* § 614. Rent. 1. The rent for dwelling units for which a housing
assistance payment contract is established under this article shall be
reasonable in comparison with rents charged for comparable dwelling
units in the private, unassisted local market.

2. A housing access voucher local administrator (or other entity, as
provided in section six hundred sixteen of this article) may, at the
request of an individual or family receiving assistance under this
article, assist that individual or family in negotiating a reasonable
rent with a dwelling unit owner. A housing access voucher local
administrator (or other such entity) shall review the rent for a unit
under consideration by the individual or family (and all rent increases
for units under lease by the individual or family) to determine whether
the rent (or rent increase) requested by the owner is reasonable. If a
housing access voucher local administrator (or other such entity)
determines that the rent (or rent increase) for a dwelling unit is not
reasonable, the housing access voucher local administrator (or other
such entity) shall not make housing assistance payments to the owner
under this subdivision with respect to that unit.

3. If a dwelling unit for which a housing assistance payment contract
is established under this article is exempt from local rent control
provisions during the term of that contract, the rent for that unit
shall be reasonable in comparison with other units in the rental area
that are exempt from local rent control provisions.

4. Each housing access voucher local administrator shall make timely
payment of any amounts due to a dwelling unit owner under this section,
subject to appropriation of funds for this purpose.

* NB Expires May 1, 2030