Option 2 – OCAF Only
Contract Renewals for Other Projects with Current Rents at or Below Comparable Market Rents
Think of Option 2 as the “Family Friendly” option.
Both for-profit and Non-profit owners can submit a request for Option 2.
Under Option 2, rents can be adjusted by the HUD published Operating Cost Adjustment Factor (OCAF), or, at the discretion of HUD, a budget-based rent adjustment limited by the market (see the ‘Option 2 Budget’ tab above). To proceed with rental adjustments based on the Operating Cost Adjustment Factor continue to the steps below.
To qualify for Option 2
Owners must have:
- Aggregate current rent levels under the expiring contract must be at or less than the comparable market rents (this is determined with a Rent Comparability Study), or
- The property’s aggregate current rents exceed the comparable market rents, but the property is exempt from Mark-to-Market (Option 3) restructuring and the Owner is willing to reduce their rents to the comparable market rents.
Renewal requests of over 5 years require HUD approval. For properties with a contract term that exceeds 5 years, the property will need to obtain a new Rent Comparability Study at the end of the 5th year and the rents will be adjusted to the comparable market rents.
Utility Allowance Analysis
A Full Baseline Utility Allowance with all supporting data collected from utility companies or tenants is required at minimum every 3 years but can be prepared and submitted annually.
Download the Baseline Utility Allowance Worksheet
For the two years following the most recent Baseline Utility Allowance, owners and agents have the option to again obtain data from utilities or tenants to determine utility allowances, or to perform a Factor-Based Utility Analysis, adjusting the allowance using a state-specific increase factor called the Utility Allowance Factor (UAF) provided by HUD.
Download the UAF Calculation Worksheet
What is required for your submission?
Access our Option 2 OCAF Only Checklist here for a detailed list of submission requirements, or download it along with our Option 2 OCAF Resource Bundle below.
Related products
Contract Renewals for Other Projects with Current Rents at or Below Comparable Market Rents
Subject to HUD approval, owners may request to adjust their rents by a budget-based rent adjustment, limited by the market. In this instance, a budget is processed in lieu of the OCAF.
Both for-profit and Non-profit owners can submit a request for Option 2.
To request rental adjustments based on the Operating Cost Adjustment Factor see the ‘Option 2 OCAF Only’ tab above. To proceed with a budget-based Option 2 renewal continue to the steps below.
To qualify for Option 2
Owners must have:
- Aggregate current rent levels under the expiring contract must be at or less than the comparable market rents (this is determined with a Rent Comparability Study), or
- The property’s aggregate current rents exceed the comparable market rents, but the property is exempt from Mark-to-Market (Option 3) restructuring and the Owner is willing to reduce their rents to the comparable market rents.
Renewal requests of over 5 years require HUD approval. For properties with a contract term that exceeds 5 years, the property will need to obtain a new Rent Comparability Study at the end of the 5th year and the rents will be adjusted to the comparable market rents.
Utility Allowance Analysis
A Full Baseline Utility Allowance with all supporting data collected from utility companies or tenants is required at minimum every 3 years but can be prepared and submitted annually.
Download the Baseline Utility Allowance Worksheet
For the two years following the most recent Baseline Utility Allowance, owners and agents have the option to again obtain data from utilities or tenants to determine utility allowances, or to perform a Factor-Based Utility Analysis, adjusting the allowance using a state-specific increase factor called the Utility Allowance Factor (UAF) provided by HUD.
Download the UAF Calculation Worksheet
What is required for your submission?
Access our Option 2 Budget Checklist here for a detailed list of submission requirements, or download it along with our Option 2 Budget Resource Bundle below.
Download this document for free using the button below.
Subsequent Referral to RECAP
This option is for properties who have previously renewed under Option 3b RECAP Full and are submitting for subsequent renewal ahead of their Use Agreement expiration.
Option 3b RECAP Full
Full RECAP is used when debt re-structuring is required. Upon closing of full debt restructuring, a Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) Contract is typically issued for 20 years and must be continually renewed under Option 3b until the property’s Use Agreement expires. Budget-based rent adjustments under this option are not allowed. Rents are adjusted by the OCAF only. Properties are not allowed to terminate a Option 3b contract early to reissue under a different option.
Utility Allowance Analysis
A Full Baseline Utility Allowance with all supporting data collected from utility companies or tenants is required at minimum every 3 years but can be prepared and submitted annually.
