For owners or managers of rental properties financed through an OHFA loan or Housing Tax Credits, the Compliance Division is the best resource for meeting reporting requirements, maintaining regulatory compliance and ensuring your project's ongoing financial viability.
For compliance-related questions, please refer to our questions and answers section.
OHFA Help Desk
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Compliance, DevCo & OHFA Inspection Help Desk
Do you have a Compliance, DevCo, or OHFA Inspection question? Please use our automated Help Desk feature to submit your inquiry. Utilization of the Help Desk will enable OHFA to efficiently track the volume and types of inquiries received and target resources to better serve our partners.
Compliance Links
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Compliance Policies
As regulations and programs evolve, OHFA makes updates to the compliance rules and procedures associated with our various projects and programs. We've provided the following forms, documents and information to help with compliance to OHFA's policies and to ensure your project's success.
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Reporting & Compliance Forms
Property managers or owners of OHFA-funded communities need to complete various forms in order to certify your residents are qualifying for housing.
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OHFA's LIHTC Compliance Manual Revised 1/22/26
OHFA's LIHTC Compliance Manual is designed to assist owners and property management agents with maintaining compliance with the regulatory requirements associated with these funds in multifamily projects. Importantly, this manual is to be used only as a supplement to compliance with the Code and all other applicable laws and regulations. This manual should not be considered a complete guide to LIHTC compliance. The responsibility for compliance with federal program regulations lies with the owner(s) of a LIHTC project.
OHFA revised the LIHTC Compliance Manual on January 22, 2026. Those revisions are outlined here.
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2025 HOME Final Rule
On January 6, 2025, HUD published the HOME Investment Partnerships Program: Program Updates and Streamlining Final Rule (2025 HOME Final Rule), found here. After certain delays and revisions by HUD, the regulatory changes implemented through the 2025 HOME Final Rule became effective on April 20, 2025. The HOME Rule revises the current HOME regulations to update, simplify, or streamline requirements, better align the program with other Federal housing programs, and implement recent amendments to the HOME statute. OHFA will retroactively implement all provisions of the 2025 HOME Rule (with the exception of the new tenant protections which HUD delayed until October 30) on October 1, 2025. Use of the 2025 HOME Final Rule is mandatory for tenant initial certifications and recertifications effective February 1, 2026. Note: the 2025 HOME Final Rule does not apply to National Housing Trust Fund (NHTF).
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HOTMA Resources
The Housing Opportunity through Modernization Act of 2016 (HOTMA) makes numerous amendments to Sections 3, 8, and 16 of the United States Housing Act of 1937, including significant changes to income calculation, net family assets, and income reviews.
- Affordable Housing Programs Resource Manual
- HOTMA Asset Calculation Methods
- Guidelines for a HOTMA Compliant TIC
- OHFA's LIHTC Compliance Manual Revised 1/22/26
- 2025 HOTMA Compliance Forms
- OHFA HOTMA Form Question/Answer Documents
- Imputing Assets Decision Chart
- Ohio Housing Conference – HOTMA Training
- The Housing Opportunity Through Modernization Act
- 24 CFR 5.603 – Definitions
- Federally Mandated Exclusions From Income-Updated
- Notice PIH 2023-27/H 2023-10 (Implementation Guidance: Sections 102 and 104 of HOTMA)
- Housing Notice 2019-06 (Treatment of ABLE Accounts)
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NSPIRE Resources
The National Standards for the Physical Inspection of Real Estate (NSPIRE) model prioritizes health, safety, and functional defects over appearance. It implements inspections that better reflect the true physical conditions of the property and supports the adoption of sound, year-round maintenance practices.
- HUD Publishes NSPIRE Inspection Protocol Guide
This document dated August 2024, was recently published by HUD. It does not change any of the NSPIRE standards or deficiencies, it is a list of rules and procedures. These rules relate to important elements of clarification such as unit sampling, dealing with exceptions on inspections. - Extension of NSPIRE Compliance Date
- The Final NSPIRE Standards Notice
- HUD NSPIRE Standards
- National Standards for Physical Inspection of Real Estate
- HUD has announced that as of October 1, 2023, NSPIRE will officially replace UPCS and will update 24 CFR 902.20
- HUD – NSPIRE Resources
- HUD – NSPIRE Terms and Definitions
- HUD – NSPIRE Inspectable Areas
- HUD Publishes NSPIRE Inspection Protocol Guide
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NSPIRE Training
OHFA is proud to sponsor an upcoming NSPIRE training with an optional NSPIRE-ACE certification. The in-person training will occur March 19 (9am-4pm) at the Quest Conference Center located in Westerville, Ohio and conducted by US Housing Consultants. US Housing Consultants offers you a thorough analysis of every NSPIRE standard and how to recognize deficiencies, conduct inspections, and understand the operational implications of the change from HQS and UPCS to NSPIRE in this one-day course.
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HOME-ARP
HOME-ARP requires that funds be used to primarily benefit individuals and families in specified "qualifying populations." Any individual or family who meets the criteria for these populations is eligible to receive assistance or services funded through HOME-ARP. For more information on a qualifying population, reference pages 3-8 of HUD's Final HOME-ARP Implementation Notice.
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Compliance Next Steps (CNS) Process
The CNS process is for new projects placing in service and provides technical assistance to all parties involved with the project on federal regulations, OHFA requirements and policies. The CNS process is required in order for the owner to obtain Form 8609.
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DevCo Resources
The DevCo portal will allow organizations working with OHFA to manage information about their awards and projects.
