HUD-4119 Appendix C

Appendix C: Challenging Fair Market Rent Data

Challenging Fair Market Rent Data:
Guidelines for the Indian Housing Block Grant Formula
This document describes the data and documentation required by HUD for a tribe to
challenge the Fair Market Rent (FMR) data used in the Formula Current Assisted Stock (FCAS)
component of the Indian Housing Block Grant (IHBG) formula.
Q1:

How is FMR used in the formula?

A1: In accordance with 24 CFR 1000.320, FMR is an adjustment factor for local area costs
applied to Low-Rent, Mutual Help, and Turnkey III units in the FCAS Component of the
formula. The FMR adjustment is weighted to derive a local area FMR relative to the national
average for FMR. In the formula, the greater of the FMR factor or Allowable Expense Level
(AEL) factor is used.
Q2:

Where would a tribe/TDHE find FMR?

A2: FMRs are published in the Federal Register annually. They are also available as a free
download from HUD USER at http://www.huduser.org/portal/datasets/fmr.html or by calling 1800-245-2691.
Q3:

How is FMR calculated?

A3: FMR factors are gross rent estimates that include rent plus the cost of all utilities derived
by HUD from annual estimates for 354 metropolitan areas and 2,350 nonmetropolitan county
areas. The FMRs for the entire Country is calculated by HUD’s Office of Policy Development
and Research (PD&R), Economic Market Analysis Division located in Washington, D.C.
Q4:

Can tribes or tribally designated housing entities (TDHE) challenge the FMR?

A4:

Yes. In accordance with §1000.336 (a)(6) a tribe may challenge its FMR.

Q5:

How would a tribe/TDHE challenge FMR?

A5: The tribe/TDHE could conduct a survey. Two documents are published by HUD’s
Office of PD&R and can be downloaded from www.huduser.gov. The titles are: Random Digit
Dialing Surveys: A Guide to Assist Larger Public Housing Agencies in Preparing Fair Market
Rent Comments or Rental Housing Surveys
(http://www.huduser.org/publications/doc/rddlarge98.doc); and, Rental Housing Surveys: A
Guide to Assist Smaller Public Housing Agencies in Preparing Fair Market Rent Comments
(http://www.huduser.org/publications/doc/rddsmall98.doc).
Additional help in preparing your submittal should be obtained by contacting HUD’s Office of
PD&R, Economic Market Analysis Division at 202-708-0590.

Appendix C: Challenging Fair Market Rent Data

Q6: What do I need to do to update my IHBG formula data once my challenge has been
accepted by HUD’s Office of PD&R?
A6: In order for a challenge to be considered for the upcoming fiscal year allocation, all data
and documentation that the data was approved by HUD’s Office of PD&R must be submitted in
writing to the IHBG Formula Customer Service Center by August 1 at the address below.
All data and approval documentation should be sent to:
IHBG Formula Customer Service Center
1875 Connecticut Ave., NW, 10th Floor
Washington, D.C. 20009
Toll Free: 800-410-8808
Fax: 202-393-6411
E-mail:IHBGformula@firstpic.org