Download the Baseline Utility Allowance Worksheet
For the two years following the most recent Baseline Utility Allowance, owners and agents have the option to again obtain data from utilities or tenants to determine utility allowances, or to perform a Factor-Based Utility Analysis, adjusting the allowance using a state-specific increase factor called the Utility Allowance Factor (UAF) provided by HUD.
Download the UAF Calculation Worksheet
What is required for your submission?
Access our Option 3b Subsequent Renewal Checklist here for a detailed list of submission requirements, or download it along with our Option 3b Subsequent Resource Bundle below.
Download this document for free using the button below.
Download this document for free using the button below.
Initial Referral to RECAP
You may remember when this option was known as OAHP. OAHP expired in 2017 and is now known as the Office of Recapitalization, or RECAP.
Option 3 is split into two different options, Option 3a RECAP Lite, or Option 3b RECAP Full.
Typically, we see a Referral to RECAP when a property comes in to renew under Option 2, has an Active FHA loan with HUD, and the property’s current rents are above the Rent Comparability Study the property has procured.
RECAP will make the determination whether the property must have their rents reduced to market, or can still make debt payments on their FHA loan?
Option 3a RECAP Lite
RECAP Lite is used when there is no debt restructuring and the property rents get reduced to the Rent Comparability Study rents. During renewal years, an Option 3a can adjust their rents by the OCAF or with a budget, pending HUD approval.
Option 3b RECAP Full
Full RECAP is used when debt re-structuring is required. Upon closing of full debt restructuring, a Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) Contract is typically issued for 20 years and must be continually renewed under Option 3b until the property’s Use Agreement expires. Budget-based rent adjustments under this option are not allowed. Rents are adjusted by the OCAF only. Properties are not allowed to terminate a Option 3b contract early to reissue under a different option.
Utility Allowance Analysis
A Full Baseline Utility Allowance with all supporting data collected from utility companies or tenants is required at minimum every 3 years but can be prepared and submitted annually.
Download the Baseline Utility Allowance Worksheet
For the two years following the most recent Baseline Utility Allowance, owners and agents have the option to again obtain data from utilities or tenants to determine utility allowances, or to perform a Factor-Based Utility Analysis, adjusting the allowance using a state-specific increase factor called the Utility Allowance Factor (UAF) provided by HUD.
Download the UAF Calculation Worksheet
What is required for your submission?
Access our Option 3a or 3b Initial Renewals Checklist here for a detailed list of submission requirements, or download it along with our Option 3 Initial Resource Bundle below.
Renewal of Projects Exempt from or Not Eligible for Debt Restructuring for Rural Housing Service 515 Projects
Known as the “Exception Rents” option, Option 4 Rural Housing is a good option for Owners when they have properties above market.
For-profit and Non-profit owners can submit a request for Option 4 Rural Housing.
To qualify for Option 4 Rural Housing, owners must:
- Have a property that is exempt from debt restructuring under Section 515(h) of MAHRA; or
- The property does not meet the definition of an “eligible multifamily housing project” under Section 512(2) of MAHRA
Owners of Section 515/8 projects who are requesting a contract renewal under Option 4 pursuant to 524(b)(1) of MAHRA must submit their project budget approved by RHS. HUD Account Executives and Performance Based Contract Administrators are not required to review and approve these budgets. If the budget has been approved by RHS, the budget-based rent will be accepted.
Properties can choose a term of 1 to 20 years for a contract renewal. Anything over 5 years requires HUD approval. In long term contracts, the property will be eligible for the Auto OCAF during rent adjustment years. If the property would like to adjust their rents with a budget during a rent adjustment year, a Rent Comparability Study would be required.
Utility Allowance Analysis
A Full Baseline Utility Allowance with all supporting data collected from utility companies or tenants is required at minimum every 3 years but can be prepared and submitted annually.
Download the Baseline Utility Allowance Worksheet
For the two years following the most recent Baseline Utility Allowance, owners and agents have the option to again obtain data from utilities or tenants to determine utility allowances, or to perform a Factor-Based Utility Analysis, adjusting the allowance using a state-specific increase factor called the Utility Allowance Factor (UAF) provided by HUD.
Download the UAF Calculation Worksheet
What is required for your submission?
Access our Option 4 Rural Housing Checklist here for a detailed list of submission requirements, or download it along with our Option 4 Resource Bundle below.