What Landlords, Tenants, and Housing Providers in Pennsylvania Need to Know

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has issued new guidance requiring public housing agencies to verify the citizenship and immigration status of individuals receiving federal housing assistance. This update is part of HUD’s broader effort to ensure compliance with federal eligibility laws across public housing and voucher programs.

If you own or manage rental property—or work with buyers and sellers who participate in housing programs—here’s what this change means for you.

Who Must Comply With the New HUD Rule?

The requirement applies to:

• Public Housing Agencies (PHAs)

• Certain program “owners” involved in federally assisted housing

However, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) clarified that private landlords who rent to Section 8 voucher holders are not included under the term “owners” in this guidance.

This means:

If you lease a private property to tenants using Housing Choice Vouchers (Section 8), you do not have new verification responsibilities under this HUD rule.

What Is Changing?

Under the updated guidance:

• PHAs must verify citizenship or eligible immigration status for individuals using HUD housing assistance.

• The process ensures federal housing funds are distributed only to households that meet eligibility requirements under existing law.

• The policy does not change fair housing protections or landlord obligations under state or federal law.

This update is administrative in nature and does not alter tenant screening practices for private landlords.

Source: PA Realtors; 2/9/2026