HUD HCV Guidebook § 2
Utility Allowances Overview (HUD HCV Guidebook)
Operative Text
The Form HUD-52517, Request for Tenancy Approval (RFTA), submitted by the owner and the prospective tenant tells the PHA which utilities the tenant will pay for and which utilities are included in the rent. The RFTA also tells the PHA whether the family or the owner is providing the stove and refrigerator. The owner must1 then incorporate these provisions into the lease. The PHA’s inspector will also confirm the fuel types used for heating, water heating and cooking. After ensuring that there is no conflict in utility/appliance responsibility and fuel types between the RFTA, the lease, and the Inspection Report, the PHA incorporates the provisions into Part A of the HAP contract. The HAP contract is the binding document between the owner and the PHA. Any time a change is made in the responsibility for payment of utility expenses or provision of the stove or refrigerator, the owner and the tenant must2 report the change to the PHA. Any such change requires3 a new lease and HAP Contract as well as an adjustment in the family’s utility allowance. A PHA is responsible for establishing and maintaining a utility allowance schedule that provides reasonable allowances for tenant-paid utilities. The utility allowance is intended to enable participating families to pay typical costs for utilities and services paid by energy-conserving households occupying units of similar size and type in the same locality. Any additional utility costs incurred by the family are not the responsibility of the PHA. Payment of bills for tenant-paid utilities is the responsibility of the family, and any interruption or termination of utility services because of the family’s failure to pay is considered a breach of the family’s obligations under the HCV program. Likewise, failure to provide a working stove or refrigerator when responsible to do so is also a breach of the family’s obligations4. PHA’s policies regarding the termination of assistance to families who cause their unit to be in violation of HQS because of failure to pay for necessary utilities or services or failure to provide required appliances are detailed in the PHA Administrative Plan.
Under HUD Housing Choice Voucher Guidebook § 2, the process for determining utility responsibilities begins with the Form HUD-52517 (RFTA), which documents who pays for which utilities and who supplies the stove and refrigerator. These details flow through the lease and into the HAP contract, which is the binding agreement between the property owner and the Public Housing Authority (PHA). If any utility or appliance responsibility changes at any point during the tenancy, both the owner and tenant are required to notify the PHA, triggering a new lease, a new HAP contract, and a recalculated utility allowance. Families participating in the program are responsible for paying their own utility bills, and failure to do so—or failure to provide required appliances—constitutes a breach of program obligations.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under HUD Housing Choice Voucher Guidebook § 2, compliant owners ensure that the utility and appliance responsibilities documented on the RFTA are accurately reflected in the lease before it is signed. When any change occurs in who pays for utilities or who provides the stove or refrigerator, operators promptly report that change to the PHA so that a new lease and HAP contract can be executed and the family's utility allowance can be adjusted accordingly. Keeping these documents consistent—RFTA, lease, and HAP contract—is a core compliance obligation, and discrepancies identified during a PHA inspection can delay or disrupt the HAP contract process.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
HUD Housing Choice Voucher Guidebook § 2 establishes that participating families have a right to a utility allowance intended to cover typical costs for tenant-paid utilities in energy-conserving households of similar size and type in the same locality. Families should be aware that failing to pay utility bills or failing to provide a required appliance (such as a stove or refrigerator) is treated as a breach of HCV program obligations, which can lead to termination of assistance under the PHA's Administrative Plan. If a tenant believes their utility allowance is inaccurate or that responsibilities have been misrecorded, they may contact their PHA directly, consult a tenant-rights organization, or review the PHA's Administrative Plan for applicable grievance procedures.
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 26, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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