Birmingham, AL Section 8 status?

[Bryan Hartlen]

We've had 3 properties in Birmingham, with qualified voucher tenants waiting weeks for housing authority inspections. One property has been waiting 8 weeks. Our property management company says (i) it's caused by Covid impacts to the housing authority (laid off staff, inspectors getting sick) and (ii) there's nothing they can do to try and accelerate the process or even inquire where in the queue we are.  Our pre-Covid experience had been tenanted and rented properties in less than a month.

Are others experiencing similar delays?

Is there really no way to at least see where we are in the queue?

[Jason Cory]

@Bryan Hartlen The voucher has a requested date for inspection on it when it's turned in. The most I have ever waited for an inspection is 2 weeks. I have tenants that want to move to other properties I have but aren't moving due to the virus. They are scared to move right now. I haven't experienced a delay. If anything, it has been faster during the virus. I turned in a voucher 2 months ago and the inspector was out there 3 days later. Typically, you get your first rent payment on the 3rd month (even though the back rent is included in this payment) but this same house received the first payment on the 1st of the following month they moved in. It was a pleasant and welcomed surprise.

One thing to keep in mind, if your PM doesn't collect the voucher and turn it in themselves you are waiting for the tenant to turn it in. That is never a good idea. I collect every voucher and turn it in personally. The voucher is only good for 90 days from issuance so you may want to ask your PM for a copy of the voucher. If they don't have it, it likely means they filled it out and let the tenant turn it in. Even during the virus it doesn't take long since you can email the voucher and remaining paperwork to the case worker. 

I am seeing many post on BP about the Housing Authority being slower during the virus and that is simply not my experience. Even my re-certification are arriving early. My instincts and experiences during the virus are that PM's are using the virus as an excuse because I am experiencing something completely different with the Housing Authorities here. I could be wrong but the first place I would start is to ask for a copy of the voucher from your PM that has been filled out and signed by the PM and the tenant. 

Also, the Housing Authority hasn't laid anyone off. Their budget is from the federal government. The only time they experience issues is when a budget isn't passed. They have money for a year. It's not month to month or affected by the virus.