Your June HCV newsletter is here!

Note from the Chief HCV Officer, Cheryl L. Burns

What do you think about Owner News as a monthly e-newsletter? We hope you are enjoying the new format and find the information useful as you navigate the ins and outs of the HCV Program. Each issue includes a short how-to, an answer to a common question and a timely program reminder ... plus links to news you may have missed and helpful resources.

How to Submit a Change of Ownership or Management

Are you buying or selling a building with HCV units? Changing property management? There's a form for that!

Current HCV property owners may not simply assign the HAP Contract to a new property owner once the property is sold. Instead, the new property owner must notify CHA of the transfer of ownership by submitting a Change of Ownership/Management packet via email to ownerservices@thecha.org after closing.

Note: It is important that all HCV Program forms are submitted as instructed on the document. Including additional CHA email addresses will only delay the processing of your request.

In addition, if there is a change in property management for the HCV Program property, a Change of Ownership/Management packet is also required. However, this time, the current HCV property owner is responsible for completing the packet (after adding OR removing management) and submitting it to CHA .

The most up-to-date version of the Change of Ownership/Management packet is available for download on the HCV Owner Portal or on CHA’s website at www.thecha.org/forms.

Remember: Change of Ownership/Management must be completed within 180 days. Changes that are reported beyond 180 days will be treated as a new move and a new RTA packet must be submitted.

FAQ Corner: Accessibility

Property owners often ask ... "What can I do to make my unit more accessible?"

Accessible units are in high demand and there are many resources available to help expand housing opportunities for people with disabilities across the city of Chicago.

CHA has partnered with the Chicago Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities to offer HCV applicants and participants with a verifiable disability the opportunity to receive home accessibility modifications to make their current or soon-to-be home more accessible, free of charge.

Project approval through the HomeMod Fund follows a 5-step process:

The HCV participant must request a Reasonable Accommodation from CHA by completing the form, and marking “HomeMod Fund” as the accommodation being requested.
If the Reasonable Accommodation is approved, CHA will send a HomeMod Fund application to the HCV participant to complete and return.
CHA will review the HomeMod Fund application and send all necessary documentation to the Chicago Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities (MOPD) for further review.
MOPD will contact the HCV participant and unit property owner to discuss the project scope, schedule a site inspection and complete the application.
Once the application is approved, MOPD will hire licensed, insured and experienced home remodeling companies to make the modifications. The time frame for project completion varies depending on the scope of the modification.

In addition, CHA has implemented an Exception Payment Standard (EPS) policy for accessible units. An Exception Payment Standard is an increased amount of subsidy (up to 250%), which offers HCV participants who meet specific criteria, the opportunity to rent units previously outside of their affordability range. To qualify, a member of the HCV participant household must have a verifiable disability and the unit’s accessibility features (i.e., ramps, widened doorways, roll-in showers, grab bars or rails) must assist them in managing their disability. Then, the family must identify either a unit with the necessary accessibility features or a unit where accessible modifications will be made in order for an Exception Payment Standard to be applied to the rent calculations. Approval for an EPS follows one of three process (click image to enlarge):

Small Accessible Repairs for Seniors (SARFS) Program

Chicago seniors at least 60 years of age who earn no more than 80% of the area medium income are qualified for the Small Accessible Repairs for Seniors (SARFS) program, providing safety, security and accessibility improvements to help seniors remain in their homes. Repairs may include, but are not limited to, grab bars, lever faucets, door repairs, carbon monoxide detectors and smoke detectors.

Qualified recipients may be owners or renters residing in a 1-4 unit building. Renters must have permission from the property owner who will also need to certify that rent will not be increased as a direct result of SARFS improvements.

To learn more about the SARFS program, visit the City of Chicago's website here.

Upcoming Events

Property Owner Networking Event

Thursday, August 31, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. | Register Now

Join fellow property owners in person to share experiences, discuss best practices and learn from each other. CHA staff will be on hand to help facilitate the event, but the evening is all yours.

New Owner Bootcamp

Tuesday, September 26, 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. | Register Now

Are you new to the HCV Program? This event is your one-stop shop for everything HCV! Join us in person at the FIC to learn the ins and outs of the Program, including how to get started, the rent determination process, HQS inspections and HCV Program enforcement.

