses explicitly defined in their written policies and procedures. Operators generally maintain clear internal documentation governing when and how EIV data is accessed, ensuring that access is tied to an official purpose. Sharing EIV income information with outside governmental entities not participating in the HUD-assisted housing recertification process—including programs like LIHTC or RHS Section 515—is not permitted under this provision.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 5-20 of HUD Handbook 4350.3 REV-1 CHG-4 provides tenants with Privacy Act protections over the personal employment and income information held in the EIV system. Owners and managers are restricted from using that data outside of recertification and related official purposes, and they may not share it with government agencies uninvolved in the HUD-assisted housing recertification process. Tenants who believe their EIV data has been accessed or shared improperly may consider filing a complaint with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development or consulting a tenant-rights organization for guidance on available options.
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 25, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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