Payment Standards:
The Payment Standards are the maximum amount of rent CHA and voucher holders will pay an owner in rent for a new or newly renovated apartment that includes all utilities.  There is a different Payment Standard for different sized apartments. 

When searching for apartments, voucher holders should always look for apartments with rents at or below the Payment Standard, adjusted for tenant supplied utilities.  Voucher holders are responsible for every dollar in rent above the Payment Standard, adjusted for tenant supplied utilities.

Each year, the CHA announces the Payment Standards for the coming year in the November Owner Update, and in the Payment Standards & Utility Rates section on the right side of this web page.

Utility Rates:
The CHA's published Payment Standards are for high quality units that include all utilities.  An amount equal to the annual cost of a utility not included in the rent is deducted from the Payment Standard in order to determine the maximum possible rent CHA could agree to pay for an apartment.   

Each year, the CHA hires a company to determine the monthly cost to tenants paying for their own utilities, by utility and building type.  CHA uses this information to create the Utility Allowance Chart.  The Utility Allowance chart is typically published each year in the Owner Update, and in the Payment Standards & Utility Rates section on the right side of this web page.