Are Section 8 rents competitive?
Each fall HUD determines Section 8 Fair Market Rent levels (FMRs) for Cambridge. Each Public Housing Authority however, has the ability to contract rents that exceed HUD’s FMRs in cases where the unit’s condition and location warrant a higher rent. The CHA frequently agrees to rents higher than HUD’s FMRs when owners show that their units are worth more by providing data on comparable non-subsidized units in the same building and neighborhood. The CHA maintains its own list of non-subsidized units in each neighborhood to confirm that rents above HUD’s FMRs are reasonable. Click here for the current Cambridge Payment Standards for units including all utilities.
