Home Equity Loan vs. Line of Credit: Which Should You Choose? Also, check out Every Landlord's Legal Guide, by Marcia Stewart, Janet Portman, and Ann O'Connell (Nolo) for detailed advice on housing discrimination and how to avoid fair housing lawsuits. Theyll review a tenants income level and may uncover issues like criminal history. These include rental assistance and self-help housing loans for low-income individuals and families. I felt like I had to settle because I didnt have any options. Can You Build Credit With a Prepaid Credit Card? These agencies will have listings of all the landlords in your area that accept Section 8 vouchers. U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development. And in Indiana, some legislators have waged a protracted battle against bus rapid transit in Indianapolis. If you wantto raise a Section 8 tenants rent, you must submit a request to your local Section 8 office. The simple fact is that all tenants, regardless of where their income is sourced from, need to be thoroughly screened to help ensure that you choose a good tenant. These rights vary by state but always include the tenant's right to a habitable premises, due process before an eviction and more. But, said the lawmakers, a landlord is no such representative. While the majority of state laws do not require Section 8 acceptance, many cities and counties have adopted their own HUD housing ordinances. The PHA will verify your monthly income with your employer and determine whether you're eligible and the amount of Section 8 funds you'll receive in housing assistance. How to Get a Reverse Mortgage: 3 Steps to Getting an HECM. After the initial term, you may generally evict a voucher tenant for other good cause, such as a tenants failure to accept a new lease or lease revision, or a desire to lease the unit for a higher rent. Housing Choice Vouchers are available to low-income individuals and families who are U.S. citizens or in a specified category of noncitizens who have eligible immigration status. To apply for Section 8, contact your local PHA office or HUD office. Brokerage. As is often the case in real estate, there is not a single answer to this question. More Jurisdictions Requiring Landlords to Accept Section 8: Cue the Most Common Mistakes When Filing Your Taxes, Best Tax Relief Companies with a Money-Back Guarantee, Best Tax Relief Companies with Lowest Fees, Best Tax Relief Companies with Tax Attorneys On Staff, Getting Out of Tax Debt: Strategies and Solutions, Pros and cons of Section 8 housing for landlords. But source-of-income discrimination laws are only as good as their enforcement. Oops. In a sense, you must be more diligent when dealing with Section 8 tenants because you and your property will be scrutinized by the Public Housing Authority and by HUD. And Section 8 [public housing authority] didnt help me at all.. Get a free consultation from a leading tax expert, Compare Business Checking Accounts Reviews. Return to Zillow.com. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, How to Avoid Housing Discrimination Complaints and Lawsuits, that includes applicants who have Section 8 vouchers, "State Information" section of the HUD website, how to stay on the right side of fair housing laws when choosing tenants, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. This usually focuses on a background check and credit check to learn about the individual's criminal history and rental history. Copyright 2006-2022, ezLandlord, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Instead, you should think about HUD housing from the business side of things. Therefore, the City of Boulder and the City and County of Denver recently passed ordinances requiring local Landlords to accept all legal sources of income, including Section 8 vouchers. This debate is not a new one, of course. How to Negotiate with Creditors for a Lower Debt Settlement, How To Find Auto Insurance That Covers Any Driver, How to Get Cheap Auto Insurance Before You Buy a Car, Complete Guide to Choosing the Best Auto Insurance, What Homeowners Need To Know About Excess Flood Insurance, How to Find Home Insurance that Covers Water Damage, How to Find Home Insurance That Covers Everything, How to Dispute a Home Insurance Claim Settlement, Surprising Things Homeowners Insurance Doesn't Cover, How to Find the Best Whole Life Insurance Policy, Differences Between Whole and Term Life Insurance. And, since. The law also created a mitigation fund for. Is Refinancing Your Student Loan Worth It? Whether its okay to rent to family members who receive Section 8 benefits and, if so, which family members are allowed. The measure does not prohibit choice among tenant applicants based on other factors. Martha Galvez, one of the authors of the Urban Institute study, explained why landlords are discriminating: Theres a lot of reasons why landlords dont want to accept vouchers. The best way to find out about Section 8 requirements for landlords is to contact the local PHA. Once youve been approved and put a screening process in place to. With a bachelors degree in English from UCLA and MBA from Pepperdine University in Malibu, Geffner has impressive credentials in both story-telling and business management. In Nebraska, abortion rights are safe for now. The biggest concern that landlords have is about whether or not they can trust tenants with limited income to pay their rent in full in a timely manner. , here are the steps to get started and a few pros and cons to consider. 1 You need to know if this is a requirement in your state so that you are not accused of violating the law if you refuse to rent to tenants with these vouchers. However, there are some regions and states where there are some limitations about when landlords can and cannot deny an application by a Section 8 voucher holder.