October 22, 2025

Note: Direct any questions on the content of this message to OHFA’s Compliance and DevCo Helpdesk.

2025 HOME Final Rule — Reminder

As published in last month’s industry message, the Ohio Housing Finance Agency (OHFA) retroactively implemented all provisions of the 2025 HOME Final Rule with the exception of the new tenant protections, which HUD delayed until October 30, 2025, for all HOME-funded projects. The use of the new HOME Rule is mandatory for initial certifications and recertifications that will be effective February 1, 2026, and going forward. The 2025 HOME Final Rule is found here. 

Note #1: The new HOME Rule will apply to Ohio Housing Trust Fund (OHTF) units.  

Note #2: The new HOME Rule does not apply to National Housing Trust Fund (NHTF) units. 

Reference the 2025 HOME Final Rule-OHFA Matrix for further details on the 2025 HOME Final Rule and OHFA’s implementation of it.

Revised Utility Allowance Policy

Due to the 2025 HOME Final Rule, OHFA has revised our utility allowance policy effective October 1, 2025. The policy has numerous content and formatting changes from the prior version. Owners/management agents must use the revised version for utility allowance requests effective immediately. 

New Asset Self-Certification Form — Great News!

OHFA has received numerous calculation questions on our $51,600 in Assets Self-Certification form. Many owners/management agents have indicated it is overly complicated. As such, we have heard you! OHFA has revised the form to make it much easier to use. The revised form is effective November 1, 2025, for initial certifications and recertifications going forward. 

Note: Owners/management agents who used the prior version of the asset self-certification form do not have to go back into their tenant files to replace it with the revised form. 

Social Security COLA Increase Coming Soon! 

The Social Security cost-of-living allowance (COLA) increase for 2026 has not yet been officially announced due to the federal government shutdown delaying the release of inflation data. Independent analysts are forecasting a 2.7% increase, a slight rise from the 2.5% increase for 2025. HUD is expected to announce the 2026 COLA after the September inflation data is released.  

Importantly, some industry partners have indicated that benefit letters are not available due to the shutdown, and it is unclear if data in SSA.gov accounts will be updated. If the Social Security benefit letters or SSA.gov printouts are not available or not updated with the new COLA, owners/management agents may use the older benefit letter and add the COLA when it is announced. A clarification record must be added to the file fully explaining why the older benefit letter was used.

Stay Informed! 

Subscribe to OHFA’s email distribution list, which allows you to receive important notifications concerning regulatory and policy changes, development updates, and much more. Please forward the subscription link to any of your staff who may benefit from this type of information.

Reminder to all 811 project owners/management agents: Stay in the know! You can now sign up to receive 811 updates through OHFA’s email distribution list. Be sure to select Ohio 811 PRA under Email Lists on the sign-up form.