When you notify the PHA of a vacancy, it will refer income-qualified applicants to you from its Housing Choice Voucher waiting list for review under your admission standards. No matter where your rental property is, accepting Section 8 tenants can open the door to a larger group of renters in your area, which can ultimately allow you to fill your vacancy more quickly. Your rental property must be inspected and approved by the PHA annually. Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019. This, The type of screening they conducted on the tenant, The tenants current and previous addresses (as shown in the PHA records), The names and addresses of the tenants current and previous landlords, if known. Here are the top four benefits of being a Section 8 landlord. Also, the tenant may be responsible for paying a portion of the monthly rent. She also says that the public housing authoritys rules were confusing and difficult to comply with, inside the short window she was given to find housing before the voucher expired. Dealing With Section 8 Tenants | NJ Landlord/Tenant Attorney If youre thinking about becoming a Section 8 landlord, here are the steps to get started and a few pros and cons to consider. While the government pays 70% of the rent directly each month, the other 30% will still need to be paid by the tenant. We use cookies and other tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience on our site, show personalized content and targeted ads, analyze site traffic, and understand where our audiences come from. Do landlords have to accept Section 8? document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Erica Sweeney is a freelance journalist and landlord who covers real estate, business, health, wellness and many other topics. Over half (53%) of renters in urban areas said they cant afford a home in their preferred neighborhood, compared to 45% of suburban renters and 32% of rural renters. Many renters know that finding affordable housing is tricky these days. Is Refinancing Your Student Loan Worth It? The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) provides funds to local public housing agencies, or PHAs, who in turn issue vouchers to qualifying renters. The law also created a mitigation fund for. Landlords receive a voucher for fair market rates, while a tenant can find rental housing that better fits within their budget. There are quite a large number of places where you cannot deny a Section 8 applicant simply because they are going to be using a housing voucher to cover some of their rent. Here are the top four benefits of being a Section 8 landlord. Enacted in the early 1970s, this program is managed by the Department of Housing and Urban Development. To be eligible, a family can't earn more than 50 percent of the area's median income. Even when there are additional laws and protection in place to prevent housing discrimination, no law will require you to accept any tenant that you do not find to be a good fit. Of the five cities they studied, Newark, Washington, and Philadelphia all had source-of-income discrimination laws. And in Indiana, some legislators have waged a protracted battle against bus rapid transit in Indianapolis. However, some fair housing lawyers argue that discriminating against voucher recipients has a disparate impact on protected groups that disproportionately make up the program, such as families with children, Black Americans, and people with disabilities thereby making source-of-income discrimination unconstitutional. The first step in this approval process is to submit a Request for Approval of the Tenancy Form. But, said the lawmakers, a landlord is no such representative. In a sense, you must be more diligent when dealing with Section 8 tenants because you and your property will be scrutinized by the Public Housing Authority and by HUD. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Landlord Rights Regarding Section 8 Voucher Holders - Honigman However, there are some regions and states where there are some limitations about when landlords can and cannot deny an application by a Section 8 voucher holder. Before we get into the pros and cons of accepting Section 8 tenants, lets review what section 8 is and how it may affect your business. In some states and localities, landlords are required to accept Section 8. Thats because each PHA sets its own eligibility rules with HUDs national guidelines. One example is the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development (RD) division, which offers several programs in rural areas. Personal Loan Vs. Line Of Credit: Which Is Better? With a bachelors degree in English from UCLA and MBA from Pepperdine University in Malibu, Geffner has impressive credentials in both story-telling and business management. Her work has been featured online and in print by The Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Chicago Sun-Times, Urban Land, Business Start-Ups and Fox Business Network Online, among many other newspapers, magazines, and websites. How Can You Deal With Multiple Offers From Tenants (and Pick the Best One)? Now that weve gotten our refresher course about Section 8 housing, lets get into todays main topic: Are landlords required to accept Section 8 tenants? Sharita, a Section 8 voucher recipient who lives in Memphis, Tennessee, with her six children, told me earlier this year that shes experienced frequent discrimination. Discover your lowest eligible rate. This article is provided for informational purposes only. The Section 8 office conducts a very basic background check on all Section 8 applicants.. However, private landlords must charge Section 8 renters the same as other renters for comparable apartments. Housing Choice Voucher Program Section 8 . Therefore, the City of Boulder and the City and County of Denver recently passed ordinances requiring local Landlords to accept all legal sources of income, including Section 8 vouchers. The attorney listings on this site are paid attorney advertising. Section 8 pays the majority of the tenants rent, but it does not pay all of it. To begin receiving Section 8 tenants, start by contacting your local PHA to inquire about Section 8 housing landlord requirements. More States & Municipalities Requiring Landlords to Accept Section 8 Named for Section 8 of the U.S. Housing Act of 1937, the law allocates taxpayer funding to help states address the shortage of decent and safe affordable housing for low-income families. Meanwhile, your property may be vacant and your expected tenant might decide to live someplace else. HUD ensures that voucher-holding tenants are treated properly by their landlords and only using the vouchers at approved and safe housing locations. Do Private Student Loans Have a Statute of Limitations? Project-based vouchers must use specific housing developments. A second-generation native of Los Angeles, Geffner now lives in Ventura, California, a surf city northwest of her hometown. Please reference the