Utility services are defined as gas, electricity, water, sewer, and garbage collection charges. Include utilities in the base monthly rent computation because utilities are considered an integral part of monthly housing costs. The objective in adjusting for utilities is to achieve consistency between rental properties and ultimately to reduce any additional out-of-pocket monthly expenses for tenants of all types of dwellings, including mobile homes. The existence of adequate utilities is a primary requirement for a DSS dwelling.

Use of the HUD Utility Schedule Model for the project area is preferred by TxDOT. Add utility costs to the subject (including mobile homes), comparable and replacement rents unless they are already included in the rent.

If comparable utility services are included in both the monthly rent of the displacement dwelling and the monthly rent of the selected replacement dwelling, record this information on form and compute the rent supplement on a rent vs. rent basis.

If a utility service is

not

included in the monthly rent of a

displacement

dwelling, record the type and monthly cost of the utility service in the remarks section of form

ROW-R-107 Supplemental Payment Estimate, Replacement Housing

. If a utility service is not included in the monthly rent of a comparable

replacement

dwelling, record the type and monthly cost of the utility service in the remarks section of form . Record background information pertaining to the determination of a utility service cost in the parcel file.