[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 23 (Thursday, February 3, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-2390]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: February 3, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

Office of the Assistant Secretary for Housing--Federal Housing 
Commissioner

24 CFR Parts 247, 880, 881, and 883

[Docket No. R-94-1696; FR-3472-P-01]
RIN 2502-AG12

 

Termination of Tenancy for Criminal Activity

AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Housing--Federal Housing 
Commissioner, HUD.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: This proposed rule would provide that any criminal activity 
that threatens the health, safety, or right to peaceful enjoyment of 
the premises by other tenants; any criminal activity that threatens the 
health, safety, or right to peaceful enjoyment of their residences by 
persons residing in the immediate vicinity of the premises; or any 
drug-related criminal activity on or near such premises, engaged in by 
a tenant, any member of the tenant's household, or any guest or other 
person under the tenant's control would be grounds for termination of 
tenancy.

DATES: Comments must be received by April 4, 1994.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments regarding 
this proposed rule to the Office of General Counsel, Rules Docket 
Clerk, room 10276, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 
Seventh Street SW., Washington, DC 20410-0500. Facsimile (FAX) comments 
are not acceptable.
    Communications should refer to the above docket number and title. A 
copy of each communication submitted will be available for public 
inspection and copying on weekdays between 7:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. at 
the above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James Tahash, Director of Planning and 
Procedures Division, room 6180, Department of Housing and Urban 
Development, 451 Seventh Street SW., Washington, DC 20410-8000; 
telephone, (voice) (202) 708-4162; (TDD) (202) 708-4594. (These are not 
toll-free numbers)

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This proposed rule would amend regulations 
for certain section 8 project-based assistance programs to provide that 
a section 8 family may be evicted for drug crimes or for criminal 
activity that threatens other residents. Eviction may be based on such 
criminal activity by a household member, a guest or another person 
under the tenant's control.
    For existing housing under the section 8 Loan Management Program 
(24 CFR part 886, subpart A) and section 8 Property Disposition Program 
(24 CFR part 886, subpart C), the proposed rule would implement section 
8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 
1437f(d)(1)(B)(iii)), as amended by section 546 of the Cranston-
Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act and section 145 of the Housing 
and Community Development Act of 1992.
    At present, HUD's Multifamily Model Lease (Handbook 4350.3 Appendix 
19a) contains similar provisions allowing eviction for drug-related 
criminal activities or criminal activity that threatens other 
residents.
    This proposed rule would revise 24 CFR parts 247, 880, 881 and 883. 
The proposed rule would apply to evictions under the section 8 new 
construction and substantial rehabilitation programs and under the 
section 8 Loan Management and Property Disposition Programs. This 
proposed rule also would cover the following subsidized projects 
subject to 24 CFR part 247: multifamily housing projects that receive 
the benefit of subsidy in the form of below-market interest rates under 
sections 221(d)(3) and (5); interest reduction payments under section 
236 of the National Housing Act, including Rental Assistance Payments 
(RAP); below-market interest rate direct loans under section 202 of the 
Housing Act of 1959; rental subsidy in the form of rent supplement 
payments under section 101 of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 
1965; section 8 in connection with section 202 Loans for Housing for 
the Elderly or Handicapped (24 CFR part 885), the section 8 Additional 
Assistance Program for Projects with HUD-Insured and HUD-Held Mortgages 
(24 CFR part 886, subpart A) and the section 8 Housing Assistance 
Program for the Disposition of HUD-Owned Projects (24 CFR part 886, 
subpart C).
    The proposed rule would be applied uniformly to all assisted 
housing tenants for the programs listed above. The rule proposes to add 
criminal activity, including drug-related criminal activity, as grounds 
for termination of tenancy. The existing requirement that an owner not 
evict any tenant, except by judicial action pursuant to State or local 
law and in accordance with the Department's regulations and its due 
process procedures, will remain in effect.
    A Finding of No Significant Impact with respect to the environment 
has been made in accordance with HUD regulations at 24 CFR part 50, 
which implement section 102(2)(c), of the National Environmental Policy 
Act of 1969, 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq. The Finding of No Significant 
Impact is available for public inspection between 7:30 a.m. and 5:30 
p.m. weekdays in the Office of the Rules Docket Clerk at the above 
address.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

    The Secretary, in approving this proposed rule for publication, 
certifies in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 605(b), the Regulatory 
Flexibility Act, that this proposed rule would not have a significant 
economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. There are no 
small entities that would be impacted by this proposed rule.

