Minimum rent is capped at $50 and must be suspended on a hardship request

ph.tenant_payment.minimum_rent_and_hardship_exemption · v1.0.0

The PHA must charge a family no less than a minimum monthly rent established by the PHA, and for the public housing program the PHA may establish a minimum rent of up to $50. The PHA must grant an exemption from payment of the minimum rent where the family is unable to pay it because of financial hardship as described in the PHA's written policies, and financial hardship includes at least: the family has lost eligibility for or is awaiting an eligibility determination for a federal, state or local assistance program; the family would be evicted because it is unable to pay the minimum rent; the family's income has decreased because of changed circumstances including loss of employment; a death has occurred in the family; and other circumstances the PHA or HUD determines. On a hardship request the PHA must suspend the minimum rent requirement beginning the month following the request and continuing until it determines whether a qualifying hardship exists and whether it is temporary or long term; must make that determination promptly; and may not evict the family for nonpayment of minimum rent during the 90-day period beginning the month following the request. Where the hardship is temporary the PHA must reinstate the minimum rent from the beginning of the suspension and must offer the family a reasonable repayment agreement. Where it is long term the PHA must exempt the family for as long as the hardship continues. Where there is no qualifying hardship the PHA must reinstate the minimum rent including back rent from the beginning of the suspension. The exemption applies only to the minimum rent and not to the other components of total tenant payment. A public housing family requesting a grievance hearing on a denial or limitation of a hardship claim is not required to pay any escrow deposit to obtain the hearing.

Confidence

high

Effective from

2000-03-29

Consequence model

agency finding with cure

Last reviewed

2026-08-30