Terms of Use and the Supplemental Terms for specific information related to your state. When prospective tenants ask if you take Section 8, they want to know if you would accept part of their rent through the Housing Choice Voucher Program (still commonly known as the tenant-based Section 8 program). Renters pay their portion directly to the private landlords that accept Section 8. Federal fair housing laws protect renters from discrimination when renting a home, including Section 8 rentals. We endeavor to ensure that the information on this site is current and accurate but you should confirm any information with the product or service provider and read the information they can provide. Now, Iowa Gov. If youre thinking about. But just because a prospect asks such a question doesn't mean the answer is up to you. Landlords are encouraged to screen Section 8 recipients in the same way they would other prospective tenants. But just because a prospect asks such a question doesn't mean the answer is up to you. In others, its optional. In the past, landlords had the luxury of turning away tenants with Section 8 housing vouchers without much explanation. One such argument is based on the states ban (if there is one) on discrimination on the basis of source of income.. You must respond to any maintenance requests, address any health or safety concerns, and handle any complaints they may have about other tenants. After getting your initial questions answered, you can follow these general steps: Once your application is approved, the housing authority will set up an inspection to visit your property and make sure it meets, Under the Section 8 rules, owners may screen tenants for factors such as payment of rent; care for the rental unit and premises; respect for other tenants rights to the peaceful enjoyment of their premises; and drug-related criminal activity or other criminal activity that is a threat to the health, safety or property of others. Here is what you need to know about living in Section 8 housing: No matter what, always pay . Sign up to receive our newsletter each Friday. The first and most obvious way to contact Section 8 landlords is through local housing agencies. Under the program, the government pays a portion of your rent. How do you get a house approved for Section 8? When determining if your home meets health and safety standards, the inspector will pass, fail or mark inconclusive for each item on the requirements list. Everyone deserves to live in a decent, safe, and sanitary home. Can Section 8 vouchers be used anywhere? As a Section 8 landlord, you can advertise your rental property on the site. According to the Zillow Group Report, only 52% of renters say they would be able to cover an unexpected expense of $1,000 if they had to. The local PHA determines eligibility based on the renters total annual gross income and family size. , here are the steps to get started and a few pros and cons to consider. Youll have to fill out any paperwork required by the local PHA. These housing units, sometimes referred to as projects, grant voucher privileges to those living at the property. Fair housing prohibits discrimination based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status and disability. Who is eligible for Section 8 housing assistance? Certain states, such as Massachusetts, require that all landlords accept Section 8 tenants. You need to know if this is a requirement in your state so that you are not accused of violating the law if you refuse to rent to tenants with these vouchers. Savings vs. Money Market? Read our, Find Out If You're Required to Accept Section 8 Tenants, Pass Housing Quality Standards Inspection/Pass Yearly Inspections, Collect Security Deposit and Monthly Rent, A Tenant's Responsibilities Under the Section 8 Voucher Program. This is not the only way that Section 8 housing works. Not all private landlords accept Section 8. Section 8 renters also must comply with the lease, including paying their portion of the rent payment on time and following other rules and regulations. In other cities, accepting Section 8 is optional for landlords. In March 2020, the Supreme Court declined to consider a case that would have required landlords to accept Section 8 vouchers. For more information, please consult with an attorney who is familiar with the laws in your area. The best ways to find Section 8 rentals are to check with the PHA in your area and search sites like Rentals.com, where you can filter "income-restricted" properties. Austin, TX passed a similar ordnance, which was challenged by the Austin Apartment Association. You cannot take shortcuts when dealing with Section 8 tenants because the rent is being paid by the government. A common maneuver among real estate flippers is doing the bare minimum property repairs to pass the initial Section 8 inspection, signing a quick lease with the first voucher holder that comes along, and then quickly selling the property to an unsuspecting novice rental investor. SECTION 8 California Landlords Must Accept Section 8 Applicants!- By In the past, landlords had the luxury of turning away tenants with Section 8 housing vouchers without much explanation. is extremely popular, especially in urban areas where housing costs are high. A landlord is responsible for following the law. In fact, you can keep your property full and profitable if you treat Section 8 housing vouchers the right way. Named for Section 8 of the U.S. Housing Act of 1937, the law allocates taxpayer funding to help states address the shortage of decent and safe affordable housing for low-income families. Learn more, .subnav-back-arrow-st0{fill:none;stroke:#0074E4;stroke-linecap:round;} If you receive a Section 8 benefit and then decide you want to move to a different city, you may be able to take your housing benefit with you. The only way to be completely sure about whether or not you are required to accept or review Section 8 tenant applicants is to check with your local and state laws. Theres a lot of evidence that Section 8 vouchers reduce homelessness and alleviate poverty. Nevertheless, landlords and property managers should keep an eye out for local Section 8 mandates, as more jurisdictions adopt the mandate around the country. What Are the Differences Between Federal and Private Student Loans? Get a free consultation from a leading credit card debt expert. SuperMoney strives to provide a wide array of offers for our users, but our offers do not represent all financial services companies or products. Zillow, Inc. does not guarantee that the information in this guide is adequate or that it is compliant with current, applicable laws. US home building jumped higher in February, turning around after five consecutive months of Are you a landlord dealing with a tenant withholding rent? Texas has laws that forbid cities and counties from implementing any discrimination bans such as those passed in Chicago.
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