Finding a Housing Unit Eligible for Section 8
The Section 8 office pays a portion of the tenant’s rent in some cases, but it is not responsible for finding a housing unit for the tenant. The tenant must search for private housing themselves within the city or county where their Section 8 has been approved.
Property owners can list units that accept Section 8 tenants on Socialserve.com. The local Section 8 office may also have its own list or website where Section 8 tenants can view available rentals in the area.
It is the tenant’s responsibility to schedule an appointment to view any units they are interested in and to provide the necessary paperwork to the landlord and the Section 8 office for leasing the unit. The Section 8 office is responsible for inspecting the unit to determine whether it meets the housing quality standards set by the Department of Housing and Urban Development after the tenant has chosen a specific unit.
Living in the Unit
A tenant receiving the voucher must actually live in the housing unit. They cannot rent out the unit to someone else, including family members. This will be considered fraud and will lead to the termination of their Section 8 voucher privileges.
Paying the Security Deposit
Section 8 vouchers do not include an amount for the security deposit. The tenant is responsible for providing this deposit to the landlord.
Tenants who are having difficulty providing the security deposit on their own may apply for local and state assistance programs that may be able to help them.
Paying the Tenant’s Portion of the Rent
Although Section 8 often pays a large portion of the tenant’s rent, it typically does not pay the entire amount. The tenant is usually responsible for paying a percentage based on their income, generally between 30 to 40 percent of what they earn. The housing authority covers the difference and pays the amount directly to the landlord, who has an agreement with the authority.
The tenant must pay their portion on time each month according to the rental agreement. Failure to pay or consistently paying late can jeopardize their status and lead to discontinuation of their Section 8 voucher.
Following the Terms of the Lease Agreement
Section 8 tenants must adhere to the terms of the lease agreement just like any other tenant. Otherwise, they may face eviction. These tenants do not receive any special or additional protections against eviction proceedings for any reason.
Lease terms may include keeping the unit clean, not damaging the unit or property, and not disturbing other residents in the building. Tenants should refrain from any criminal or illegal use of the property, and they must report any maintenance, health, or safety issues to the landlord.
Reporting Any Changes to Section 8
The amount a tenant receives from Section 8 is heavily dependent on household income and size. The tenant is responsible for informing the local public housing authority if there are any changes in these circumstances.
For example, the tenant may have received an increase in income. Section 8 may thus increase the portion the tenant must pay towards rent each month. They may have a minor child with a job. This income should also be reported, although the rent will not be adjusted if they are also full-time students.
If the tenant has a newborn but there has been no increase in income or if they are unable to work now, Section 8 may increase the voucher amount the tenant receives.
If the tenant fails to report such changes to Section 8, they may lose their voucher entirely and even face legal action. They typically have 10 days after the change occurs.
Reporting
Housing Authority and Tenant upon Moving
Tenants must not only notify the landlord when leaving the unit. They must also inform the local Section 8 office when they decide to move. Under normal circumstances, a Section 8 tenant can only move at the end of their lease, or they can give appropriate notice, usually either 30 or 60 days, if they have a monthly lease.
Typically, tenants must provide the landlord with notice 30 days prior to moving when they have annual leases. This notice is given so that the landlord has sufficient time to find a replacement tenant and so the housing authority knows when to stop sending housing vouchers to that landlord.
Source: https://www.thebalancemoney.com/tenant-obligations-under-section-8-2125006
.lwrp .lwrp-list-item.lwrp-empty-list-item{
background: initial !important;
}
.lwrp .lwrp-list-item .lwrp-list-link .lwrp-list-link-title-text,
.lwrp .lwrp-list-item .lwrp-list-no-posts-message{
}@media screen and (max-width: 480px) {
.lwrp.link-whisper-related-posts{
}
.lwrp .lwrp-title{
}.lwrp .lwrp-description{
}
.lwrp .lwrp-list-multi-container{
flex-direction: column;
}
.lwrp .lwrp-list-multi-container ul.lwrp-list{
margin-top: 0px;
margin-bottom: 0px;
padding-top: 0px;
padding-bottom: 0px;
}
.lwrp .lwrp-list-double,
.lwrp .lwrp-list-triple{
width: 100%;
}
.lwrp .lwrp-list-row-container{
justify-content: initial;
flex-direction: column;
}
.lwrp .lwrp-list-row-container .lwrp-list-item{
width: 100%;
}
.lwrp .lwrp-list-item:not(.lwrp-no-posts-message-item){
}
.lwrp .lwrp-list-item .lwrp-list-link .lwrp-list-link-title-text,
.lwrp .lwrp-list-item .lwrp-list-no-posts-message{
};
}
Leave a Reply