2015 RHFS Letters

This package contains:
1. OS-1 Owner Seeker Letter and Form (page 2)
2. Field Follow-up Advance Letter (page 3)
3. Initial Respondent Letter (page 4-5)
4. Reminder Respondent Letter (page 6)
5. Second Reminder Respondent Letter (page 7)

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Economics and Statistics Administration

U.S. Census Bureau
Washington, DC 20233-0001

From the Director
U.S. Census Bureau

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is conducting the 2015 Rental Housing Finance
Survey (RHFS), a very important study on the numbers and types of rental properties available in the U.S. The
U.S. Census Bureau will be the collection agency for this study.
The owner of this rental property may be selected to participate in the 2015 RHFS. We are asking for your help
to ensure that the RHFS reaches someone who can provide the information we need about the rental property
you live in. Please provide the following information about this property by March 13, 2015:



Type of property
Contact information for the owner of this property

Please take a few minutes to provide this information on our secure website. The time required to complete this
information collection is estimated to average 5 minutes per response.
1.
2.
3.
4.

Go to: https://econhelp.census.gov/owner
Enter your username:
Enter your password exactly as shown:
Click “Survey Log in” to begin.

Your responses are confidential and protected by Title 13, United States Code, Section 9.
If you have any questions or are unable to access the internet to provide the information, please contact us, tollfree, at 1-800-###-####. Someone will be available to take your call Monday - Friday, between 8:00 a.m. and
5:00 p.m. (Eastern Time). At any other time, please leave a message and someone will return your call
promptly.
Thank you in advance for your cooperation. Your response helps ensure that the Census Bureau accurately
measures America’s people, places, and our Economy.
Sincerely,

Report Online:
https://econhelp.census.gov/owner

U.S. Census Bureau

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is conducting the 2015 Rental
Housing Finance Survey (RHFS). The RHFS collects data on the following topics:






Characteristics of residential structures
Occupancy and rents of units within the residential structures
Operating and capital improvement expenses
Ownership structure
Financing, government benefits, and non-governmental programs

A Field Representative from the Census Bureau will contact you to conduct a personal interview.
Or, if you would prefer, you may complete the survey questionnaire online at
https://econhelp.census.gov/owner. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control
number for this survey is 2528-0276. Approval for this survey expires on xx/xx/20xx.
The Census Bureau selected this property, not you personally, as part of a scientifically selected
sample. Because we selected your property to represent thousands of similar properties
throughout the United States, your participation is vital. The information you provide to us
about this property will help HUD evaluate, monitor, and design national housing policies,
priorities, and programs affecting rental housing. Owners, managers, developers and researchers
will also be able to use the data to study the housing market and make better business decisions.
We are conducting this survey under the authority of Title 13, United States Code (U.S.C.),
Section 8, and Title 12, U.S.C., Sections 1701z-1, 1701z-2(g), and 1701z-10a. Title 13, U.S.C.,
Section 9 requires us to keep all information about you and your property strictly confidential.
We use this information only for statistical purposes.
Please visit http://econhelp.census.gov/rhfs/about for additional information about the RHFS.
Results from the 2012 RHFS are available at
http://www.huduser.org/portal/datasets/rhfs/home.html. If you have any further questions,
please call the Census Bureau’s (RO name) Regional Office toll-free number at
1–800–xxx–xxxx.
Thank you in advance for your participation.
Sincerely,

John Thompson
Director

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Economics and Statistics Administration

U.S. Census Bureau
Washington, DC 20233-0001

From the Director
U.S. Census Bureau
The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is conducting the 2015 Rental Housing Finance Survey
(RHFS), a very important survey on the numbers and types of rental properties available in the U.S. The U.S. Census
Bureau will be the collection agency for this study.
The 2015 RHFS will collect data on the following topics:





Characteristics of residential structures
Occupancy and capital improvement expenses
Ownership structure
Financing, government benefits, and non-governmental programs

We encourage you to participate in this survey. Your responses will be collected on a secure website. Your answers will
remain confidential and will be used only for statistical purposes. Pease complete your survey by June 12, 2015.
To login to the RHFS:
1. Go to: https://econhelp.census.gov/owner
2. Enter your username:
3. Enter your password exactly as shown:
4. Click “Survey Log in” to begin.
If you have any questions, please contact us, toll-free, at 1-800-###-####. Someone will be available to take your call
Monday through Friday, between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. (Eastern Time). At any other time, please leave a message
and someone will return your call promptly.
For additional information about the RHFS, please visit http://econhelp.census.gov/rhfs/about. Results from the 2012
RHFS are available at http://www.huduser.org/portal/datasets/rhfs/home.html.
Thank you in advance for your contribution to this important survey effort. Your response helps ensure that the Census
Bureau accurately measures America’s people, places, and our Economy.
Sincerely,

