To fulfill LIHTC requirements, what must the rent structure for rental units reflect?

To fulfill the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) requirements, the rent structure for rental units must reflect a discount from the area's median rent. This is essential because the LIHTC program is designed to provide affordable housing options for low-income individuals and families. By enforcing a rent structure that is lower than the median rent, the program ensures that these households can access safe and decent housing without spending an excessive portion of their income on rent, thereby promoting housing affordability.

This structure encourages developers to create rental units that cater specifically to low-income tenants, recognizing the importance of providing accessible housing in communities where market rates may be prohibitively high. The discount from the median rent allows for a balance between making a property economically viable for developers while also ensuring that low-income residents can afford to live there.

The other options do not align with the core objective of the LIHTC program, which is focused on affordability for low-income individuals rather than aligning rents with market rates, property tax assessments, or other financial considerations that could lead to increased rent burdens. Thus, the correct answer is that the rent structure must reflect a discount from the area’s median rent.