Re: Can we refuse Section 8 tenants? - Landlord Forum thread 340206

Re: Can we refuse Section 8 tenants? by BMS (NC) on October 23, 2015 @21:54

I am in assisted housing and I know a lot of the details about this stuff, so I can help as to the original question.

In the vast majority of areas, you can refuse someone for having section 8. In some (limited) states and cities, you can't.

But understand this about the inspection: it's a rubber stamp. It is partly an inspection on what you do, but also meant to insure the tenant isn't tearing up an apartment as well. And in most areas, it's a rubber stamp that almost nobody ever fails (either tenant or landlord). The standards they are expecting you on, are basically the same if not lower than the legal standards for the condition of ANY rental. Such as holes in the wall, or catastrophic roach infestations.

Austin passed a law saying that no landlord could exclude section 8 just because someone had a voucher. The rental industry lobbied the state hard, and Austin's law is about to be overruled. Understand this: there are no real additional expenses to the owner from an inspection, other than making sure a unit is not sub-standard in squalor. The reason why those rental companies lobbied is because section 8 tenants, much more likely to be minorities, drive rental prices down because discriminatory tenants move out over time.

Studies show that section 8 tenants are more reliable than their market rate paying counterparts. Partly because if they lose their job, the rent goes down with their income (although most have a $100 or so minimum rental contribution), and the owner is going to get paid anyway.

People are not "gaming the system," by and large. Down here at the bottom of the mountain, there are people trying to get jobs for two years who cannot find one. People in section 8 are the type of people who are more likely to discriminated against by employers just as they can be by real estate organizations. Studies show if you have a black sounding name, and you apply for a job, a person with a white sounding name and slightly inferior credentials is more likely to get a call back. Disabled job applicants? Forget it.

Section 8 is a solid way to be guaranteed that a tenant's rent is going to get paid. Guaranteed that it will be much less likely you will have to go through an eviction. The vast majority of us are real people who are just less fortunate.

And studies indicate there is no reason to believe that section 8 tenants are more prone to crime as well---partly because many convictions will result in a tenant being barred from housing assistance programs. Sex offenders and most violent felons are barred from section 8 for life. Drug offenders are barred for about 7-10 years on their first offense, even moreso for crimes committed IN the properties they get assistance for. We have the government breathing down our necks. We're the ones who have to fear the inspections every year. A few hundred dollars is at stake for you, our entire livelihoods are at stake when it comes to those government regulations.

And one more thing. People who write off interest they pay on home mortgages, and large rental companies that get tax credit for middle class developments, are just as dependent on the government as we are. And in terms of dollars, much more government welfare goes toward those than toward HUD beneficiaries.

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Re: Can we refuse Section 8 tenants? by BMS (NC) on October 23, 2015 @22:04	[ Reply ]

One more thing. The person who said you could get out of accepting section 8 by requiring 3x the rent as income is wrong. In the very few areas where landlords who refuse vouchers are considered discriminatory, the whole point of the voucher is you are guaranteed to get paid the rent regardless of the tenant's income, so no such rule would be legal for section 8 tenants. You could get sued, in those areas. Your only recourse would be to raise the rent well above what the voucher pays for (we are allowed to rent higher than the voucher to a limited extent, but we have to pay the difference. Usually only people on social security would risk that). But if you own a property with multiple units, you would have to raise the rent on all comparable units, not just for the section 8 family. And if someone moves out because they can't afford the rent, that loss is on you. And in many areas, what section 8 pays for is higher than average for those areas based on room size. (In San Francisco, one of the most expensive rental markets in the country [probably THE most expensive, well beyond NY overall] a 2 bedroom voucher covers up to $2,062 a month as of 2015, not counting the utility allowance.)

Re: Can we refuse Section 8 tenants? by Dee (OHIO ) on November 12, 2015 @15:25	[ Reply ]

That was the most eliquent way of explaining this! THANK YOU! It's sad that we have to go through living in unsafe neighborhoods, just because we receive a little bit of assistance from the government.

Re: Can we refuse Section 8 tenants? by ann (FL - Florida) on November 26, 2015 @19:10	[ Reply ]

I live in a 55 plus community for the pass 3 years with a Section 8 voucher. I am widoweed and receive Widow's benefits from SS. My landlord has decided to sell. I found another landlord in same neighborhood who is agreeable to rent to me. Now the HOA who has the same property management company denied me because I am on section-8. Saying to the realtor that Section 8 people are not clean and bring down the community. I have gotten numerous comments from neighbors about how well I keep my yard. I was suppose to move in Dec 1,2015 but with the denial I will be homeless. Perhaps those who don't like Section 8 tenants will feel better when "We" are out on the streets, sleeping under bridges, in out cars. Or perhaps on the streets in front of their houses. Then they can add to the narrow mindedness that "All" Section 8 people are bad. Well lets see Madoff made off with peoples money, Section 8? Ted killed many Section 8? and let's not forget about all the shootings in the US Section 8? tenants. Please people need to be judged by the person that they are and not what they have but then again this is America. So all you people who don't like section 8 come Tuesday Dec 1,2015 look for me I just might be sleeping in front of you home in my car! You see Section 8 won't pay rent for me to live in a Hotel, Motel, Inn or Bed and Breakfast. And if you see me at McDonald's, Burger, King Wendy's, 7-11 restroom bushing my teeth and washing up just remember you don't like Section 8 people. And please don't run and tell the manager because then they will through me out. Now I'm out on the street stinking and you running away from me saying why don't she take a bath? Also you must understand that it doesn't end there. When landlords and HOA refuse to let you live in their neighorhood the Government says "because you have no place to live we can not give you "Food" because you have no where to cook it. Now I'm on the street begging you for money so I can buy food. Then you say saying "Why don't She get a job. Think I've said enough.

Re: Can we refuse Section 8 tenants? by Donny Brook (California) on April 24, 2016 @04:37	[ Reply ]

Don't blame the HOA or other homeowners for avoiding Section 8 tenants. In any community where there are many section 8 tenants property values go down. For those who don't understand what the means in terms of profit and loss---- it means LOSING MONEY on the value of YOUR ASSET--- your property. In the old days there used to be county welfare "poor farms" for people on the dole to live in thus avoiding having them bring down property values. We ought to go back to that system again. Why should freeloaders be allowed to live among hard working people who have to pay their own way? Just seems wrong.