760 CMR 64.02
Sale(a) and (b); and
(b) a transfer of any interest that causes dissolution of the Owner under applicable state law
governing corporations, trusts, partnerships, or LLCs.
Simultaneous Replacement. As used in the definition of Termination in M.G.L. c. 40T, § 1, the
term Simultaneous Replacement shall include the continuance, by assumption by a Purchaser or
otherwise, of an Existing Equivalent Affordability Restriction that remains in place
notwithstanding the cessation, discharge, or removal of an Affordability Restriction imposed by
a different Government Program.
Successor Designee - has the meaning set forth in 760 CMR 64.04(4).
Termination - has the meaning set forth in M.G.L. c. 40T, § 1, as further affected by the
definition of Equivalent Affordability Restriction in 760 CMR 64.02(1).
Third-party Purchaser - means a Purchaser who is not the Department, a Designee, or an
Affiliate.
(2) Standards for "Preserve Affordability". In making a determination as to whether a Purchaser
has taken the necessary actions to Preserve Affordability, the Department shall take the following
factors into consideration. In each case the burden shall be on the party seeking the
determination to provide sufficient evidence to support the Department's determination.
(a) Reasonable and Diligent Actions. In making a determination as to whether the
Purchaser has undertaken reasonable and diligent actions to retain, renew or secure Subsidies
affecting Publicly-assisted Housing, the Department will consider, in its reasonable
discretion, the following factors and information.
1. If the opportunity exists to retain or renew Subsidies under an existing Government
Program, the Purchaser must show either:
a.
that it made all necessary filings and took all other necessary actions in a
complete, timely, and diligent manner, and the Subsidies have been retained or
renewed; or
b. new equivalent Subsidies have been secured.
2. If a request to retain or renew Subsidies is denied despite reasonable and diligent
actions, or if the availability of Subsidies under an existing Government Program has
been reduced or terminated, the Purchaser must show that it undertook diligent efforts
to identify and secure an alternative source(s) of Subsidies. In identifying potential
Subsidies, the Purchaser shall show, at a minimum, that it consulted with the Department
to obtain information about the full range of alternative federal and state Subsidy
programs, and that it consulted with the Affected Municipality to obtain information
about the full range of alternative local Subsidy programs. A Purchaser who is
suspended, debarred, or otherwise prohibited from participating in a Subsidy program
that is otherwise available, shall not be considered to have complied with 760 CMR
64.02(2)(a).
(b) Quality Housing. In making a determination as to whether the Purchaser has taken into
account the need to ensure that the Publicly-assisted Housing provides quality housing to its
Tenants, the Department will consider, in its reasonable discretion, whether a reduction in
the total number of affordable units or the number of bedrooms per unit is justified by the
aggregate effect of some or all of the following factors:
1. substandard physical condition of the building that fails to meet the requirements of
current building, fire, or energy codes;
2. substandard physical condition of the building that fails to meet the requirements of
current accessibility codes;
3. the need to provide space within the building dedicated to programs and facilities
directly serving the Low Income Tenant population;
4. the need to improve the quality of life of the Low Income Tenant population and/or
the marketability of the Publicly-assisted Housing to the Low Income Tenant population;
and
5. the need to meet regional Low-income housing needs, including the need for larger
units to accommodate families; provided in each case that units should not materially
exceed the Department's current minimum dimensional standards for affordable housing
units found in the Department's Construction/Rehabilitation Guidelines for developments
that receive state assistance, published on the Department's website.
