Housing and Subdivision Development Midterm Reviewer (Lessons 1–7)

Comprehensive midterm practice flashcards covering exact vocabulary definitions and statutory frameworks from Lessons 1 through 7 of the Housing and Subdivision Development reviewer.

Police Power

The inherent authority of government to regulate property use for public health, safety, morals, convenience, and general welfare.

Regulatory Jurisdiction

The legally defined authority of an agency to supervise particular projects, transactions, persons, or geographical areas.

Statutory Mandate

A responsibility or authority expressly granted to a government institution through legislation.

Implementing Rules

Detailed administrative provisions issued to explain and execute the requirements of a particular statute.

Vested Rights

Legally established rights that generally cannot be removed without lawful procedures and sufficient justification.

Due Process

The constitutional requirement for fair notice, impartial proceedings, and a meaningful opportunity to respond.

Compliance Certificate

An official document confirming that specified legal, technical, or administrative requirements have been satisfied.

Cease and Desist Order

An administrative directive requiring an individual or organization to stop an unauthorized or unlawful activity.

Administrative Sanction

A regulatory penalty imposed for violating governing laws, rules, permits, licenses, or official directives.

Public Interest

The collective welfare and well-being of communities considered when government formulates and enforces regulations.

Social Justice

The constitutional principle promoting fair access to land, housing, opportunities, resources, and government protection, particularly for disadvantaged citizens.

Subdivision Project

A parcel of land divided primarily into individual residential lots, with or without buildings, roads, facilities, and community amenities.

Condominium Project

Real property divided into separately owned units and proportionate interests in land, common structures, facilities, and shared areas.

Contract to Sell

An agreement where ownership remains with the seller until the buyer completely satisfies the agreed conditions.

Completion Bond

Financial security ensuring that a developer completes promised project improvements according to approved plans, standards, and schedules.

Development Permit

Official authorization allowing land development based on approved plans and compliance with applicable technical and regulatory requirements.

Locational Clearance

Certification confirming that a proposed project or activity conforms to the applicable zoning ordinance and land-use classification.

Balanced Housing (Lesson 1)

A statutory obligation requiring covered developers to support socialized housing through approved development or alternative compliance methods.

Secure Tenure

Legal protection enabling households to occupy their homes without arbitrary eviction, dispossession, harassment, or unreasonable displacement.

Resettlement Area (Lesson 1)

A planned community provided for qualified families displaced by government projects, danger conditions, eviction, or redevelopment activities.

DHSUD

The national executive department responsible for housing policy, urban development coordination, land-use planning, and regulation of subdivision and condominium projects.

HSAC

The quasi-judicial commission authorized to hear and decide specified disputes involving housing projects, homeowners associations, developers, and property buyers.

Quasi-Judicial Authority

The legal capacity of an administrative body to hear evidence, determine facts, apply regulations, and issue enforceable decisions.

Rulemaking Authority

The delegated capacity of an agency to formulate regulations necessary for implementing and enforcing legislation.

Appellate Jurisdiction

The authority to review decisions or orders issued by a lower tribunal, officer, board, or administrative body.

Inspection Authority

The lawful capacity of government officers to examine projects, documents, facilities, construction work, and regulatory compliance.

Environmental Compliance Certificate

A document certifying that a proposed project has satisfied environmental impact assessment requirements and accepted prescribed environmental conditions.

Zoning Administrator

The local official responsible for administering zoning regulations and evaluating proposed uses against approved land classifications.

Building Official

The local government officer authorized to administer building regulations, issue permits, conduct inspections, and address code violations.

Adjudicatory Order

A written directive or decision issued by an authorized tribunal after evaluating the claims, defenses, and evidence presented.

Public Offering

The promotion or availability of subdivision lots or condominium units for purchase by members of the public.

Reservation Agreement

A preliminary arrangement temporarily holding a property for a prospective buyer, subject to stated conditions and payments.

Installment Sale

A property transaction in which the purchase price is paid through scheduled amounts over an agreed period.

Deed of Absolute Sale

A document showing the completed transfer of ownership from the seller to the buyer for consideration.

Assignment of Rights

The transfer of a person’s contractual rights or interests to another party, subject to applicable restrictions.

Mortgage Arrangement

A financing transaction where real property secures the payment of a loan or another principal obligation.

Escrow Arrangement

An arrangement where money, documents, or property are held by an independent party until specified conditions are fulfilled.

Common Area (Lesson 1)

The portions of a condominium project intended for shared ownership, access, benefit, or use by unit owners.

Undivided Interest (Lesson 1)

A proportional ownership share in property that has not been physically separated among its co-owners.

Project Alteration

A proposed change affecting an approved project plan, land use, facility, layout, structure, or development commitment.

Pre-Selling

The marketing or sale of property units before project completion, occupancy, or physical delivery to purchasers.

Conveyance (Lesson 1)

The legal act of transferring ownership, title, rights, or interests in real property to another person.

General Welfare

The overall health, safety, security, prosperity, convenience, and well-being of the population that government measures seek to protect.

Habitability

The condition of housing that makes it safe, sanitary, functional, accessible, and suitable for human occupation.

Affordability

The capacity of households to obtain and maintain adequate housing without sacrificing other essential living expenses.

Inclusivity

The principle of ensuring that housing programs and communities accommodate people from different economic, social, physical, and cultural circumstances.

Equitable Land Use

The fair allocation and regulation of land resources according to community needs, environmental limitations, and development priorities.

Humane Eviction

The lawful removal of occupants using reasonable notice, consultation, dignity, safety measures, and appropriate relocation assistance when required.

Vulnerable Household

A family facing greater housing risks because of poverty, disability, age, displacement, disasters, insecure occupancy, or social disadvantage.

