Section 8 Housing Facts: 3 Amazing Facts
The San Diego Housing Commission (SDHC) contracts with more than 5,200 landlords to rent to tenants who receive Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher rental assistance. Section 8 housing facts are interesting, to say the least. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), which oversees the Section 8 program, defines it as a national program designed to help low-income renters find housing in the private market by providing subsidies to property owners who rent to them.
A program called Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers helps more than 15,000 low-income households including families, Veterans, seniors and individuals with disabilities pay their rent in the City of San Diego.
It is important to have accurate information about the Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers program. This is SDHC’s largest program, and misconceptions can prevent families from finding participating landlords and may cause landlords to bypass many of the benefits the program provides.
Facts About the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program
If you receive your rent subsidy from the Housing Authority, it’s important to understand how the voucher program works and how to handle any issues that may arise. That’s why it’s important for you to know the facts about Section 8 housing and the Section 8 housing choice voucher program. Below are a few facts about section 8.
Fact No 1: Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program
Landlords choose Housing Choice Voucher tenants in the same way they choose other tenants, by conducting a screening process.
- Consider verifying a candidate’s credit history, references, and background before making an offer.
- Fair housing laws make sure tenant selection is never based upon race, color, age, religion, sex, or any other discriminatory factor.
- In addition to their participation in the rental assistance program, landlords receive support from SDHC to ensure that tenants fulfill program requirements.
- The Program Integrity Unit of SDHC examines reports of program violations, such as unauthorized family members, and takes appropriate action.
Fact No 2: Landlords Control
Landlords control how many of their units they will rent to low-income tenants with Housing Choice Vouchers.
- A landlord or property manager who accepts one tenant who receives rental assistance under the Housing Choice Voucher Program need not rent all of their available units to such tenants.
- Landlords who own multiple units are free to decide which, if any, units will be occupied by program participants.
- If you move out of a Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) apartment, the landlord is not required to rent the vacant unit to another tenant in the program.
Fact No 3: Paperwork a Landlord
Most of the paperwork a landlord is required to complete occurs at the beginning of a new lease, and SDHC staff will help, as needed.
Landlords are responsible for:
• Finding tenants
• Screening prospective tenants
• Collecting security deposits from tenants and providing receipts as required by law
• Completing the Request for Tenancy Approval form
• Obtaining Landlord’s signature on the Request for Tenancy Approval form
• Completing a W-9 form (landlords are considered independent contractors) and mailing it to the address on page 2 of this packet, or faxing it to 619-544-1268. This is a tax requirement and should be mailed immediately.
• Signing lease agreements. The landlord’s signature can be on a copy, which is then attached to the original lease agreement. Landlords are also required to have their tenants sign a Lead Warning Statement advising them of lead hazards in or around the property. Landlords must keep record of this signed statement. The Lead Warning Statement can be found here
Also Read: Section 8 housing
