Question on renting to a section 8 applicant for a duplex

[Monte Blunk]

We are renting out a duplex in a great area and we just had someone who asked us if we accept section 8 renters.  We have not come across this before.  Does anyone have some thoughts on this?  Anything we should know or look out for?

[Gail K.]

Working with Section 8 is not for the faint of heart nor new landlords.  How smooth or painful this ends up being is often dependent on your current housing authority that deals with these clients.

Keep in mind that you should screen Section 8 applicants as you would any other applicant.  Also keep in mind that your rental unit must go through an inspection prior to approval (and will require a yearly inspection).  In my neck of the woods it can up to six weeks for the initial inspection to take place. Meanwhile your place sits empty.

Landlords who work with the program like it because the funds provided are in your account the first of each month.  That's nice of course.  On the other hand, the housing authority decides what they will pay (and, in many cases, what portion the tenant must come up with) and often their idea of "fair market rates" is laughable.   A few years ago when money was tight some housing authorities simply announced they were reducing the monthly rent payments and landlords had no choice but to accept this. 

There have recently been a few postings on some of the landlord forums I'm on of landlords who have had Section 8 tenants who lost their vouchers several months before yet, for some reason, the housing authority kept paying until they realized their mistake and are now requiring these landlords to reimburse back the rent provided.  Meanwhile the tenants remain in the rental unit.  In one case a landlord has several Section 8 rentals and was told if they did not reimburse these funds the money would simply be taken out of future rents from current Section 8 tenants.

Again, I was a federal employee for 30 years and frankly, lots of us were boobs.  Some of us were frustrated by the stupid government rules (note: I was NOT in this program).  If you wish to get in bed with such a program, go for it.

Gail