Sec 8 Late Fees
I didn't receive my Section 8 check for one of my units. I called on 12/6 and let a voice mail message for my tenant's coordinator. After no response, I called again on 12/13 and went through the operator since I got the voice mail again. After some checking, they discovered they hadn't 'posted' my payment - stating some type internal personnel changes/problems/ death of coordinator's husband/etc. Anyway, on the 13th they stated it would go out no later than the 15th. To date, no check. So, I pulled out the lease and have decided pursuant to Paragraph 7.a.(3) I am entitled to late fees (I assume everyone uses the same lease). Anyway, it is vague and says 'penalties in accordance with generally accepted practices and law'. So, this a.m. I took an invoice in and dropped it off with the rent plus late fees.
Does anyone know if I'll actually get the late fees or is it not worth pursuing? Of course the front desk secretary had no idea if my check had even been sent out or processed and no one else was available to check.
Let us know the outcome.
Unfortunately, you may have to bring it to the tenants attention. They are liable in the event of Section 8's mistake. If you call this matter to the attention of the tenant, they will take on the matter head-on. Ask them if they filled out their paperwork, and let them know what happened, it's their business too!
I am very interested in your situation as I had a similair one myself.
I had a unit which failed inspection this year even though it passed last year - and I have made improvements in the past year. The inspector failed the unit for things that were rediculous - I tried to appeal to the supervisor but to no avail, so I made all of the repairs.
However, one of the things they made me change was the carpet. I made an appt with the carpet installer which was later then the re-inspect date. I called and spoke to the head of inspections and told him they could not install the carpet until after my re-inspect deadline and he assured me that it would not affect my payment.
Well, you guessed it - I didn't get paid that month. I heard the same story about the help and the budget etc etc etc and about how they would have it corrected by the 15th - but wouldn't see the payment until my NEXT payment was due. Well, that CAME AND WENT also - i have not been paid on this unit since October and they are still "researching it." This is $1247 per month I am talking about and they are 3 months behind. If I do not get all of that money by the 1st of January, I am going to have to put in more of my personal money to make that mortgage payment (again.)
I wonder if I am entitled to late fees as well? I love your idea about dropping off an invoice to the Housing Authority office requesting payment. I think I may try that.
Good luck!
I've been extremely busy the past week (new granddaughter arrived 3 weeks early) so this hasn't been my priority. I still didn't receive my check so I called my tenant last evening to tell her what I'm going to do. I'm going to post the property in the a.m. and see if she can get them moving. Their nonresponsiveness is what is driving me crazy. My real concern is that I don't totally alienate the Sec 8 office because I don't want bad inspections in the future.
If your renter's portion of the rent is late, you may charge a late fee if you charge it to everyone else but this is often less than in conventional housing. But you can not collect a late fee because section 8 is late.
A good general information site about section 8 is at HUD:
http://www.hud.gov/local/oh/working/localpo/mfhsgfaq.cfm
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received my check Friday for the regular amount, no late fees included. Because I don't want to alienate them, I am not going to pursue it but my reading of the Section 8 lease leads me to believe I am entitled to late fees on their portion.