Report Online:
https://econhelp.census.gov/owner

U.S. Census Bureau

What is the purpose of this survey?
The purpose of the 2015 Rental Housing Finance Survey (RHFS) is to provide a measure of financial, mortgage and
property characteristics of rental housing properties in the United States.
Who authorizes this survey?
We are conducting this survey under the authority of Title 13, United States Code (U.S.C.), Section 8, and Title 12, U.S.C.,
Sections 1701z-1, 1701z-2(g), and 1701z-10a.
Why should you participate in this survey?
The RHFS is the primary source of rental housing data for the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD),
federal, state and local governments and to the public. This survey helps inform the development of rental housing
policies, especially those pertaining to financing rental housing for targeted groups such as low-income families and
individuals and the elderly. The data you provide will help policy makers evaluate the suitability of public policy
initiatives. Academic researchers and private organizations may also utilize the data to facilitate their research and
projects. The RHFS provides an overall portrait of rental housing in the United States.
Will your responses be kept confidential?
Your responses are protected under Title 13, U.S.C., Section 9. Your answers may be used only for statistical purposes
and may not be disclosed, or used, in identifiable form for any other purpose except as required by law. Your
participation is voluntary, but your responses are necessary to make the results of this survey accurate and timely.
How will your information be reported?
The information you provide will be combined with the information provided by others in statistical reports. No
individually-identifiable data will be included in the statistical reports.
Paperwork Burden Statement
According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a collection of information
unless such collection displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number for this information
collection is 2528-0276. The time required to complete this information collection is estimated to average 60 minutes
per response, including the time spent to review instructions, search existing data sources, gather the data needed, and
complete and review the information collection. If you have any comments concerning the accuracy of the time
estimate(s), suggestions for improving this form, or concerns regarding the status of your individual submission of this
form, please write to: U. S. Census Bureau, Joe Huesman, #7K081, Washington, DC 20233.

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Economics and Statistics Administration

U.S. Census Bureau
Washington, DC 20233-0001

From the Director
U.S. Census Bureau
Recently the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Census Bureau invited you to
participate in the 2015 Rental Housing Finance Survey (RHFS). We rely on rental property owners like you to provide
information that helps inform the development of rental housing policies, especially those pertaining to financing rental
housing for targeted groups such as low-income families and individuals and the elderly.
If you have recently completed the survey, thank you for your assistance and please disregard this letter. If you have not
had the opportunity to participate yet, we encourage you to complete the survey. Please take a few minutes to provide
this information on our secure website by June 12, 2015.
To login to the Rental Housing Finance Survey:
1. Go to: https://econhelp.census.gov/owner
2. Enter your username:
3. Enter your password exactly as shown:
4. Click “Survey Log in” to begin.
Your responses are confidential and protected by Title 13, United States Code, Section 9. Your answers may be used
only for statistical purposes and may not be disclosed, or used, in identifiable form for any other purpose except as
required by law. Your participation is voluntary, but your responses are necessary to make the results of this survey
accurate and timely.
If you have any questions, please contact us, toll-free, at 1-800-###-#### . Someone will be available to take your call
Monday through Friday, between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. (Eastern Time). At any other time, please leave a message
and someone will return your call promptly.
For additional information about the RHFS, please visit http://econhelp.census.gov/rhfs/about. Results from the 2012
RHFS are available at http://www.huduser.org/portal/datasets/rhfs/home.html.
Thank you in advance for your contribution to this important survey effort. Your response helps ensure that the Census
Bureau accurately measures America’s people, places, and our Economy.
Sincerely,

Report Online:
https://econhelp.census.gov/owner

U.S. Census Bureau

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Economics and Statistics Administration

U.S. Census Bureau
Washington, DC 20233-0001

SECOND REMINDER
From the Director
U.S. Census Bureau

Recently the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Census Bureau invited you to
participate in the 2015 Rental Housing Finance Survey (RHFS). We rely on rental property owners like you to provide
information that helps inform the development of rental housing policies, especially those pertaining to financing rental
housing for targeted groups such as low-income families and individuals and the elderly.
The deadline to complete the 2015 Rental Housing Finance Survey (RHFS) is nearing. Please take a few minutes to
provide this information on our secure website by June 12, 2015.
If you have recently completed the survey, thank you for your assistance and please disregard this letter. If you have not
had the opportunity to participate yet, we encourage you to complete the survey.
To login to the Rental Housing Finance Survey:
1. Go to: https://econhelp.census.gov/owner
2. Enter your username:
3. Enter your password exactly as shown:
4. Click “Survey Log in” to begin.
Your responses are confidential and protected by Title 13, United States Code, Section 9. Your answers may be used
only for statistical purposes and may not be disclosed, or used, in identifiable form for any other purpose except as
required by law. Your participation is voluntary, but your responses are necessary to make the results of this survey
accurate and timely.
If you have any questions, please contact us, toll-free, at 1-800-###-####. Someone will be available to take your call
Monday through Friday, between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. (Eastern Time). At any other time, please leave a message
and someone will return your call promptly.
For additional information about the 2015 RHFS, please visit http://econhelp.census.gov/rhfs/about. Results from the
2012 RHFS are available at http://www.huduser.org/portal/datasets/rhfs/home.html.
Thank you in advance for your contribution to this important survey effort. Your response helps ensure that the Census
Bureau accurately measures America’s people, places, and our Economy.
Sincerely,

Report Online:
https://econhelp.census.gov/owner

U.S. Census Bureau