Section 8 - How To Handle This?

Comments(10)

• 
  Sash10th November, 2003

  Can you find a regular tenant who will pay $895?
  
  Mike

• 
  JohnMerchant10th November, 2003

  Be very careful to work totally honestly with your housing authority on these Sec.8 tenants...you have to agree to their terms, the total rent you'll charge, what the tenant will pay, etc.
  
  And you'd better not have any "side/invisible" deals under the table...that's fraud and would get you barred from Sec.8 & maybe prosecuted for fraud. Ugly potential there!
  
  The housing authority will have a rent schedule you'll have to agree to work with, e.g. how much rent for 2 & 3BR SFR, etc., and you'll also agree NOT to charge more than those rates.

• 
  BAMZ10th November, 2003

  Hi maha_s7,
  
  You didnt tell enough details as to how many bedrooms does your house have and how many bedrooms is on the section 8 voucher. This could play into your situation.
  
  Section 8 has guidelines on how much they think is a reasonable rent. However, you said that $790 is what your tenant is eligible for. Did the Housing Authority say anything about the price of the rent you are asking? If not, find another section 8 tenant with a better ratio, or bypass section 8 completely and find an average joe who will pay you that.
  
  How did you come up with your rent amount?
  
  BAMZ

• 
  TrailBlazer0010th November, 2003

  I have Section 8 tenants that pay me directly. I have colleagues in Stone Mountain that also get the difference directly from the tenant. If the $105 is above what the housing ofc says the tenant can afford, then you may run into problems.

• 
  maha_s710th November, 2003

  [quote]
  On 2003-11-10 16:37, TrailBlazer00 wrote:
  "I have Section 8 tenants that pay me directly. I have colleagues in Stone Mountain that also get the difference directly from the tenant."
  
  Can you explain what needs to happen in order for Sec 8 tenants to pay you directly ?
  Also, what needs to happen to get the difference from the tenant ?
  
  "If the $105 is above what the housing ofc says the tenant can afford, then you may run into problems"
  
  I found from the office the amount this tenant is eligible. ie $790. Shd I ask the office what the tenant can afford ?

• 
  Zach10th November, 2003

  Maybe the guidlines differ from state to state. For example, I thought that many times tenants are actually required to pay directly for a portion of the rent. I don't know for sure, I've never had a sec8 tenant, but I know people who do have them, and I am sure that is what I was told. You'd better do some more investigating with the sec8 office. Zach

• 
  edmeyer10th November, 2003

  I have numerous section 8 tenants. They all pay part of the rent depending upon their income and number of people occupying the property. The fact that they pay for a portion is part of the agreement with the Housing Authority and their payment comes directly to me.
  
  Here there are upper limits on rents for each type of housing (i.e 2 bed 2 bath, etc.) but I believe that one can go above the limit (to a point) if the tenant is willing to pay.
  
  If the $790 is the limit on the rent rather than the subsidy amount, you might talk to the PHA (or whoever manages section 8 in your area) and see if they would allow the higher rent if the tenant is willing to pay the difference.
  
  In any event, whatever you do don't hide it! Do it out in t he open.

• 
  stameyr11th November, 2003

  Is $790 the voucher amount?
  
  Section 8 sets fair market rental rates based on location, size etc. Section 8 will inspect your property and may determine your maximum rental amount is $850. If the voucher is for $790, the tenant would pay the difference. You cannot charge more than Section 8 allows for your property. In this case you cannot charge more $850.
  
  Check with your local Section 8 office.

• 
  SavvyYoungster12th November, 2003

  Our Section 8 Tenets are not allowed to pay above their voucher because theoretically they don't have the money.
  
  There is no way around it here in Georgia as far as I know. I wouldn't take the money on the side either, you'd be defrauding the US Govt. Deep pocket litigation is no fun.

• 
  joespine19th November, 2003

  In CA, there are also income requirements the tenant must achieve.
  
  For example, the tenant may only pay up to 40% of their income for rental and utilities. Regardless of whether or not your rent is deemed "reasonable" for the area, the applicant still may not be allowed to rent your unit because they do not make enough money to pay the difference.
  
  I called the Fair Housing Authority in my area and found they are very helpful with questions. Give them a try.