Certified Housing Manager Assistant Exam key terms

The total anticipated income of all household members for the coming 12 months, used to determine eligibility and rent. It includes wages, benefits, and asset income, and excludes certain items HUD allows programs to disregard.

Annual income after HUD-allowed deductions, such as allowances for dependents, elderly or disabled households, and unreimbursed medical or childcare expenses. It is used to calculate the tenant rent portion in subsidized programs.

The greater of specified percentages of adjusted income, or a minimum rent, that a subsidized household must contribute toward rent. The subsidy covers the difference between TTP and the contract rent.

A HUD-estimated dollar amount for tenant-paid utilities and services, subtracted from the total tenant payment to derive the rent the tenant pays the owner. It must reflect actual unit configuration and utility responsibility.

A floor rent amount (commonly $25 to $50) that subsidized households must pay unless granted a HUD hardship exemption. It prevents zero-rent outcomes when income-based calculations fall below the floor.

A HUD-permitted reduction or waiver of minimum rent when a household cannot pay due to loss of income, unexpected expenses, or other qualifying circumstances. Owners must document the request and re-evaluate periodically.

The documented process of collecting, verifying, and calculating household income and composition at move-in, annually, and at interim changes. It supports eligibility decisions and rent calculations and must be retained for audit.

A re-examination of household income and rent that occurs between annual recertifications when a qualifying change is reported, such as a change in employment, household size, or income exceeding thresholds.

The required yearly re-examination of household eligibility, income, and rent for assisted units. Timely completion keeps subsidy payments correct and prevents findings during management and occupancy reviews.

A HUD method of counting asset income when total household assets exceed a threshold or actual asset income cannot be determined. A prescribed passbook rate is applied to the cash value of assets.

A HUD or contract administrator evaluation of an owner's compliance with occupancy, rent, and management requirements. It examines files, waiting lists, and physical conditions and can result in findings requiring corrective action.

A required plan describing how an owner will attract eligible applicants from all demographic groups, especially those least likely to apply. It includes outreach, marketing methods, and monitoring of results.

A written policy stating how applicants are screened, prioritized, and selected, including eligibility criteria, screening standards, and reasonable accommodations. It must be applied consistently and comply with fair housing law.

A change in rules, policies, practices, or services, or a structural modification, that allows a person with a disability equal opportunity to use and enjoy a dwelling. Requests must be evaluated case by case.

Federal law prohibiting discrimination in the sale, rental, and financing of housing based on protected characteristics such as race, color, religion, sex, national origin, familial status, and disability. It governs advertising, screening, and tenant treatment.

A discrimination theory holding that a neutral policy or practice is unlawful if it disproportionately harms a protected group and is not justified by a legitimate, nondiscriminatory business necessity.

A federal tax incentive that awards credits to owners who build or rehabilitate affordable rental housing and maintain rents and incomes within program limits for a compliance period.

A state's written policy for allocating housing tax credits, setting priorities, selection criteria, and scoring for proposed developments. It reflects state housing needs and federal requirements.

The process in which a state housing credit agency ranks tax credit applications against QAP scoring criteria and awards credits to the highest-scoring developments within available authority.

An allocation of tax credits to a development that has not yet been placed in service, permitting the owner to claim credits later if statutory deadlines and progress benchmarks are met.

The date a building is ready and available for its intended use, triggering the start of the tax credit compliance period and credit claiming. It is distinct from the date of allocation.

The 15-year period during which a LIHTC development must maintain income and rent restrictions. Failure can lead to credit recapture; many owners extend affordability further through extended use agreements.

A recorded agreement requiring a LIHTC development to remain affordable beyond the 15-year compliance period, typically for at least 30 years, in exchange for the credit allocation.

The share of a building treated as low-income for credit calculation, based on either the number of low-income units or the floor area they occupy, whichever the owner elects and consistently applies.

The depreciable cost of a building attributable to low-income units, excluding land and certain other costs. It is multiplied by the applicable credit rate to determine annual credit amounts.

The percentage applied to qualified basis to compute annual housing tax credits. The rate differs for new construction and acquisition versus rehabilitation, and may be fixed or floating depending on program rules.

The minimum portion of a LIHTC development that must be rent-restricted and occupied by income-eligible households, commonly 20 percent at 50 percent of area median income or 40 percent at 60 percent.

The maximum household income allowed for a tax credit unit, set as a percentage of area median gross income adjusted for household size. It is tested at move-in and monitored during the compliance period.

The maximum gross rent a LIHTC unit may charge, calculated as a percentage of area median income adjusted for unit size and including a utility allowance. It must be tested annually.

The IRS mechanism for recovering previously claimed tax credits when a development fails to maintain compliance, such as falling below the minimum set-aside or violating rent limits.

A LIHTC rule requiring that when an over-income household remains in a unit, the next comparable vacant unit must be rented to an eligible household to preserve the applicable fraction.

The total monthly housing cost used in affordability tests, generally including tenant-paid rent plus a utility allowance for tenant-paid utilities. It must not exceed the program's maximum rent.

HUD's minimum physical condition requirements for assisted housing, covering sanitation, safety, heating, and structural elements. Inspections verify compliance and can affect continued subsidy payments.

A standardized HUD inspection protocol that scores the physical condition of a property across specific inspectable areas and deficiencies, used in programs such as public housing and project-based rental assistance.

The systematic process of monitoring late rent, communicating with residents, offering payment arrangements, and escalating to legal action when necessary. It relies on consistent policy and documentation.

A written notice informing a resident of a lease violation and giving a specified period to correct it before further action. Requirements vary by jurisdiction and must follow the lease and local law.

The binding contract between owner and resident setting rent, term, rules, and responsibilities. It must align with program requirements and applicable law and be explained clearly at signing.

A tracking process for maintenance requests that records receipt, priority, assignment, completion, and follow-up. Reliable records support resident satisfaction, inspections, and liability defense.

Scheduled, proactive servicing of building systems and equipment to prevent failures and extend useful life. It reduces emergency repairs and supports compliance with physical condition standards.

A structured assessment of job-related knowledge and skills administered to candidates, such as scenario-based questions or software simulations. It must be validated, consistently scored, and free of bias.

A process of identifying gaps between required and current staff knowledge or performance, often through surveys, audits, or incident review. Results guide training priorities and content design.

Software used to deliver, track, and report training, including course enrollment, completion records, and assessment scores. It supports compliance documentation and staff development planning.

Self-paced learning available whenever the learner chooses, typically delivered online with modules, quizzes, and completion tracking. It offers flexibility but requires clear objectives and verification of learning.