On September 22, 2026, the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) posted proposed updates to the Minimum Property Requirements in its Single Family Housing Policy Handbook 4000.1. The agency is accepting stakeholder feedback through November 6, 2026.
FHA says the proposal would simplify the wording and structure of the requirements and clarify property eligibility and acceptability standards. It is still a draft: existing policies remain in effect until amended, and the proposed text cannot be used for an FHA-insured mortgage before it is finalized.
For an owner selling to an FHA-financed buyer, the immediate task is to keep the transaction grounded in the requirements currently applicable to that loan.
Three practical steps
- Confirm the current requirements with the lender. Ask which property-condition issues need to be resolved for the specific transaction.
- Keep repair and condition records. Continue necessary safety and maintenance work while the proposal is under review.
- Make feedback specific. HUD's Drafting Table provides a response worksheet; refer to the draft's page and line numbers when submitting comments.
Sources: FHA INFO 2026-22, September 22, 2026 — https://www.hud.gov/hud-partners/single-family-fha-info ; HUD Drafting Table, feedback deadline and worksheet — https://www.hud.gov/hud-partners/single-family-policy-drafts . Checked September 28, 2026.
