E. Documenting Why Third-Party Verification Is Not Available

When third-party verification is not available, owners must document in the file efforts made to obtain the required verification and the reason the verification was not obtained. The owner must include the following documents in the applicant’s or tenant’s file:

1. A written note to the file explaining why third-party verification is not possible; or

2. A copy of the date-stamped original request that was sent to the third party;

3. Written notes or documentation indicating follow-up efforts to reach the third party to obtain verification; and

4. A written note to the file indicating that the request has been outstanding without a response from the third party.