The Rental Housing Finance Survey provides a current and continuous measure of financial, mortgage, and property characteristics of rental housing properties in the United States.

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Is my response to this survey required by law?

Participation in the Rental Housing Finance Survey is voluntary, but your responses are necessary to make the results of this survey timely and accurate.

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Are my survey responses kept confidential?

Yes, your responses are protected by law (Title 13 United States Code, Section 9). Your responses are completely confidential and may be seen only by persons sworn to uphold the confidentiality of Census Bureau information. The data are used only for statistical purposes and responses are summarized so that the confidentiality of individual respondents and their business activities are fully protected.

All Census Bureau employees take an oath of nondisclosure and are sworn for life to protect all information that could identify individuals. Disclosing ANY information that could identify you or your family means 5 years in prison, or $250,000 in fines, or both.

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Why should I participate in this survey?

The Rental Housing Finance Survey provides an overall portrait of rental housing in the United States and is the primary source of rental housing data for the Department of Housing and Urban Development, federal, state, and local governments and to the public. This survey helps inform the development of rental housing policies, especially those pertaining to financing rental housing for targeted groups such as low-income families and individuals and the elderly.

The data you provide will help policy makers evaluate the suitability of public policy initiatives.

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Who uses the survey data?

The Department of Housing and Urban Development uses the data to gain a better understanding of rental loan origination volumes, property characteristics associated with these originations, and operation cost and revenue characteristics for the rental housing stock in the United States.
The executive and legislative branches may use the data to help advise the development of rental housing policies, especially those pertaining to financing rental housing for target groups such as low-income families and individuals and the elderly.
The Federal Housing Finance Agency may use the data to fulfill its requirements to set affordable housing goals for government-sponsored enterprises and to develop standards for underwriting rental property mortgages.
Businesses and other private entities involved in rental housing development, ownership, and management may use the data to obtain detailed information on the financing options used by similar entities in the United States, and to obtain benchmark information on capital operating expenditures, rental income, and the structure and design of these properties.
Academic researchers and private organizations may use the data to facilitate their research and projects.

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How was I selected for this survey?

A sample of residential rental properties across the country was scientifically selected to participate in this survey. Each property represents many other properties in the surrounding community as well.

Interviewing a small sample of rental properties, rather than all rental properties in the United States, allows the Census Bureau to measure the entire rental population while limiting the cost of the survey and reducing the overall impact on respondents; however, it greatly increases the importance of receiving a report from each rental property selected.

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How can I get more information?

Click Contact Us for more information or assistance.

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