The Department of Housing and Urban Development has clarified requirements for FHA lenders before they can hire professional employer organizations to handle their human-resource (HR) functions. Generally, the HUD Single-Family Policy Handbook bars FHA lenders from outsourcing HR services such as payroll processing, payment of employment taxes, and/or the provision of employee benefits. However, HUD has decided to ease the rules in new guidance issued on Nov. 28. Based on an analysis of certain policies and potential risks, HUD now allows lenders to outsource their HR services if they retain full responsibility and legal liability for the actions of covered employees with respect to HUD regulations and requirements, particularly in the areas of compensation and use of contractors. Specifically, the lender must not compensate employees who perform underwriting, quality control, or ...