Department of Housing and Urban Development October 3, 2013 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Section 8(c)(1) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (USHA) requires the Secretary to publish FMRs periodically, but not less than annually, adjusted to be effective on October 1 of each year. This notice publishes the FMRs for the Housing Choice Voucher, the Moderate Rehabilitation, the project-based voucher, and any other programs requiring their use. Today's notice provides final FY 2014 FMRs for all areas that reflect the estimated 40th and 50th percentile rent levels trended to April 1, 2014. The FY 2014 FMRs are based on 5- year, 2007-2011 data collected by the American Community Survey (ACS). These data are updated by one-year recent-mover 2011 ACS data for areas where statistically valid one-year ACS data are available. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) rent and utility indexes are used to further update the data from 2011 to the end of 2012. HUD continues to use ACS data in different ways according to the statistical reliability of rent estimates for areas of different population sizes and counts of rental units. The final FY 2014 FMR areas are based on Office of Management and Budget (OMB) metropolitan area definitions as updated through December 1, 2009 and include HUD modifications that were first used in the determination of FY 2006 FMR areas. The February 28, 2013 OMB Area definition update has not been incorporated in the FMR process due to the timing of the release and the availability of ACS data. HUD will work toward incorporating these new area definitions into the Proposed FY 2015 FMR calculations; however, this is dependent on the availability of ACS data conforming to the new area definitions. The final FY 2014 FMRs in this notice reflect several updates from FY 2013 to the methodology used to calculate FMRs. Specifically, HUD has updated the information used to calculate FMRs in Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico FMRs are now based on 2007-2011 Puerto Rico Community Survey (PRCS) data (the PRCS is a part of the ACS program). Moreover, HUD is using Consumer Price Index data calculated specifically for Puerto Rico rather than using South Census Region CPI data. In response to comments on the proposed notice, HUD has also adjusted the FMRs for Puerto Rico based on validated information related to utility rates. HUD will continue to refine its methodology for incorporating validated utility rates into FMR calculations, as appropriate, in future notices. The remaining methodology used to calculate FMRs remains the same, including the use of the annually updated trend factor calculation methodology. This trend factor for the FY 2014 FMRs is based on the change in national gross rents from 2006 to 2011. The FMR for Danbury, CT was updated to incorporate the results of a survey. This survey was not available in time for inclusion in the proposed FY 2014 FMRs and results in an increase.