B. Opening and Closing the Waiting List

Owners should monitor the vacancies in their properties and their waiting lists regularly to ensure that there are enough applicants to fill the vacancies. Furthermore, owners should monitor their waiting list to make sure that they do not become so long that the wait for a unit becomes excessive.

1. Closing waiting lists.

   • a. The waiting list may be closed for one or more unit sizes when the average wait is excessive (e.g., one year or more).

   • b. When the owner closes the list, the owner must advise potential applicants that the waiting list is closed and refuse to take additional applications.

   • c. When the owner decides to no longer accept applications, the owner must also publish a notice to that effect in a publication likely to be read by potential applicants. The notice must state the reasons for the owner’s refusal to accept additional applications.

2. Opening waiting lists.

   • a. When the owner agrees to accept applications again, the notice of this action must be announced in a publication likely to be read by potential applicants in the same manner (if possible, in the same publications) as the notification that the waiting list was closed. The notifications should be extensive, and the rules for applying and the order in which applications will be processed should be stated.

   • b. Advertisements should include where and when to apply and should conform to the advertising and outreach activities described in the Affirmative Fair Housing Marketing Plan.