Seeking Guidance on Section 8 for a Hilltop Property (Columbus, OH)

[Andrew Grimmett]

Hey everyone,

I'm new to the world of real estate investing and am exploring the possibility of renting out one of my properties through the Section 8 program. I have a 3-bedroom house in the Hilltop area (43204) that I'm considering, and I think I might be able to convert one of the rooms to make it a 4-bedroom.

I'm looking for some guidance on a few key points, as the process seems a bit overwhelming:

 * What's involved in applying for Section 8 as a landlord?

 * What's the actual application process like?

 * Do I need to cover utilities with the rent amount provided by Section 8, or are those separate?

 * How is the maximum rent amount determined for a property, especially if I were to convert it to a 4-bedroom?

Any insights, tips, or experiences you can share would be incredibly helpful! It's been quite a learning curve with this house, and I'm eager to understand this program better.

Thanks in advance for 

your help!

[Remington Lyman]

Quote from @Andrew Grimmett:

Hey everyone,

I'm new to the world of real estate investing and am exploring the possibility of renting out one of my properties through the Section 8 program. I have a 3-bedroom house in the Hilltop area (43204) that I'm considering, and I think I might be able to convert one of the rooms to make it a 4-bedroom.

I'm looking for some guidance on a few key points, as the process seems a bit overwhelming:

 * What's involved in applying for Section 8 as a landlord?

 * What's the actual application process like?

 * Do I need to cover utilities with the rent amount provided by Section 8, or are those separate?

 * How is the maximum rent amount determined for a property, especially if I were to convert it to a 4-bedroom?

Any insights, tips, or experiences you can share would be incredibly helpful! It's been quite a learning curve with this house, and I'm eager to understand this program better.

Thanks in advance for 

your help!

You’ll need to register with the local housing authority and pass a habitability inspection before they approve the unit. The application is mostly paperwork, then the unit gets inspected, and if it passes, they’ll send a lease addendum and start payments after move-in. Utilities depend on how the lease is structured. Section 8 will either factor them into the payment or expect the tenant to pay directly. The max rent is based on bedroom count, zip code, and included utilities, so converting to a 4-bed could increase your allowed amount. The Hilltop area does have active voucher holders, but be ready for repairs, inspections, and communication with CMHA.