On Wednesday, November 26, the Office of Multifamily Housing Programs announced that the Secretary has published a letter on screening criminal responsibilities.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has rescinded:

1. Notice 2015-19, “Guidance for Public Housing Agencies (PHAs) and Owners of Federally-Assisted Housing on Excluding the Use of Arrest Records in Housing Decisions”;
2. 2016 memo from HUD’s Office of General Counsel on “Guidance on Application of Fair Housing Act Standards to the Use of Criminal Records by Providers of Housing and Real Estate-Related Transactions”; and
3. 2022 memo from HUD’s Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity on “Implementation of the Office of General Counsel’s Guidance on Application of Fair Housing Act Standards to the Use of Criminal Records by Providers of Housing and Real Estate-Related Transactions” on background screening.

Please view the Screening Criminal Responsibilities Letter for additional information.

• SOHUD Letter on Criminal Screening Responsibilities of PHAs and Owners_final.pdf

Source: Office of Multifamily Housing email on 11/26/2025