Housing Choice Voucher Program
WHAT IS SECTION 8?
The Section 8 program provides assistance for
low-income families in the private rental market through the Housing Assistance
Payment Program.
RENTAL VOUCHER HOLDERS select a unit from the
private market. Rental assistance makes the market rate housing affordable.
Program participants normally pay no more than 30% of monthly-adjusted income
towards rent and utilities. The Housing Assistance Payment subsidizes the balance
of the rent to the property owner.
WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS FOR MY UNIT TO BE
RENTED TO AN ASSISTED FAMILY?
The unit must meet HUD Housing Quality
Standards (HQS) and the rent must be approvable within HUD Fair Market Rents and
market rate comparable (copy of HQS available).
HOW DO I MAKE A UNIT AVAILABLE TO VOUCHER
HOLDERS? You may call the Housing
Authority office (352)-754-4160 to have the unit listed on our list of available
units. You may also advertise in the newspaper with the phrase "will accept
Section 8." Our clients look for those listings.
WHAT DO I DO WHEN A VOUCHER HOLDER IS
INTERESTED IN MY UNIT?
LANDLORD SCREENS TENANTS
You must screen the prospective tenant
carefully to insure that you are making a good selection. When one of our
clients contacts you, we can only certify to you their income eligibility for
the program. We cannot provide a reference as to their expected behavior as
tenants. You may use any or all of the following screening procedures:
Credit check
Criminal check
Landlord references
Home visits
We encourage all of the above screening
methods as long as you do not discriminate. Discrimination includes any tenant
selection based on race, color, religion, ancestry, sex, country of birth,
handicap or familial status. The prohibition against discrimination based on
familial status makes it illegal, in most circumstances, to refuse to allow
children to live in a residential unit.
REQUEST FOR LEASE APPROVAL OR TENANCY
APPROVAL
When you have selected a client, he/she will
have a "Request for Lease Approval or Request for Tenancy Approval" form for you
to complete. When the client submits the form to our office, a housing
representative will contact you to schedule an inspection.
INSPECTION AND RENT
The unit will be inspected to insure that it
meets HUD's Housing Quality Standards. You will also be mailed a copy of the
inspection repair list, or contacted by phone regarding repairs, if applicable.
LEASE AND CONTRACT
After the unit passes inspection and the rent
has been approved, the landlord and tenant enter into a lease for an initial
term of one year. The Housing Authority and the landlord signs a Housing
Assistance Payments Contract through which the rent is assisted on behalf of
tenant.
CAN I COLLECT A SECURITY DEPOSIT?
YES
THE HOUSING AUTHORITY PROHIBITS SECURITY
DEPOSITS IN EXCESS OF LOCAL STATE LAW AND/OR AMOUNTS CHARGED BY THE OWNER TO
UNASSISTED TENANTS.
WHAT IS THE TERM OF THE LEASE AND CONTRACT?
After one year, the lease is renewed for a
specified time period (i.e. month to month, six months, etc.) The tenant may
vacate with a thirty-day written notice to the landlord after the initial term
of the lease expires. If the tenant remains ill 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. This request
must be submitted in writing on the "Request for Lease Approval or Request for
Tenancy Approval" form prior to renewal.
WHAT ARE MY RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES AS
A LANDLORD?
MAINTAIN YOUR PROPERTY IN GOOD CONDITION.
COMPLETE REPAIRS WITHIN A REASONABLE AMOUNT
OF TIME UPON REQUEST BY THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OR TENANT; 24 HOURS FOR
EMERGENCIES. THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT IS CONSIDERED REASONABLE DEPENDS ON THE
NATURE OF THE PROBLEM. USUALLY 30 DAYS OR ANY APPROVED EXTENSION BY THE HOUSING
AUTHORITY.
SET REASONABLE RULES ABOUT THE USE OF THE
UNIT AND COMMON AREAS.
EXCEPT FOR EMERGENCIES OR TENANT'S REQUESTED
REPAIRS, DO NOT ENTER THE UNIT WITHOUT TENANT'S PERMISSION AND/OR PROPER NOTICE.
COLLECT APPROPRIATE SECURITY DEPOSIT AS
DIRECTED UNDER THE PROGRAM AND USE IT ONLY AS DIRECTED BY STATE LAW.
COMPLY WITH EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY
REQUIREMENTS
ENFORCE TENANT OBLIGATIONS UNDER THE LEASE.
EXPECT YOUR TENANTS TO:
PAY RENT ON TIME
KEEP UNIT CLEAN
AVOID ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES
PERMIT ACCESS FOR REPAIRS
AVOID DAMAGE TO PROPERTY
REFRAIN FROM DISTURBING OTHERS
ALLOW ONLY THOSE OCCUPANTS ON THE LEASE TO
RESIDE IN THE UNIT
COMPLY WITH TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE LEASE
AND HAP CONTRACT
TAKE ACTION THROUGH CLERK OF
CIRCUIT COURT TO EVICT WHEN TENANT VIOLATES THE LEASE.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:
HERNANDO COUNTY HOUSING
AUTHORITY
2 NORTH BROAD STREET
BROOKSVILLE, FL 34601
PHONE: 352-754-4160
FAX: 352-754-4168
Landlord Information - Section 8
Housing
