How to Put a House on Section 8 in Topeka, Kansas
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) uses the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program to subsidize the portion of low-income household's rent that exceeds 30 to 40 percent of their combined earnings. Topeka, Kansas, property owners who wish to include their property, or properties, in the Section 8 program must follow the same general process as prospective landlords in other cities.
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Instructions
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Advertise your vacancy. You can use traditional sources, including newspapers. You may also contact the Topeka Housing Authority (THA) and ask it to include you in its list of landlords. THA advises, however, that if you have a small number of units to rent, such as one house, you might not want to include yourself in the list since the authority anticipates you will receive a large number of phone calls from interested renters. In any case, ensure that when you publicize your rental you note that you accept Section 8 renters.
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Screen interested renters. THA encourages landlords to screen Section 8 tenants just as they would market rate renters. You can handle the application process with Section 8 renters just as you do traditional renters. For example, you can run credit checks and charge security deposits as long as you follow applicable rental laws. If you find a Section 8 tenant you want to rent your property to, the tenant should provide you with a Request for Tenancy Approval form given to him by THA when he received his voucher.
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Complete the Request for Tenancy Approval form and submit it to THA. The authority will contact you to schedule an inspection of your rental unit. You cannot officially sign an agreement with a Section 8 tenant until the housing authority ensures that your property meets HUD's Housing Quality Standards.
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Use THA's inspection checklist to prepare for your inspection. While you have lots of points to consider, generally you need to make sure that your dwelling provides your tenant with safe and sanitary conditions. For example, your unit needs to include a fire exit and adequate systems for food preparation and waste disposal.
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Sign a lease with your Section 8 tenant after your unit passes the THA inspection. THA requires that the initial lease term is one year. You will also sign a Housing Assistance Payments Contract with THA, which governs the terms of your Section 8 tenancy. THA will pay you its share of your tenant's rent monthly.
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Tips & Warnings
Although you advertise that you are willing to accept Section 8 tenants, you are not obligated to rent to them.
THA will reinspect your unit annually to ensure that it continues to satisfy HUD's Housing Quality Standards.