CHA has expanded the Owner Symposium to now include monthly online education opportunities. From June to November 2023, the Symposium Webinar Series will cover six (6) timely and targeted topics you normally expect from the annual event.

Building on Good Bones: A Guide to Property Maintenance & Rehab

Thursday, July 20, 1 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. | Register Now

Do you have a good foundation and want to maintain it? Are you looking to make home renovations? Join us to learn best practices for managing property maintenance and rehab projects, including the responsibilities of a project manager, hiring of construction managers/contractors, and the stages of project planning.

Unit Turnover: Preparing for a Smooth Transition

Thursday, August 17, 1 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. | Register Now

Preparing for new tenants can be stressful but we're here to help! This session will cover how to create the ultimate unit turnover checklist for a quick and seamless transition. Learn from experts as they discuss best practices for advertising, cleaning, managing pests and avoiding disputes.

Creating Equal Access to Housing

Thursday, September 21, 1 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. | Register Now

Did you know that housing providers are legally obliged to follow fair housing laws? Join us to learn about the many fair housing protections that are in place to prevent discrimination and ensure everyone has equal access to housing. This session will also cover what you need to do to make sure you’re in accordance with the law.

Evictions ... Finding a Path Forward for Housing Providers

Thursday, October 19, 1 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. | Register Now

If you’re making the difficult decision to evict your tenant, there are many rules and regulations you have to follow as a property owner in the city of Chicago. Learn from a legal expert about the necessary steps in the evictions process including notices, documentation, court dates and more.

Fostering Relationships to Secure Long-Term Tenancy

Thursday, November 16, 1 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. | Register Now

Fostering strong relationships with your tenants is an essential component in successful property management. This session will cover starting the relationship off on the right foot, effective communications and proactive problem solving that will make your tenants want to stay for the long haul!

Reminder: HCV Tax Savings Program

Under state law, qualified Illinois property owners who rent to HCV participants may receive property tax abatement tax savings in an amount up to 19% of a property’s Equalized Assessed Value (EAV).

A separate HCV Tax Savings Program Application is required for each Property Index Number (PIN), and applications must be submitted on an annual basis. For the 2023 tax year, applications are due by December 15, 2023.

For more information, visit the Leasing with HCV page on CHA's website (scroll to the bottom of the page) or log in to the HCV Owner Portal.

Energy Assistance for Property Owners

Did you know there are many city organizations and resources dedicated to making homes more energy efficient? Energy efficiency is not only good for the environment but it can also help you avoid costly utility bills. Check out the list below to learn more about the steps you can take to manage your energy use.

Elevate — Elevate offers many services to property owners and managers to help make their properties more energy efficient. Services include water usage management, solar assessments, building electrification and building efficiency hubs.

CIC Energy Loan — Are you looking to make energy efficient modifications to your home? CIC offers an energy loan that can reduce gas, electric and water usage up to 30%, which is up to $10,000 in annual savings for a typical 24-unit building. CIC also offers free comprehensive building assessments and access to utility grant funds through CIC’s Energy Savers program.

Chicago Energy Transformation Code — The City of Chicago passed a 2022 Energy Transformation Code dedicated to climate change prevention, building energy efficiency and reducing the City’s carbon footprint. These are amended changes to the previous 2019 code. Under the 2022 code, all new buildings in Chicago are required to comply with the energy efficiency and sustainability standards set by the 2021 International Energy Conversation Code. Some of the new requirements under the City’s 2022 code include insultation of wiring for electric appliances, energy efficient lighting, and specific placement of windows to minimize energy usage due to solar heat gain in the summer.

Resources for Property Owners

HCV Webinars are available on-demand! Dozens of recorded sessions are available for you to watch anytime, including Getting Started with the HCV Program, How to Complete Common CHA Forms and Packets, Energy Efficiency and Utility Assistance and many, many more!

We want to hear from you! Especially if you’ve never attended one of our educational sessions before ... please take a minute to share what you'd like to see from HCV education and events.

TAKE THE SURVEY

Have leasing-related questions, or want to request a 1:1 consultation? The HCV Owner Outreach team is here to help. Email owneroutreach@thecha.org.

¡También ofrecemos estos servicios en español!