How Do I Get My Rental House Listed with HUD?
The Housing Choice program, also known as Section 8, is sponsored by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Housing Choice provides housing vouchers that pay part of a tenant's monthly rent to a private landlord. These vouchers are distributed by local public housing authorities (PHAs) to low-income families and individuals. A landlord who is willing to accept Section 8 vouchers can request that a rental property be listed by PHAs so that potential tenants are made aware of its availability.
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Instructions
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Contact the PHA that serves the area or county where your rental property is located. The HUD website offers a comprehensive directory of state HUD offices with additional listings for PHAs in each state. Explain that you are interested in accepting Section 8/Housing Choice vouchers and ask about their listing policy.
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Attend any informational meetings or classes as required by your PHA. Not all PHAs offer, or require attendance at, such events.
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Request that the PHA add your property to their listings. In some areas you can do this yourself by joining an online directory. In other areas, you may need to call in your request or fill out a form.
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Consider applications from potential tenants who offer you a Housing Choice voucher. Be aware that if you receive such an offer, your property will be inspected by someone from your PHA to determine whether it provides "decent, safe and sanitary" housing for a tenant, also known as "Housing Quality Standards" (HQS). Your property must pass this inspection in order to qualify for voucher payments.
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Prepare your rental property for inspection. The inspector will inspect the home's major systems: It must have hot and cold running water, and there must be appropriate heat and electricity available. The home must also have adequate ventilation systems, including air conditioning or windows that open. The housing inspector will also assess the space available in the home. HQS standards require that there be enough bedrooms to accommodate a family with no more than two people sleeping in each room.
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Tips & Warnings
When advertising your property, be sure to mention that you accept Housing Choice/Section 8 vouchers.
Just because you choose to accept Housing Choice vouchers does not mean that you are required to accept any tenant who presents you with a voucher. You are permitted to use the same screening standards that you would use with any other tenant.
References
Resources
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