Fostering Good Resident/Management Relations

Communication is critical to good resident/management relations.  HUD Handbook 4381.5 REV-2, Chapter 4 “The Management Agent Handbook” states:

HUD encourages owner/agents to go beyond the minimum requirements for resident involvement and take the following steps:

  • Foster enhanced communication between residents and both on-site and central office management.
  • Increase resident access to management
  • Ensure proper consideration and acknowledgement to resident input is given
  • Emphasize the importance of promptly resolving problems  

In SHCC’s over 20 years’ experience handling resident concerns, below are some common concerns we receive from residents:

  • Posted office hours not consistently being honored
  • Failure to notify residents of ownership, management agent, or significant site position changes
  • Failure to provide reasonable notification prior to entering a unit for inspection or maintenance repair
    • We encourage residents and owners to actively communicate regarding work order completion/repairs. Typically, owners complete emergency repairs within 2 business days.  Non-emergency repair times vary, but on average they are completed within 5 business days.
    • Management should pro-actively communicate with the resident upon the submission of a work order on the anticipated timeline for repair especially if the residents has concerns about unit entry. If an owner cannot complete a work order request within a relatively short timeframe after initial submission (e.g. 5 business days), we strongly encourage follow up communication from the owner to ensure the resident has proper notice. 
    • In regard to unit inspections, owners are encourage to provide at least 48 hours’ notice prior to a unit inspection, and the notice should provide the specific date the unit will be inspected. 
    • We recommend residents be made aware in house rules or other maintenance related information that anytime property staff are in a unit, they must report any deficiencies that are visibly apparent (e.g. a pest problem that is seen while repairing a broken toilet)

Other areas that may contribute to resident-management relation problems: 

  • Signage: It is recommended that permanent, fixed signage be approved by supervisors, look professional, and in most cases should encourage the good behavior you seek.  Do Not Enter, Staff Only, and warnings about danger areas are still necessary; however, other signage that lists undesirable behavior and related punishments often sends the wrong message.
  • House Rules: House Rules should be updated on an annual basis.  House Rules must be related to the safety, care, and cleanliness of the building or the safety and comfort of residents.  House Rules must be reasonable, must comply with HUD requirements and not contradict them, and must not discriminate against individuals who are members of a protected class.  (For more guidance on House Rules, see HUD Handbook 4350.3 REV-1, CHG-4, 6-9.)   
  • Unauthorized Charges: Charges for damages caused by the resident household or guests are limited to actual and reasonable costs for repair.  An owner may not charge a tenant for “bad behavior,” such as foul language, noise, littering, etc.  Such behavior should be addressed through friendly reminders or subsequent lease violations, or if prolonged, may be grounds for termination of tenancy.  (For more guidance, see HUD Handbook 4350.3 REV-1, CHG-4, 6-27.)
  • Utility Allowance (UA) Reimbursements: Delays in distributing Utility Allowance reimbursement checks. Note that PBRA guidance states that Utility Reimbursements must be distributed no later than 5 business days after receipt. (Please see Chapter 7 of the MAT Guide for further information.)
    • Note: Streamlining guidance in the FAST Act also clarified that if utility reimbursements are <$45/quarter, then the funds may be distributed on a quarterly basis.  However, Owners choosing this option of quarterly payments also must have a policy in place “to assist tenants for whom the quarterly reimbursements will pose a financial hardship.”  (Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 237 / Tuesday, December 12, 2017)
  • Parking/Towing Policies.  Visit here for information about Texas Property Code information on Parking and Towing. Remember that towing companies work for you and should follow your management and direction. Aggressive towing or over-enforcement of towing for minor infractions often hurts resident-management relations more than it helps.
  • Safety/Security: Similar to towing companies, your safety/security provider works for you and should be managed accordingly.  We recommend:
    • periodic ‘meet your security team’ meetings — especially for new contracts
    • aligning patrol hours w/ problem times
    • requiring detailed patrol logs (list building #s/units #s where problems occur, times of patrol;
    • requesting that security report inoperable lighting
    • reviewing the logs for issues and to ensure the provider is working the proper times and duration of hours
    • communicating with your local PD—let them know about your security contract and attend crime watch meetings or the like.

Work toward the goal of your local Police Department services meeting the needs of your property.  Ultimately, you don’t want to have issues that require security or the additional cost that goes with it.

Service Coordination

The Service Coordinator Program provides funding for the employment of Service Coordinators in Multifamily Housing designed for the elderly and persons with disabilities. A Service Coordinator is a social service staff person hired or contracted by the Owner or management company.

HUD’s Office of Multifamily Housing Programs has several valuable service coordination resources and tools:

Service enriched housing is a challenge with or without a formal Service Coordinator.  The below organization can assist with strategies to identify and locate services to support your residents’ goals at self-sufficiency.

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https://www.servicecoordinator.org/page/about

Call Center Posters

Your properties must display SHCC Call Center posters in an accessible common area within clear view by all residents and interested parties. We appreciate your cooperation in displaying these posters.

Customer Service – Site Maintenance

Your site maintenance staff are also often your most important customer service representatives.  In addition to possessing a skill set to make necessary repairs, maintenance staff should possess communication and other ‘soft skills’ to complete a successful unit visit.  Additionally, they should be well versed and adequately trained in fair housing requirements.  Industry trainings and certifications that may assist in this area include: