WASHINGTON, D.C. — American Seniors Housing Association (ASHA) President and CEO David Schless has issued a response to the passage of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act by the U.S. House of Representatives, which passed an amended version of the Senate’s original bill.
“This bill took an unfortunate turn,” said Schless in a letter to ASHA members.
According to ASHA, the version of the bill passed by the House includes language that could have unintended consequences for seniors housing. A section of the proposed legislation includes prohibitions limiting institutional investor purchases of single-family homes, which could impact senior living communities including villas, duplexes or cottages.
Though the bill features an exception for age-restricted communities, ASHA argues that it does not ensure protections for existing properties.
Previously, the House adopted expanded exemptions that would have afforded greater protections for seniors housing. However, these were abandoned in favor of minimized differences with the Senate’s version of the bill.
Moving forward, the Senate will either adopt the House bill, pursue a conference to settle disagreements or refrain from further advancing the legislation.