HACLB Housing Provider Newsletter

🌟 What’s New

• New law now in effect: AB 628 (Appliance Requirement)
• 2026 maximum rent increase: 8.7%
• New online tool: AssistanceCheck Portal
• Payment Standard

⚖️ Policy Update: AB 628 (Appliance Requirement)

Effective January 1, 2026, housing providers must supply:

• A working stove
• A working refrigerator

These are now required for all new, renewed or amended leases. These appliances are now considered essential for habitability, whereas previously they were often optional. The law is intended to reduce housing-related costs and burdens for tenants. 

👉 Be sure to include appliance responsibility in your Owner Packet. 



Owners are requested to complete the Inconclusive Inspection form to confirm who is supplying the appliances and submit it with their Request for Tenancy Packet (Owners Packet). 

💰 Rent Increase Reminders

• Submit requests at least 60 days before recertification
• Requests must comply with AB 1482 (rent caps)
• Maximum 2026 increase: 8.7%
• Requests submitted after the 1st of the month will be effective the following month

👉 Submit all requests through the website.

Important:

• Rent must be comparable to similar units nearby
• Requests may be adjusted or denied based on rent reasonableness

Rent Increase Submissions

Submit rent increase requests online at longbeach.gov/haclb → Housing Provider Tab → Rent Increase. A confirmation email will be sent after submission. Requests submitted after the 1st of the month will take effect the following month.

Timing & Requirements

• Rent increases are processed annually, typically during the tenant’s recertification.
• Submit requests at least 60 days before the recertification date.
• Recertification usually aligns with the lease anniversary (or contract start for PBV units).

Legal & Policy Guidelines

• All requests must pass a rent reasonableness review.
• Must comply with AB 1482 (rent caps based on CPI), unless exempt.
• If exempt, AB 1110 requires 90 days’ notice for increases over 10%.

Maximum Increase

• Effective August 1, 2026, the maximum annual increase in Long Beach is 8.7%.
• Requests above this limit will not be approved.

Before Submitting

• Compare your rent to similar nearby units.
• Do not exceed rents charged to recent unassisted tenants in your property.

Review Process

• Each request is reviewed individually and compared to similar units nearby.
• HACLB may approve, deny, or propose a lower amount.
• Both tenant and housing provider will be notified by mail.

Did You Know?

Rent increases are based on comparable units within a ½-mile radius. If your rent is already at or above market rate, your request may be reduced or denied.

💻 Tools & Resources

Owner Portal: AssistanceCheck

For your convenience, AssistanceCheck is our new secure online service that lets you communicate with us and access important information online, so you no longer need to visit our office or send requests by mail. 

Our secure online system allows you to:

• View and download payment statements

• Update contact information

• Access tax documents (1099)

• Communicate with staff

👉 To get started:

1. Visit AssistanceCheck.com
2. Click “Create Owner Account”
3. Enter your PIN (mailed November 2025)

📧 Need your PIN? Email: ha-owners@longbeach.gov

Important Notes 

Request for Tenancy Approval (RFTA) and Requests for Rent Increases cannot be submitted through AssistanceCheck.  

To help ensure payments are received safely and on time, all housing providers are required to sign up for Direct Deposit for Housing Assistance Payments (HAP)  

📊 Payment Standard Increase

Payment Standards set the maximum rental assistance a Housing Authority can provide—they do not determine the rent you can charge.

They act as a cap on the subsidy paid on the family’s behalf and are used to calculate Housing Assistance Payments (HAP). The actual assistance amount also depends on factors like the family’s income, utility costs, and rents for similar units.

When Payment Standards change, adjustments are typically phased in over time to avoid sudden impacts on families and housing providers.

👉 New Payment Standards Effective June 15, 2026

Following successful reevaluation requests submitted by public housing authorities, HUD had revised the FY 2026 Small Area Fair Market Rents (SAFMRs) and Fair Market Rents (FMRs) for several metropolitan areas.

Visit longbeach.gov/haclb for the updated payment standards effective June 15, 2026.

💻 Training Opportunities

Are you a new housing provider working with us? Join us for an Owner Orientation session! These sessions provide an overview of the program and give you the opportunity to ask any questions you may have.

Visit: HACLB.org → Housing Provider Tab → Training & Information Sessions

Owner Orientation

For new and current housing providers

• Program overview
• The do's and don'ts
• Frequently asked questions ("How do I...?")

How to Submit Leasing Packets and Rent Increases

Learn how to navigate the electronic submission process for leasing packets and rent increase requests.

How to Navigate the Owner Portal (AssistanceConnect.com)

Learn how to log in and navigate the Owner Portal with confidence.

Owner Refresher

For current housing providers

• Need a refresher? This session is designed for housing providers who are already working with us and would like a review of our processes, along with an opportunity to ask questions.

📬 Connect with us

In an effort to provide improved customer service to our partners, owners and participants, we have centralized our phones, our file processing and now have manned email accounts. This will allow our response time to increase and to maintain an equally distributed workload. It also allows us to pivot quickly to the changing needs of our clients and housing providers.

How do I get the help I need?

Under this model, owners, property managers, our partners, tenants and applicants access a central number or email box, and it will be routed quickly and efficiently to the correct person to inquiry. Please see the list below for information on where to direct your inquiries. 

How long will it take to hear back from someone?

Typically, you will hear back from someone within 2-3 business days.  It may via email, with directions, so please check your email box and your spam folder. 

Can I submit documents via email?

Yes! It will help speed up the process. We accept faxes and clear photographs from your cell phone. Rent increase requests and owner packets (RFTA’s) cannot be submitted via email but through our links found at longbeach.gov/haclb under the housing provider tab.

Who should I call if I need help afterwards?

Please call 562.570.5242 or email the appropriate area and we will have the person assigned to your case return your call.  

Thank you for your patience while we work to meet your customer service needs. 

Thank you for your continued partnership.

Sincerely,

Housing Authority of the City of Long Beach