Affordability

While a family may select a unit with a rent amount exceeding the agency payment standard, the family should be aware that they will not approve a unit for which the family rent to owner plus the utility allowance would exceed 40 percent of the monthly adjusted income.  This maximum initial rent burden is applied each time a family moves to a new unit or signs the first assisted lease for a unit. The rule does not apply to changes in the family share after move-in, for example when the owner requests a rent increase.