Community Resilience

The ability of residents, infrastructure, institutions, and services to withstand, adapt to, and recover from hazards or disruptions.

Intergenerational Equity

The principle that present development decisions should not compromise the environmental resources and housing opportunities available to future generations.

Regulatory Proportionality

The principle that government requirements and enforcement measures should be appropriate to the nature, scale, effects, and risks of development.

Stakeholder Participation

The meaningful involvement of residents, buyers, government institutions, developers, and affected groups in planning and decision-making processes.

Environmental Justice

The fair distribution of environmental benefits, risks, protections, and development burdens among different communities and population groups.

Registration Statement

A sworn document containing material information about the project, developer, land, plans, finances, selling arrangements, and supporting records.

Certificate of Registration

Official confirmation that the subdivision project has been registered after satisfying applicable documentary and procedural requirements.

License to Sell

Separate regulatory authority permitting a registered subdivision or condominium project to be offered and sold to purchasers.

Project Proponent

The individual, corporation, partnership, association, or entity responsible for proposing, financing, developing, or managing the project.

Certified True Copy

A reproduction formally authenticated as accurate and complete by the lawful custodian of the original document.

Technical Description (Lesson 2)

A written identification of land boundaries using bearings, distances, survey points, area measurements, and other technical information.

Survey Plan (Lesson 2)

A graphical representation of the property’s boundaries, measurements, lots, blocks, roads, easements, and related survey features.

Development Schedule

A timetable specifying when roads, utilities, drainage, facilities, structures, and other project improvements will be undertaken and completed.

Encumbrance (Lesson 2)

A mortgage, lien, restriction, easement, adverse claim, or other burden affecting ownership, transferability, or use of property.

Registration Fee

The prescribed amount paid to the regulatory authority for processing and evaluating the project registration application.

Material Information

A fact that could reasonably influence regulatory evaluation or a purchaser’s decision concerning the project or transaction.

Sworn Declaration

A written statement affirmed under oath as complete and truthful by the person executing or submitting it.

Publication Notice

A legally required public announcement concerning the filing of a project registration statement.

Documentary Deficiency

A missing, incomplete, inconsistent, expired, inaccurate, or unacceptable requirement identified during regulatory evaluation.

Transfer Certificate of Title

The land registration document issued for property transferred from a previous registered owner under the Torrens system.

Original Certificate of Title

The first title issued for registered land following an original registration proceeding.

Tax Declaration

A local assessment record identifying property characteristics, declared ownership, classification, assessed value, and taxation information.

Survey Return

The survey records, computations, plans, and technical information submitted by a geodetic engineer to the proper government authority.

Approved Subdivision Layout

The authorized graphical arrangement of lots, blocks, streets, easements, facilities, utilities, and reserved areas within the project.

Bill of Materials

A detailed statement identifying the construction materials, quantities, specifications, and estimated costs required for project improvements.

Program of Work

A document describing construction activities, quantities, costs, implementation periods, and the sequence for completing project improvements.

Audited Financial Statement

A financial report examined by an independent certified public accountant and accompanied by a professional audit opinion.

Board Resolution

A formal corporate decision authorizing an action, transaction, application, representative, contract, or undertaking.

Secretary’s Certificate

A corporate document certifying approved resolutions, authorized officers, meeting actions, or information contained within official corporate records.

Articles of Incorporation

The constitutive document establishing a corporation’s name, purposes, capital structure, principal office, incorporators, and organizational information.

Price Schedule

An official listing of property prices, payment terms, charges, discounts, financing arrangements, and applicable transaction conditions.

Pro Forma Agreement

A standardized draft contract proposed for use in future reservations, purchases, transfers, or other project transactions.

Affidavit of Undertaking

A sworn commitment to perform stated obligations, satisfy regulatory conditions, or submit outstanding requirements within an authorized period.

Mortgagee Conformity

Written acknowledgment or consent from a lender regarding the development, sale, release, or transfer of mortgaged project property.

Tax Clearance

Certification that specified property taxes or other government obligations have been paid or properly settled.

Site Development Plan

A comprehensive drawing showing the proposed arrangement of lots, blocks, roads, utilities, facilities, easements, and open areas.

Gross Project Area

The total land area contained within the approved boundaries of the proposed subdivision development.

Saleable Area

The portion of a subdivision allocated to lots or parcels that may lawfully be sold to purchasers.

Buildable Area

The portion of a lot remaining available for construction after applying setbacks, easements, restrictions, and other limitations.

Road Right of Way

The complete land width reserved for vehicular lanes, sidewalks, drainage, utilities, planting strips, and related road components.

Carriageway (Lesson 2)

The improved portion of a road intended primarily for the passage and movement of motor vehicles.

Cul-de-sac

A short local street closed at one end and provided with sufficient space for vehicles to turn around.

Road Hierarchy

The classification of streets according to their function, capacity, accessibility, traffic volume, and relationship with other roads.

Setback

The required minimum distance between a structure and a property boundary, road, waterway, easement, or other reference line.

Utility Corridor (Lesson 2)

A designated strip of land reserved for water, electricity, telecommunications, sewerage, drainage, or other service lines.

Contour Plan

A drawing showing ground elevations and landform variations through lines connecting points of equal elevation.

Drainage Outfall (Lesson 2)

The authorized point where collected stormwater is safely discharged into a receiving waterway, channel, or drainage system.

Development Density

The number of dwelling units, lots, occupants, or structures permitted within a specified land area.

Block Length

The measured distance along a subdivision block between intersecting streets, pathways, boundaries, or designated endpoints.

Design Standard

A prescribed technical requirement governing dimensions, layout, performance, safety, accessibility, infrastructure, or environmental quality.

Plan Condition

A specific requirement attached to an approval that must be satisfied during project implementation or before further authorization.