Executive Order

    This proposed rule was reviewed by the Office of Management and 
Budget under Executive Order 12866, Regulatory Planning and Review. Any 
changes made to the proposed rule as result of that review are clearly 
identified in the docket file, which is available for public inspection 
in the office of the Department's Rules Docket Clerk, room 10276, 451 
Seventh Street SW., Washington, DC.

Semiannual Agenda

    This proposed rule was listed as item 1514 in the Department's 
Semiannual Agenda of Regulations published on October 25, 1993 (58 FR 
56404, 56424) under Executive Order 12866 and the Regulatory 
Flexibility Act, and was requested by and submited to the Committee on 
Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on 
Banking, Finance and Urban Affairs of the House of Representatives 
under section 7(o) of the Department of Housing and Urban Development 
Act.

Family Impact

    The General Counsel, as the Designated Official under Executive 
Order 12606, the Family, has determined that, while this proposed rule 
should increase the safety and security of families living in assisted 
housing, the proposed rule does not have potential, direct, significant 
impact on family formation, maintenance, and general well-being; 
therefore, it is not subject to review under this order.

Federalism

    The General Counsel, as the Designated Official under section 6(a) 
of Executive Order 12612, Federalism, has determined that the policies 
contained in this proposed rule would not have significant federalism 
implications and thus, are not subject to review under the order. This 
proposed rule will not interfere with or preempt State or local 
government functions.

List of Subjects

24 CFR Part 247

    Grant programs--housing and community development, Loan programs--
housing and community development, Low and moderate income housing, 
Rent subsidies.

24 CFR Part 880

    Grant programs--housing and community development, Rent subsidies, 
Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

24 CFR Part 881

    Grant programs--housing and community development, Rent subsidies, 
Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

24 CFR Part 883

    Grant programs--housing and community development, Rent subsidies, 
Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

    Accordingly, 24 CFR parts 247, 880, 881, and 883 would be amended 
as follows:

PART 247--EVICTIONS FROM CERTAIN SUBSIDIZED AND HUD-OWNED PROJECTS

    1. The authority citation for 24 CFR part 247 would be revised to 
read as follows:

    Authority: 12 U.S.C. 1701q, 1701s, 1715b, 1715l, and 1715z-1; 42 
U.S.C. 1437a, 1437c, 1437f, and 3535(d).

    2. Section 247.3 would be amended by removing the word ``or'' from 
paragraph (a)(2); by redesignating paragraph (a)(3) as paragraph 
(a)(4); by adding a new paragraph (a)(3); and by amending paragraph (b) 
by removing the reference to ``Sec. 247.3(a)(3)'' and by adding in its 
place ``Sec. 247.3(a)(4)'', to read as follows:


Sec. 247.3  Entitlement of tenants to occupancy.

    (a) * * *
    (3) Any criminal activity that threatens the health, safety, or 
right to peaceful enjoyment of the premises by other tenants, any 
criminal activity that threatens the health, safety, or right to 
peaceful enjoyment of their residences by persons residing in the 
immediate vicinity of the premises, or any drug related criminal 
activity on or near such premises, engaged in by a tenant, any member 
of the tenant's household, or any guest or other person under the 
tenant's control, or
* * * * *
    3. In Sec. 247.4, paragraph (c) would be amended by removing the 
reference to ``Sec. 247.3(a)(3)'' and by adding in its place 
``Sec. 247.3(a)(4)''.

PART 880--SECTION 8 HOUSING ASSISTANCE PAYMENTS PROGRAM FOR NEW 
CONSTRUCTION

    4. The authority citation for 24 CFR part 880 would continue to 
read as follows:

    Authority: 42 U.S.C. 1437a, 1437c, 1437f and 3535(d).

    5. Section 880.607 would be amended by removing the word ``or'' 
from paragraph (b)(1)(ii); by redesignating paragraph (b)(1)(iii) as 
(b)(1)(iv); by adding a new paragraph (b)(1)(iii); by revising the 
newly designated (b)(1)(iv); and by amending paragraphs (b)(2) and 
(c)(2) by removing the references to ``(b)(1)(iii)'' and by adding in 
their places ``(b)(1)(iv)'', to read as follows:


Sec. 880.607  Termination of tenancy and modification of lease.

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (1) * * *
    (iii) Any criminal activity that threatens the health, safety, or 
right to peaceful enjoyment of the premises by other tenants, any 
criminal activity that threatens the health, safety, or right to 
peaceful enjoyment of their residences by persons residing in the 
immediate vicinity of the premises, or any drug-related criminal 
activity on or near such premises, engaged in by a tenant, any member 
of the tenant's household, or any guest or other person under the 
tenant's control, or
    (iv) Other good cause, which may include the refusal of a family to 
accept an approved modified lease form (see paragraph (d) of this 
section). No termination by an owner will be valid to the extent it is 
based upon a lease or provisions of State law permitting termination of 
a tenancy solely because of expiration of an initial or subsequent 
renewal term. All terminations also must be in accordance with the 
provisions of any State and local landlord tenant law and with 
paragraph (c) of this section.
* * * * *

PART 881--SECTION 8 HOUSING ASSISTANCE PAYMENTS PROGRAM FOR 
SUBSTANTIAL REHABILITATION

    6. The authority citation for 24 CFR part 881 would be revised to 
read as follows:

    Authority: 42 U.S.C. 1437a, 1437c, and 1437f, 3535(d) and 12701.

    7. Section 881.607 would be amended by removing the word ``or'' 
from paragraph (b)(1)(ii); by redesignating paragraph (b)(1)(iii) as 
paragraph (b)(1)(iv); by adding a new (b)(1)(iii); by revising the 
newly designated (b)(1)(iv); and by amending paragraphs (b)(2) and 
(c)(2) by removing the references to ``(b)(1)(iii)'' and by adding in 
their places ``(b)(1)(iv)'', to read as follows:


Sec. 881.607  Termination of tenancy and modification of lease.

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (1) * * *
    (iii) Any criminal activity that threatens the health, safety, or 
right to peaceful enjoyment of the premises by other tenants, any 
criminal activity that threatens the health, safety, or right to 
peaceful enjoyment of their residences by persons residing in the 
immediate vicinity of the premises, or any drug-related criminal 
activity on or near such premises, engaged in by a tenant, any member 
of the tenant's household, or any guest or other person under the 
tenant's control, or
    (iv) Other good cause, which may include the refusal of a family to 
accept an approved modified lease form (see paragraph (d) of this 
section). No termination by an owner will be valid to the extent it is 
based upon a lease or provisions of State law permitting termination of 
a tenancy solely because of expiration of an initial or subsequent 
renewal term. All terminations also must be in accordance with the 
provisions of any State and local landlord tenant law and with 
paragraph (c) of this section.
* * * * *

PART 883--SECTION 8 HOUSING ASSISTANCE PAYMENTS PROGRAM--STATE 
HOUSING AGENCIES

    8. The authority citation for 24 CFR part 883 would continue to 
read as follows:

    Authority: 42 U.S.C. 1437a, 1437c, 1437f, and 3535(d).

    9. Section 883.708 would be amended by removing the word ``or'' 
from paragraph (b)(1)(ii); by redesignating paragraph (b)(1)(iii) as 
paragraph (b)(1)(iv); by adding a new paragraph (b)(1)(iii); and by 
amending paragraphs (b)(2) and (c)(2) by removing the references to 
``(b)(1)(iii)'' and by adding in their places ``(b)(1)(iv)'', to read 
as follows:


Sec. 883.708  Termination of tenancy and modification of lease.

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (1) * * *
    (iii) Any criminal activity that threatens the health, safety, or 
right to peaceful enjoyment of the premises by other tenants, any 
criminal activity that threatens the health, safety, or right to 
peaceful enjoyment of their residences by persons residing in the 
immediate vicinity of the premises, or any drug-related criminal 
activity on or near such premises, engaged in by a tenant, any member 
of the tenant's household, or any guest or other person under the 
tenant's control, or
* * * * *
    Dated: January 26, 1994.
Nicolas P. Retsinas,
Assistant Secretary for Housing--Federal Housing Commissioner.
[FR Doc. 94-2390 Filed 2-2-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4210-27-P