HUD Notice Requiring Carbon Monoxide Alarms in Assisted Housing
HUD’s Offices of Public and Indian Housing, Multifamily Housing Programs, and Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes posted a joint Notice on January 31, 2022, requiring carbon monoxide alarms or detectors in their HUD-assisted housing programs starting December 27, 2022.
The notice reminds owners and operators of Public Housing, Project Based Rental Assistance (PBRA), Housing Choice Vouchers (HCV), Project Based Vouchers (PBV), Supportive Housing for the Elderly (Section 202) and Supportive Housing for Persons with Disabilities (Section 811) properties of carbon monoxide poisoning risks in housing, identifies resources for preventing and detecting exposure, and provides notice of the requirement for alarms or detectors to be installed in certain HUD-assisted housing by December 27, 2022.
On January 1, 2022, a modification to Rhode Island law 34-18-22 became effective, which details many of the Landlord’s requirements pertaining to housing codes affecting health and safety.
A noteworthy change in this law states that the Landlord shall:
(7) Obtain and have in full force and effect a general liability insurance policy of at least one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) for those persons injured on the premises due to the negligence of the landlord. The landlord shall provide a copy of the declaration page from the carrier showing the policy to the tenant with the written lease at the beginning of the tenancy and shall provide a new copy with each policy renewal to the tenant.
On January 14, the White House announced a new initiative to help ensure Americans have COVID-19 tests on hand in case they are needed. The website to order at-home testing kits -- at no cost -- is now live and accepting orders. People who do not have Internet access, or who need additional assistance with ordering, can call 1-800-232-0233 (TTY 1-888-720-7489) to place their orders.
The Eldercare Locator and the Disability Information and Assistance Line (DIAL) can also assist older adults and people with disabilities with placing orders, connect people to accessible instructions, and help with administering the tests. Both phone lines are staffed Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. (Eastern).
Older adults can call the Eldercare Locator at 800-677-1116 Monday-Friday or visit the website to chat live or browse resources.
People with disabilities can contact DIAL by calling 888-677-1199 or by emailing DIAL@usaginganddisability.org. The DIAL information specialists are trained to work with people of various communications abilities, including spending as much time as needed to understand callers. Deaf and hard-of-hearing people can reach DIAL using the 711/Video Relay Service (VRS). To use this free service, simply dial 711 to be connected via text with a communications assistant. (For people who do not communicate through speech, sign language or VRS, email is the best option to communicate with DIAL.)
Tenant Selection Plans are public documents and must be provided to those who ask to review them.
Fiscal Year 2022 Fair Market Rents have been released and can be found here.
Fiscal Year 2022 Utility Allowance Factors have been released and can be found here.
If you have had any changes to your management or ownership contact information you can update your information here.
RentReliefRI has provided over $100 million in rental and utility assistance to eligible Rhode Island renters. Visit RentReliefRI.comto learn more.
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