Many people who rent know that affordable housing is hard to find these days, and as a result, many low-income families turn to housing vouchers to help ease the rent burden. Five million households receive federal rent assistance About 70 percent of people housed through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Section 8 program are seniors, children or people with disabilities.
Still, many renters may not know where to find private landlords who accept housing vouchers. Here are some tips, along with an overview of what a housing voucher is and who is eligible to receive it.
What are U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) housing vouchers?
HUD’s Housing Choice Voucher Program, also known as Section 8, helps low-income people rent housing, including apartments, single-family homes, and townhouses.
Housing Choice Vouchers are administered by Public Housing Agencies (PHAs), but it is the responsibility of low-income families to find rental housing and private landlords who will accept the vouchers.
Private landlords receive payments from PHAs on behalf of renters who participate in the Section 8 program. Renters pay the difference between their rent payments and the amount covered by the voucher.
The program benefits both private landlords and renters: Landlords receive fair market rate vouchers and renters can find more suitable rental housing within their budget.
How do I qualify for a Section 8 voucher?
Public housing authorities determine eligibility for Section 8 vouchers based on a household’s income and the number of family members living in the home. Rental assistance is available only to U.S. citizens and certain non-citizen groups. Financial Requirements to Qualify.
Section 8 Financial Requirements
To be eligible, a household’s income cannot exceed 50 percent of the area median income, and federal housing programs require local housing authorities to provide 75 percent of housing choice vouchers to people whose incomes do not exceed 30 percent of the area median income.
Section 8 Waiting List
Access to housing vouchers often requires a waiting list, usually several months and sometimes longer, with the length of the waiting list varying by location.
Once you reach the top of the list, you will be contacted by a housing authority, and then you will be tasked with finding an apartment or other rental property that accepts Section 8.
How do Section 8 vouchers work?
Low-income individuals and families have housing choices: Once a PHA selects someone for a federal housing program, that person can choose the type of rental property that best meets their needs and also qualifies for a Housing Choice Voucher.
There are two types of Housing Choice Vouchers: project-based vouchers and tenant-based vouchers. Project-based vouchers require the use of a specific housing development, while tenant-based vouchers can be used for any housing unit, as long as the owner accepts the voucher and the property meets the program’s requirements.
Once a renter finds a home or other suitable property where a private landlord will accept the voucher and negotiate the terms of the lease, the Department of Housing and Urban Development will inspect the home to make sure the landlord is seeking a reasonable payment.
The vouchers cover a portion of rent based on what renters can pay.
How can I find affordable housing that accepts vouchers?
Once you’re approved for the program, the next step is finding a house or apartment that will accept your Section 8 voucher, which can be difficult depending on where you live.
Tips for Finding Section 8 Apartments and Other Rental Properties
To find apartments and other rental properties owned by private landlords that accept Section 8 vouchers, follow these steps:
- Start by talking to your local PHA, who can connect you with property owners who accept vouchers. Lists PHA contact information by state.
- please confirm Your local HUD office You can apply for the program and find out which rentals accept vouchers.
- Ask your friends and family to recommend private landlords who accept vouchers.
- search Rentals.com Search for properties in your area. You can also narrow your search to find rentals with “income restrictions.”
Should landlords receive housing vouchers?
Section 8 allows private landlords to take housing vouchers and rent to low-income people at fair market rate. The PHA enters into a rental agreement with the private landlord and pays a portion of the rent, but the tenant must pay the difference.
However, federal law does not require private landlords to accept Section 8 vouchers and participate in the program, although some states do require private landlords to accept vouchers.
Connecticut, Maryland, and Massachusetts States in which landlords cannot refuse to rent to you It applies to tenants who qualify for Section 8, according to the American Apartment Owners Association.
Can Section 8 vouchers be used anywhere?
Not all private landlords accept Section 8. Many apartments and houses across the country will accept Section 8, as long as they meet federal rules and regulations.
Private landlords screen tenants
Whether it’s an apartment or a house, Landlords still vet tenants If you accept Section 8. This typically focuses on background and credit checks to verify an individual’s criminal and rental history.
The Section 8 program verifies a renter’s income before approving the program.
HUD must approve apartments and other rental properties.
To accept Section 8, private landlords must get their apartments or other properties approved by HUD, otherwise Section 8 renters cannot live there.
Landlords submit rental applications to HUD that include the address of the apartment or other rental property, the proposed rental start date, the tenant’s rent, and included utilities.
Rental properties must pass inspection
Apartments and other rental properties that accept Section 8 must pass inspection by HUD and the local PHA.
HUD prescribes Minimum Housing StandardsYou must agree to Section 8, which focuses on safety, security, and the condition of the property. Private landlords must ensure that apartments and other rental properties protect the health, safety, and security of their residents.
Section 8 authorities inspect homes once a year, and private landlords must pass the inspection to continue accepting Section 8.
Follow the lease
Like other tenants, private landlords Follow the rental agreement If you accept Section 8. This means that the private landlord must carry out repairs and maintenance as outlined in the rental agreement.
Section 8 tenants are also required to abide by their rental agreement, including paying their share of rent on time and following other rules and regulations.
Notify HUD of rent increase
Private landlords can increase the rent on Section 8 apartments or houses. They must notify the local HUD office in advance.
But private landlords must charge Section 8 tenants the same rent as other tenants in comparable apartments, and they can only increase rent once a year.
Comply with fair housing regulations
Federal Fair Housing Act Protecting tenants from discrimination Section 8. For the rental of residential property, including rental housing.
Fair housing prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, or disability.
What is the maximum amount Section 8 will pay?
The Section 8 program determines how much to pay private landlords based on several factors, including the prevailing rent for apartments or houses in the area, and the maximum amount the PHA will pay.
The exact amount the government pays for Section 8 depends on where the property is located, but it is usually between 90 and 110 percent of the fair market value.
Renters who receive Section 8 are also required to contribute rent. The amount varies, but it’s often the greater of 30 percent of their adjusted monthly income or 10 percent of their gross monthly income.
Renters pay their share directly to private landlords who accept Section 8.
Section 8 pays a portion of the rent to make finding a place to live much more affordable, but it doesn’t cover everything: Renters still must pay a security deposit.
How do I apply for a Section 8 voucher?
To apply for Section 8, contact your local PHA or HUD office.
The Section 8 application process involves providing personal information such as your name, Social Security number, income, etc. The PHA will verify your monthly income with your employer to determine whether you qualify and how much Section 8 funds you will receive as housing assistance.
Once approved, you may be placed on a waiting list, after which you will be tasked with finding a landlord who will accept your housing voucher.
What you need to know about Section 8
Section 8 is a great help for many renters who struggle to find affordable housing. Under this program, the government pays a portion of your rent. All you need to do is find a home that will accept your voucher.
The best way to find Section 8 rentals is to contact the PHA in your area and search sites like Rentals.com that allow you to filter for “income-restricted” properties, so you can find a home or apartment that meets your family’s needs and is within your budget.
