Smoke Detectors, Fair Market Rent Payment Standards, & Rent Increase Form Update

Important Updates from EHA: Smoke Detectors

Effective December 29, 2024: HUD requires at least one battery-operated or hard-wired smoke detector in proper working condition in the following locations:

On each level of the unit, including basements
Inside or near each bedroom
In common areas of the building, if applicable

If battery-powered, they must have a sealed, tamper-resistant battery with a 10-year lifespan.

Why this change?

As a result of a tragic fire that took the lives of 12 people living in federally assisted housing, Congress passed a law requiring housing authorities to implement a new requirement for smoke detectors starting on December 29, 2024.

For any Housing Quality Standards inspections conducted by Everett Housing Authority on or after December 29, 2024, all smoke detectors in the assisted unit must meet the requirements above.

Existing voucher program and State requirements regarding the locations of smoke detectors, and the presence of carbon monoxide detectors, continue to apply.

If you have any questions about this requirement, please reach out to the Inspections team at inspections@evha.org.

Small Area FMR Payment Standards

Our website has a brand new interactive map that breaks down our service area by zip code. EHA's voucher payment standards set the highest amount the agency can pay toward voucher participants' rent and utilities. They do not represent the maximum rent that can be charged or the subsidy that participants receive.

Because the rental market in Snohomish County differs by area, starting on January 1, 2025, EHA has set different payment standards for different areas of the county, by zip code. Each zip code falls within one of three groupings, or tiers. These payment standards will be effective for all new admissions and movers with an effective date of January 1, 2025 or later. To find the tiered payment standards that apply to the area where you want to rent a home with your voucher, on the map below, click on a zip code to view those payment standards.

Households already on the voucher program will receive the higher of payment standard in effect when they last had their review or the tiered payment standard that applies to them until they move (unless their voucher size changes due to a change in their household members). Click here for the 2024 payment standards.

New Rent Increase Form & Process

We have updated our rent increase form, which can be downloaded by clicking the image to the right or visiting our Landlords Forms page on our website. The form must be directed to rentincrease@evha.org. Reminder: a 60-day notice (from the first day of a month) is required for all rent increases.

To view more forms, fair housing compliance, payment standards, and more, visit the Landlord section of our website.

Next Issue: NSPIRE Inspection Standards Coming 2025

EVERETT HOUSING AUTHORITY | 425-258-9222