Housing Manager’s Procedures Manual

Housing Manager's Procedures Manual

Public Housing Agency

November 2005

Internal Review Project Director Technical Reviewer Management Reviewer

A Word About This Manual

This manual was initially prepared as a resource for public housing agencies (PHAs) participating in the Moving to Work (MTW) Demonstration that were transitioning to project-based management. However, given the recent shift to project-based management for the public housing program as a whole, it is anticipated that this manual will have much broader application. Included with this document are sample job descriptions for Regional Manager, Housing Manager, Housing Assistant, Maintenance Superintendent, Maintenance Superintendent and Housekeeper. These job descriptions are also in keeping with a project-based model.

How to Use This Manual

The intent of this document is to provide PHAs with a sample procedures manual for housing managers under project based management. Please note that it assumes a fairly evolved (or decentralized) projectbased management structure, one that is consistent with norms in private housing. PHAs must decide what model best meets the needs for each property. Consequently, PHAs should adapt this manual to fit local conditions, where appropriate. For example, while the manual assumes that housing managers will have purchasing authority of up to $200 without prior approval from the regional manager, PHAs may feel that higher (lower) thresholds are appropriate.

Certain other assumptions used in the development of this manual include:

o Local landlord-tenant laws . These laws vary across jurisdictions. For example, whereas this manual includes a late fee of $10 on the 6th day of the month and $15 on the 10th, PHAs may not be permitted, or may not choose to adopt, such a late fee policy. Similarly, rules on managing security deposits or the disposition of abandoned furniture vary by locality. PHAs will want to conform the procedures in this document to all such local laws.

o Automated management information system. This manual assumes that the subject PHA has an automated management information system to handle such functions as: rent collections, wait list management, reexaminations, work orders, and property accounting.

o Forms. It is assumed that, as part of this hypothetical PHA's automated management information system, all forms required by housing management personnel are contained in a "shared" drive within the agency's "intra-net." This manual references, but does not include, these forms. The exception is of certain forms that, in the opinion of the authors, might be new to PHAs who previously have maintained centralized property management systems. For example, this manual includes a Petty Cash Log (few PHAs today have petty cash accounts for each property) as well as a Traffic Log (tracking the number of applicant inquiries under a site-based waiting list system). These selected forms appear as exhibits at the end of the chapters in which they are first introduced and are referenced, in the text, with brackets ().

o Agency size. While no specific agency size was intended in the development of this manual, smaller agencies will likely have simpler organizations and possibly more streamlined procedures than contained herein.

o Collective bargaining. The majority of larger PHAs are subject to collective bargaining agreements. This manual assumes that the maintenance staff is covered under a collective bargaining agreement, but one where the work rules are more similar to practices in private housing (where the workforce tends not to be subject to formal collective bargaining agreements).

Housing Manager's Procedures Manual ? Public Housing Agency A Word About This Manual

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In keeping with its conventional approach to property management, this manual has a particularly strong emphasis on marketing, curb appeal, and customer satisfaction. While some public housing properties benefit from strong demand, and therefore face little difficulty filling units, efforts at curb appeal, customer satisfaction, and marketing should be universal themes, regardless of property type or subsidy program.

Another resource developed in conjunction with this manual is a series of sample job descriptions. Managing under PBM model means the assignment of new job tasks and responsibilities for housing management personnel, especially for the following positions: housing manager, assistant housing manager, maintenance supervisor/technician, and regional property manager. The sample job descriptions are provided in the Manual's Appendix.

Acknowledgements This manual combines (1) the experience of various MTW and non-MTW PHAs who, in recent years, have initiated project-based management with (2) the actual operating procedures of a private property management company. Special appreciation is extended to: Allied Group of Renton, WA, and the housing authorities of King County, WA, Portland, OR, Cambridge, MA, Dade County, FL, Louisville, KY, Baltimore, MD, Tampa, FL, and Indianapolis, IN. This manual was prepared under contract C-OPC21702, Task Order 5, between Abt Associates Inc. and the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

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A Word About This Manual

Housing Manager's Procedures Manual ? Public Housing Agency

Contents

Introduction............................................................................................................................. vii Purpose ............................................................................................................................vii Property Management Goals ..............................................................................................vii Agency Philosophy ...........................................................................................................vii Agency Organization........................................................................................................viii Agency Policies ...............................................................................................................viii Automated Management Information System (AMIS) ..........................................................ix Organization of this Manual................................................................................................ix

Chapter 1................................................................................................................................... 1 Financial Management .............................................................................................................. 1

1.1. Overview ................................................................................................................1 1.2. The Operating Budget..............................................................................................1 1.3. Financial Reporting .................................................................................................1 1.4. Budget Thresholds ...................................................................................................2 1.5. Coding (Chart of Account Structure).........................................................................2 1.6. Monthly Cut-off ......................................................................................................2 1.7. Declining Budget Form............................................................................................3 1.8. Approving Vendor Invoices .....................................................................................4 1.9. Petty Cash...............................................................................................................6 1.10. Use of Agency Funds, Facilities, and Materials..........................................................7 1.11. Fixed Assets............................................................................................................7 1.12. Annual Inventory.....................................................................................................8

Chapter 2 General Office Procedures......................................................................................................... 9

2.1. Overview ................................................................................................................9 2.2. Administrative Staffing ............................................................................................9 2.3. Appearance .............................................................................................................9 2.4. Office Equipment, Services, and Supplies ...............................................................10 2.5. Hours of Operation ................................................................................................12 2.6. Phone Protocol ......................................................................................................12 2.7. Filing ....................................................................................................................12 2.8. Bulletin Boards .....................................................................................................13 2.9. Product Knowledge Notebook ................................................................................14 2.10. Key Control ..........................................................................................................14 2.11. Agency Calendar...................................................................................................16 2.12. Courier Service......................................................................................................16 2.13. Weekly Property Staff Meeting ..............................................................................16 2.14. Monthly Operations Timeline .................................................................................17 2.15. Periodic Reporting .................................................................................................17 2.16. Property Inspections ..............................................................................................19 2.17. Utility Allowances.................................................................................................19 2.18. Accessibility .........................................................................................................19 2.19. Access to Occupied Units.......................................................................................20 2.20. Approvals for Non-Housing Use of Units................................................................21 2.21. Parking .................................................................................................................21 2.22. Property Insurance.................................................................................................21 2.23. Emergency Procedures Plan/Manual.......................................................................23

Housing Manager's Procedures Manual ? Public Housing Agency

Contents

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