HUD Funded, Low Income Rental Tenant Rights

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) sponsors the Housing Choice Voucher Program, also known as Section 8 Housing, to subsidize rental expenses for qualified low-income families. Participants in subsidized housing programs are afforded certain rights and protections in line with standard tenant law.

Function

Public housing agencies (PHA) are the local agencies responsible for administering the funds of the program. After the tenant selects a unit he wishes to occupy, the PHA must inspect the dwelling to determine satisfactory standards of health and safety and a reasonable rental rate. Units subsidized under the program must meet the standards set by HUD known as the Housing Quality Standards (HQS).

Features

Tenants have the right to a safe unit free from environmental hazards such as lead paint. They are promised the right to have repairs performed in a timely manner and to have a "quality maintenance program" run by the owners or management of the unit, according to HUD. Tenants are also promised the right to receive satisfactory notice, in writing, of any non-emergency entry into the unit by management or agents of management.

Organizations

Tenants participating in the voucher program are promised the right to participate in tenant organizations. Residents have the right to organize without fear of retaliation or harassment from management. Tenants also have the right to meet with other tenants without the owner or management present and to be able to post materials in common areas informing other tenants of their rights.

Discrimination

Tenants are promised equal and fair treatment, use of the unit's facilities and protection from discrimination on the grounds of race, gender, religion, color and gender. Tenants are also protected from bias in the case of familial status, such as having children under the age of 18, and national origin in matters of language or ethnicity.

Benefits

Tenants may only be evicted by court order. Tenants have the right to be informed by the landlord of such proceedings before or at the initiation of such an action. Such a notice must include the grounds for the eviction. The relevant PHA must be given a copy of any eviction notices at the same time the tenant receives them.

Considerations

Tenants in sponsored housing can contact HUD's Multifamily Housing Complaint Line to report issues with landlords of subsidized units. This resource can be used to report matters of fraud, mismanagement, health hazards and unsatisfactory maintenance and also to answer questions about tenant rights. The complaint line can be reached at 800-685-8470.

References

• U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development: Housing Choice Vouchers Fact Sheet
• U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development: Resident Rights and Responsibilities
• U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development: Tenancy Addendum
• U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development: Multifamily Housing Complaint Line