Tuesday Tip
Correct these issues before your next MORE
Management and Occupancy Reviews (MORs) often reveal the same avoidable mistakes. Most findings happen because teams miss deadlines, overlook documentation, or fail to follow consistent procedures.
The good news is that most Common MOR findings can be prevented before review day ever arrives.
VAWA Findings Remain Common
VAWA findings continue to appear across many properties. Reviewers frequently identify missing notices, outdated transfer plans, or required postings that staff failed to maintain.
Properties should regularly review:
- VAWA notices and distribution requirements
- Transfer plans and required property postings
Even small documentation gaps can create compliance concerns during an MOR.
Incomplete Documentation Creates Unnecessary Risk
Poor documentation remains one of the biggest causes of MOR findings. Reasonable accommodation requests often create problems when staff fail to document verbal conversations or incomplete follow-up efforts. Every request should clearly show when the resident made the request and what accommodation they requested. If management denies the request, the file should explain why.
Strong documentation also helps properties demonstrate consistency during reviews. Without it, reviewers can only evaluate what appears in the file.
Marketing Plans Require Consistent Review
Affirmative Fair Housing Marketing Plans require more attention than many properties realize. Some teams complete the initial plan but forget the ongoing review requirements.
HUD expects properties to:
- Review marketing plans every five years
- Continue marketing open waiting lists annually
Long waiting lists do not eliminate annual marketing obligations if any list remains open. Reviewers also expect properties to maintain proof that marketing activities actually occurred.
Recertification Errors
Recertification findings often involve simple but important details. Missing signatures, late notices, and incomplete follow-up documentation continue to surface during reviews. A printed name does not count as a signature. If the form includes a signature line, management must sign it.
Properties should also maintain clear timelines showing tenant responses and efforts to obtain missing information. Organized files make it easier to prove compliance during an MOR.
EIV Discrepancies
EIV findings often happen because resolution efforts are not fully documented. Reviewers need to see more than the report itself. They want evidence showing how staff investigated and resolved discrepancies.
Those records belong in the tenant file, not only in the master file.
Strong organization and consistent follow-up can significantly reduce EIV-related findings
Custody and Voucher Errors
Joint custody situations remain one of the most common voucher-related errors. HUD only allows one assisted household to claim the dependent deduction at a time. Properties should request documentation confirming which household will claim the child. Clear records help prevent duplicate deductions and reduce the likelihood of future findings.
Preparation Prevents Most Common MOR Findings
The most Common MOR findings come down to inconsistent execution. Properties that prepare early usually experience fewer issues during review. Gathering required documents ahead of time helps reviewers move through the process more efficiently.
Staff should also verify that EIV access remains current. Expired users and inactive accounts continue to create preventable findings. HUD expects the MOR to reflect the property’s condition on the day of review. Missing documents after the reviewer leaves can create additional compliance problems.
