How To Deal With Section 8 Renters?

Question

Just joined! But is anyone else having issues with Section 8 renters? They're such a pain in the butt! Like seriously? You're not even paying yourself, all you have to do is fill a form with the gov't. You've got free food (food stamps), free housing, and free healthcare, all while driving around in a lexus; which I may add is the most hideous $70k car that I have ever seen, yet can't find the time to do whatever it is you have to do to get money for rent... I don't care about your supposed "pandemic difficulties"... You didn't have a job before and you sure as heck don't have one now! As the famous saying goes: f!ck you, pay me! Thank you for reading my rant and for your tips!

Scott M. · Answer

I would hope that you deal with them like they are human beings with hopes and dreams and struggles and difficulties even if you fail to see them that way.

In our portfolio we have found no basic difference between Sec 8 tenants and market rent tenants in all the ways that matter.  When they pay, % of evictions, cost of turns etc.  We have wonderful tenants on both sides and we have complete PITA tenants on both sides.

It isn't Sec. 8 or market rent that makes them wonderful or difficult it is the individual.  As a property owner you need to find ways to deal with all sorts of personalities or hire a manager to do it for you.

Jennifer Donley · Answer

I am always a bit deflated to see posts like this.

Like the others have mentioned, there are good and bad tenants. Market and Section 8.

I have almost all Section 8 tenants and most are very good tenants.  Rent comes in like clockwork, they take care of the property and if issues arise, we discuss, they fix, done.

Most work and/or have income and pay a portion of the rent.

I find when people dislike their Section 8 tenants, it's because they aren't screening well.  I have inherited some tenants and still have some tenants that I chose in my early landlording days that aren't great (market and Section 8).  But had I screened them myself (inherited tenants) or better (from my early days before I had a strong screening system down), I wouldn't have rented to them.

Tracy Minick · Answer

In Washington State we are required to accept their housing voucher (or at least can’t discriminate against it). If a house rents for $1000 and their voucher is for $800, their rent is essentially $200! They then only have to show three times the amount of rent as gross income!  We have had amazing section 8 tenants (with lots of guaranteed income) and we have had horrible section 8 tenants! That said, I have had good and bad non-section 8 tenants as well. I have several owners that were so grateful to have section 8 tenants during the pandemic. I know it can be an absolute hassle to complete all of the forms.

Adam Martin · Answer

Easy I only deal with them for a couple seconds when I post in my add that I don't accept it.  Sure people still call or ask to view but only takes a couple seconds to disqualify.  At one point I was considering it and 3/3 didn't even bother to show up to the showing confirming my concerns.

How To Deal With Section 8 Renters?

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