What changes are being proposed? 

AHFC staff are proposing updates to the Tenant Protection Lease Addendum itself along with accompanying changes to the RHDA Program Guidelines and Tenant Selection Criteria required by the RHDA program. These updates are intended to improve tenant outcomes, enhance the consistency and clarity of the Tenant Protection Lease Addendum, and introduce Eviction Prevention Plans as a tenant protection strategy. The changes are based on stakeholder engagement, conducted April - June 2026. 

Below is a summary of major changes, as well as direct links to review the full documents. 

Summary of Key Proposed Changes 

  • Streamline and simplify 30-day notice period to include right to cure and right to meet prior to lease termination or nonrenewal 
  • Require physical delivery of termination notices; streamline forms of notice required 
  • Require incorporation of Eviction Prevention Plans which address payment-related lease violations, including minimum standards related to supporting tenants facing cost burdens, rent escalations, or fees 
  • Define reasonable window of time for notice of unit entry 
  • Revise the definition of emergencies for unit entry 
  • Add a definition of unit abandonment 
  • Re-define relocation benefits to clarify what benefits are owed to tenants facing temporary relocation and permanent relocation 
  • Require acceptance of multiple sources of payment if payments are made in a timely manner 
  • Require acceptance of forms of rental assistance 
  • Require community rules to be reasonably tied to health, safety, or quiet enjoyment 
  • Revise the limitations on late fees 
  • Revise the allowable limitations on overnight guests
  • Clarify that notices of application denial must include the basis for the denial decision in compliance with the Tenant Screening Criteria

 

Instructions for reviewing the redline changes
You will need to download each document to review the redline changes. Google Chrome automatically downloads the file once you click the link. Microsoft Edge will open in a browser, and from there, you must download to view the redline changes.

The comment period will close on September 4, 2026. 

Your Feedback

What comments do you have about the Tenant Protection Lease Addendum updates?

What is the Tenant Protection Lease Addendum? 

The Tenant Protection Lease Addendum is a standardized lease addendum which provides tenant protections beyond those typically afforded via state law. This addendum is required to be used on properties which utilize certain forms of City-supported affordable housing funding or incentives, including the Rental Housing Development Assistance (RHDA) gap financing program. The current iteration of the Tenant Protection Lease Addendum was updated in 2021. 

What feedback has been collected so far?

On May 18, 2026, Austin Housing and the Austin Human Resources Learning, Engagement, and Development Office convened stakeholders for an in-person workshop session related to the Tenant Protection Lease Addendum used by Austin Housing. This session followed two previous engagement sessions that focused on listening to all perspectives. In the workshop session, stakeholders were asked to work collaboratively to propose specific lease addendum updates and solutions to address concerns raised by stakeholders.

Feedback themes and a summary of the collaborative workshop can found at the tabs above.