The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) has introduced new resources aimed at streamlining the compliance process for multifamily properties it monitors. The agency’s Housing Resource Center released several tools intended to simplify adherence to affirmative marketing and tenant selection criteria rules.
Among the updates is an enhanced Multifamily Affirmative Marketing Tool, which now allows users to search for individual TDHCA-monitored properties by city, zip code, or street address. The tool provides guidance on identifying populations least likely to apply for housing and includes instructions for completing HUD 935.2A forms. It can be accessed at https://www.tdhca.texas.gov/MF-Affirmative-Marketing-Tool.
For properties that do not require the HUD 935.2A form, a new Simplified Affirmative Marketing Plan Form is available. This version aligns with TDHCA’s affirmative marketing requirements and reduces paperwork by condensing the form to less than two pages, compared to the original 12-page document. The form is available at https://www.tdhca.texas.gov/sites/default/files/fair-housing/docs/MF-AF….
To assist staff in preparing affirmative marketing plans, TDHCA has also published an Affirmative Marketing Checklist. This resource uses yes/no questions to help identify major areas of non-compliance and common errors in marketing plans. The checklist can be found under “TDHCA Fair Housing Forms and Tools” at https://www.tdhca.texas.gov/fair-housing-toolkits-sample-forms-and-down….
Additionally, a Written Policies and Procedures/Tenant Selection Criteria Checklist has been made available for those updating tenant selection policies or written procedures. Like the other tools, this checklist helps pinpoint compliance issues using yes/no questions and highlights frequent mistakes seen in such documents. It is also located under “TDHCA Fair Housing Forms and Tools” at https://www.tdhca.texas.gov/fair-housing-toolkits-sample-forms-and-down….
“These updates are designed to help property owners and managers remain compliant with TDHCA’s affirmative marketing and written policies and procedures rules, and significantly lower administrative burden without sacrificing protections for tenants and applicants at TDHCA-monitored properties,” according to the department.
Questions about these resources can be directed via email to fair.housing@tdhca.texas.gov or by phone at (512) 475-0306.
