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DOCUMENT RESOME
05999 - (B1386435]
District of Columbia's Rent Establishment Policies and
Procedures Need Improvement. GG:-76-50; B-118638. May 17, 1978.
41 pp. + 3 appendices (14 pp.).
Report to Mayor and Council, District of Columia; by Elmer B.
Staats, Comptroller General.
Issue Area: Domestic Housing and ccmmunity Develcpment:
Minimizing Costs in maintaining Integrity and Livability of
SuLsidized dousing (2107).
Contact: General Governeent Div.,
Budget Function: Community and Regional Development: Community
Development (451).
Organization Concerned: District of Coluakia: Dept. of Housing
and Community Development.
Congressional Relevance: House Committee on District of
Columbia; Senate Committee or the District of Columbia;
Congress.
Authority: District of Columbia Self-Government az' Governmental
Reorganization Act (P.L. 93-198; 87 Stat. 774). Housing and
Community Development Act of 1974 (P.L. 93-383). Housing Act
of 1937, as amended (33 Stat. 379; 83 Stat. 389; 84 Stat.
1770; 84 Stat. 1778; 85 Stat. 775). Uniform Relocation
Assistanc- and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act 142
U.S.C. 4601).
The District of Columbia's Department of Housing and
Community Development (DHCD) is responsible for providing
decent, safe, and sanitary housing to low-income District
families who cannot afford such housing. As of June 30, 1976,
approximately 11,300 families lived in DHCD-provided housing,
over 10,900 of whom were in DHCD-owned projects. The public
housing pro4r. a is financed mostly with rental income and
Federal finds. OHCD is also responsible for planning and
administering the urban renewal program of the District.
Findings/Conclusions: DHCD rents space to tenants inder both the
public housing and urban renewal programs. During tte 6-month
period ended June 1976, DHCD charged about 60% of its public
housing tenants improper rents, losing about $902,000 in
revenues. The losses occurred because the District used a 1971
rent schedule to set rents, used an outdated definition of
tenart income for setting rents, delayed processing rent changes
an average of 6 months, and was ineffective in verifying tenant
income. Rent policies and procedures for urban renewal
properties were not always appropriate and were not uniformly
and effectively implemented. Tenants were treated inequitably
and revenues were lost, although documentation was not
sufficient to estimate the amount of revenue lost. Inadequate
utility payment policies ani procedures also resulted in
inequitable treatment of tenants. Recommendations: The mayor
should direct DHCD to: improve policies, procedures, and](ViewImageLocal?handle=hein.gao/gaobaaxhy0001&div=1&collection=&method=preview&ext=.png&size=3)