(c) Comparable Replacement Units. In making a determination as to whether the Purchaser
has replaced lost units with comparable deed-restricted Publicly-assisted Housing units at an
alternative site to the extent of available Subsidies and to the extent feasible, the Department
will consider, in its reasonable discretion, the following factors and information. The
Purchaser shall provide with respect to the proposed replacement the following information,
to the extent applicable:
1. plans of the alternative site and the housing units to be provided and the number of
units (to be further categorized by the number of bedrooms per unit) covered by each
Affordability Restriction;
2. a copy of the Affordability Restriction(s) to be imposed on the replacement units;
3. a development and/or construction schedule;
4. a financial pro forma and preliminary financing commitment(s); and
5. satisfactory evidence that zoning and all other required approvals have been issued
or may reasonably be expected to issue in due course. If the proposed development will
not provide the full number of replacement units, the Purchaser must show that it
complied with the standards of 760 CMR 64.02(2)(a) in trying to obtain available
Subsidies. The Department shall make continuing compliance with this requirement a
condition of a Certificate of Exemption, unless the Department or another governmental
entity has imposed substantially equivalent requirements. Such conditions may include,
at the Department's discretion, the power to impose a lien on the alternative site, not to
be released except with the Department's consent upon full compliance.
(d) Minimum Expectations.
1. The Department expects a request for a Certificate of Exemption on the basis of
Preserving Affordability to include Affordability Restrictions meeting all of the
following requirements to the extent applicable:
a. If an Affordability Restriction pursuant to project-based rental assistance under
M.G.L. c. 40T, § 1, Publicly-assisted Housing(i) or (xiii) currently applies to the
Publicly-assisted Housing, the Owner and Purchaser must commit to enter into a
binding written agreement with the Department suitable for recording in a registry
of deeds or registry district of the land court to renew, either at the time of the Sale
or at such time as the existing Subsidy contract expires if it remains in effect after the
Sale, the current Subsidies imposing such Affordability Restrictions on substantially
equivalent terms and conditions for the longest term permissible by the agency
administering the applicable Subsidies, and to continue to request such renewals on
similar terms up to such time as is necessary to cover the date 30 years from the date
of sale.
b. If an Affordability Restriction that does not qualify under 760 CMR
64.02(2)(d)1.a. currently applies to the Publicly-assisted Housing, the Owner and
Purchaser must assure through a combination of existing, renewable, and new
Affordability Restrictions that such Affordability Restrictions on the affected
property will be maintained for at least thirty years from the date of the applicable
Sale for the same total number of Publicly-assisted Housing units and the same
number of units restricted to each of Low Income, Very Low Income, and Extremely
Low Income households as are covered by Affordability Restrictions at the time of
the Sale.
c. If a request for a Certificate of Exemption on the basis of Preserving Affordability
concerns Publicly-Assisted Housing subject to Affordability Restrictions covered by
both 760 CMR 64.02(2)(d)1.a. and b., the Minimum Expectations applicable to both
such provisions shall apply.
2. If a request for a Certificate of Exemption on the basis of Preserving Affordability
does not meet the requirements of 760 CMR 64.02(2)(d)1.a. and b., to the extent
applicable, the Owner and Purchaser must:
a. demonstrate that exceptional circumstances exist preventing them from meeting
the requirements of 760 CMR 64.02(2)(d)1.a. or b., as applicable, including, but not
limited to, demonstration of taking extraordinary diligent action to determine that
Subsidies meeting the requirements of 760 CMR 64.02(2)(d)1.a. or b.,were not
available or were available only on terms that are economically unfeasible; or
b. in the case of an interim or bridge Sale based on the Purchaser's representation
that a subsequent Sale or financing transaction will provide for extending existing
Affordability Restrictions or additional Affordability Restrictions, submit a plan
acceptable to the Department indicating how they will meet the requirements of
760 CMR 64.02 (2)(d)1.a. or b., as applicable, prior to securing a Final Certificate
of Exemption.
3. a. For property subject to the provisions of M.G.L. c. 40T, § 6, during the four-year
period covered by M.G.L. c. 40T, § 10, the Department shall determine appropriate
Minimum Expectations on a case-by-case basis, in its sole discretion, depending on
the circumstances.
b. The Department may issue administrative guidance in regard to the application
of Minimum Expectations pursuant to 760 CMR 64.02(2)(d).