The National Multifamily Housing Council and the National Apartment Association have launched an ambitious campaign to reshape federal regulations, affecting the apartment sector. In a comprehensive letter to the Trump administration, the nonprofits called for a thorough review of 32 federal programs, rules, and regulations across 10 agencies.
The proposal spans multiple federal departments and agencies, addressing issues from energy efficiency standards to cybersecurity regulations, and from fair housing rules to financial reporting requirements.
At the Department of Energy, the groups seek to revisit appliance efficiency standards and building energy codes, arguing that current regulations increase costs and limit consumer choice. The Department of Homeland Security is targeted for its proposed cybersecurity incident reporting requirements, which the NMHC claims would add unnecessary administrative burdens to multifamily property owners.
The Department of Housing and Urban Development faces the most extensive list of requested changes, with 15 items under scrutiny. These include clarifying eviction notice requirements, reforming the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program, and withdrawing various rules related to floodplain management, criminal screening, and the use of AI in tenant screening.
The nonprofits seek to replace the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing Rule with a policy from the first Trump administration and reform inspection protocols for physical property standards.
Workplace-related requests span the Department of Labor, National Labor Relations Board, and Occupational Safety and Health Administration. The groups advocate for repealing rules that expand overtime pay eligibility and joint employer status and withdrawing proposed heat safety standards. At the Department of the Treasury, the council pushes for changes to partnership transaction rules, REIT regulations, and repealing the Corporate Transparency Act.
Environmental concerns are addressed through requests to the Environmental Protection Agency, including delaying refrigerant transition rules and revising lead hazard standards. The Federal Communications Commission is targeted for changes to the Affordable Connectivity Program and limitations on the scope of the Digital Discrimination Order.
The Federal Housing Finance Agency faces requests to clarify eviction notice requirements and withdraw directives on rent control and Section 8 participation. Finally, both groups seeks changes from the Federal Trade Commission regarding rental industry guidance and from the Securities and Exchange Commission on climate disclosure rules.
These changes could have far-reaching implications for property owners, tenants, and the broader housing market if implemented. However, the proposal will likely face scrutiny and opposition from tenant rights groups and environmental advocates who may view some of these changes as potentially detrimental to renters and sustainability efforts.