In addition to making sure program guidelines are followed, we have a duty to accept and review application, maintain waiting list, issue Housing Choice Vouchers, inspect and approve unit, issue Housing Assistant Payment, provide prompt and professional service.
Yearly recertification unless are problems we are made aware between the landlord and tenant.
The landlord is required to get the power/water on for us to do inspection and if the unit pass, it will be the tenant’s responsibility to get lights/water in their name.
The unit must meet HUD Housing Quality Standards and the rent must be approvable within HUD Fair Market Rents and market rate comparable (copy of HQS available).
Generally, a voucher-holder family may choose any available rental dwelling unit on the market in the PHA’s jurisdiction. This could include the dwelling unit you are currently occupying. The PHA MAY NOT assist a unit under the voucher program if the unit is a public housing or Indian housing unit; a unit receiving project-based assistance under section 8 of the 1937 Act (42 U.S.C. 1437f); nursing homes, board and care homes, or facilities providing continual psychiatric, medical, or nursing services; college or other school dormitories; units on the grounds of penal, reformatory, medical, mental, and similar public or private institutions; a unit occupied by its owner or by a person with any interest in the unit.
If you have moved or simply want the check sent to a different address you must notify the Housing Authority in writing of your request and fill out a change of address form. The owner may not assign the HAP contract to a new owner without the prior written consent of the PHA. If the owner requests PHA consent to assign the HAP contract to a new owner, the owner shall supply any information as required by the PHA pertinent to the proposed assignment.
Damages beyond normal wear and tear and are tenant-related can be paid for by the tenant. You should have a standard practice listed in the lease as to how damages will be paid for by the tenant. After the tenant moves out, you may take compensation for damages beyond the normal wear and tear from the tenant’s security deposit and/or take court action. The Housing Authority does not pay for any damages to your property.
The landlord can issue a proper notice to vacate at the end of the initial term of the lease or at the end of any successive term. The landlord can issue notice to terminate during the lease term for lease violations or other good cause. Landlords are strongly encouraged to document tenant violations and to provide the tenant and the Housing Authority with written warnings or notices of the violations whenever possible. A copy of the notice of termination must be sent to the Housing Authority. If the tenant does not vacate within the time set forth in the termination notice, the eviction action which follows is just like any other eviction action. If the Section 8(HCV) tenant is evicted, the Housing Authority will pay through the end of the month in which the tenant was evicted.
After one year, the lease is renewed for a specified time period. If the tenant remains in the unit, the tenant is recertified for eligibility and the unit is inspected for Housing Quality Standards annually, at which time the landlord may request an annual adjustment rent increase which must be approved by the Housing Authority.