---
kind: "section"
citation: "24 C.F.R. § 214.313"
title: "24"
number: "214.313"
heading: "Housing counseling fees."
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/24/214.313"
---

# §214.313. Housing counseling fees.

- (a) Participating agencies may charge reasonable and customary fees for housing education and counseling services, as long as the cost does not create a financial hardship for the client. An agency's fee schedule must be posted in a prominent place that is easily viewed by clients, and be available to HUD for review.
- (b) Agencies must inform clients of the fee structure in advance of providing services. Clients cannot be charged for client intake.
- (c) If any agency chooses to charge fees, the agency must conform to the following guidelines:
  - (1) Provide counseling without charge to persons who cannot afford the fees;
  - (2) Fees must be commensurate with the level of services provided;
  - (3) Agencies may not impose fees upon clients for the same portion of or for an entire service that is already funded with HUD grant funds.
- (d) The agency may also be reimbursed from clients for the direct cost of obtaining copies of clients' credit reports from credit reporting bureaus if this does not cause a hardship for the client. In cases where the participating agency receives a discount for the cost of credit reports, this discount must be passed on to the client.
- (e) Lenders may pay agencies for counseling services, through a lump sum or on a case-by-case basis, provided the level of payment does not exceed a level that is commensurate with the services provided, and is reasonable and customary for the area, and does not violate requirements under the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act ([12 U.S.C. 2601](/usc/12/2601.md) et seq.). These transactions and relationships must be disclosed to the client as required in [§ 214.303(g)](/cfr/24/214.303.md?p=g).

## Notes

### Authority

Authority: 12 U.S.C. 1701x, 1701x-1; 42 U.S.C. 3535(d).

### Source

Source: 72 FR 55648, Sept. 28, 2007, unless otherwise noted.