Re: Accepting DSS or Section 8 - Landlord Forum thread 193037

As a tenant; you are required to allow annual inspections of the unit,these serve 2 purposes; to protect the tenant from landlords who do not do repairs and to protect the landlord from tenants who would damage the property/move in more people

If a tenant does not comply with the annual inspection and reevaluation (submitting annual income/family composition) they can be dropped from the program quickly which leaves the landlord with a tenant they know cannot afford the unit

As a LL you list your properties as allowing section8 with the housing department. You then recieve potential tenants that you must screen as any other tenant. The guidelines for what rent amount is allowed for a given number of bedrooms is listed on the county housing website, in some cases they will allow the tenant to pay more if the tenant's income allows but it cannot exceed 30% of their income.

Each month your recieve a check from the state for the section 8 share of rent (they will prescribe this amount in advance) and you must collect the rest from your tenant. If you have issues with the tenant section 8 can help but it is ultimately your problem if they do not pay

I know people who have lived in the same rental for 20 years on section 8 so they can be a dream or a nightmare; screen them well!

"As a tenant; you are required to allow annual inspections of the unit,these serve 2 purposes; to protect the tenant from landlords who do not do repairs and to protect the landlord from tenants who would damage the property/move in more people"

These inspections protect the tenant from LLs who won't repair, true. But they do nothing to protect the LL. They don't stop tenants from doing damages (and the LL must repair all damages that cause the unit to fail inspection and TRY to collect later from the tenant). And they do nothing to stop tenants from moving extra people in. Tenants are notified weeks in advance of the inspection date/time. They can simply hide the extra occupant(s) until the inspector leaves. Tenants can fail to list the extra occupant's income on their paperwork. If the tenant fails to comply with paperwork requirements, the LL must bear the brunt of the cost to remove the tenant who can no longer afford the unit. This does nothing to help the LL.