HAP Contract

The HAP contract is a written agreement between the PHA and the owner of the dwelling unit occupied by a housing choice voucher assisted family. Under the HAP contract, the PHA agrees to make housing assistance payments to the owner on behalf of a specific family occupying a specific unit and obliges the owner to comply with all program requirements.


The HAP contract format is prescribed by HUD. The HAP contract contains three parts:


Part A of the contract includes basic contract information about the name of the tenant family, address of the contract unit, names of all household members, first and last dates of initial lease term, amount of initial monthly rent to owner, amount of initial housing assistance payment, utilities and appliances to be supplied by owner and tenant, signatures of PHA and owner [HCV Guidebook, pp 11-10 and 11-11].

 

Part B is the body of the contract. It describes in detail program requirements affecting the owner and owner roles and responsibilities under the HCV program.

Topics addressed in Part B include:

  • Lease of Contract Unit
  • Maintenance, Utilities, and Other Services
  • Term of HAP Contract
  • Provision and Payment of Utilities and Appliances
  • Rent to Owner: Reasonable Rent
  • PHA Payment to Owner
  • Prohibition of Discrimination
  • Owner’s Breach of HAP Contract
  • PHA and HUD Access to Premises and Owner’s Records
  • Exclusion of Third Party Rights
  • Conflict of Interest
  • Assignment of the HAP Contract
  • Written  Notices
  • Entire Agreement Interpretation


Part C of the contract includes the Tenancy Addendum (Form HUD-52641-A). The addendum sets forth the tenancy requirements for the program and the composition of the household, as approved by OHA. The owner must sign the HUD Tenancy Addendum with the prospective tenant, and the tenant has the right to enforce the Tenancy Addendum against the owner. The terms of the Tenancy Addendum prevail over any other provisions of the lease. 


HAP Contract ​​​