Sec 8 rent thousand dollars below voucher standard
I recently bought a triplex in Oakland, and inherited a sec 8 tenant. The rent this tenant is paying is far below the voucher standard. The voucher standard itself is a little bit over the rents for the neighborhood. What is the best approach to bring the rent this tenant is paying more into line with the market rents?
Provide the HA with comps in the neighborhood and ask for an increase? I am not sure this strategy will work as the rent is nearly a thousand dollars below the voucher standard.
Improve the features in the apartment such as access to garage, newer kitchen cabinets, floors etc.? and ask for a rent increase based on the improvements to the apartment?
Help the tenant move to a different place and bring the unit to market rents?
So far, my dealings with the HA have been far from smooth. For instance, they still have not processed the transfer of ownership nearly two months after I sent the required documents. They havent paid me the rent for December. In theory, the HA is supposed to pay market rents, but I am not sure how this policy works in reality. If someone has any experience dealing with the Oakland HA, can you please advise?
Thank you!