Section 8 Voucher Only (no income)

[Veronica Ivy]

I'm getting 4 units ready to rent, primarily targeting Section 8. In our area, either the recipient pays 30% of the monthly rent OR they simply receive a voucher for a rent amount and HUD pays the entire amount.

For tenants paying 30% of the rent, I need 3-4x their portion of the rent each month in income.

But 100% voucher tenants often don't have employment.

I'm more uneasy about renting to full voucher applicants BUT...I'm sure they already have a hard enough time finding places to rent as it is, and I'd like to be the sort of landlord who gives people a chance when others won't. I'm assuming the full voucher tenants can't pay a security deposit (or certainly can't pay much of one). 

What are your thoughts?

[Patti Robertson]

They may get food stamps and a utilities allowance plus a rent voucher, but humans have more bills than those. What about clothing, personal hygiene, school supplies, HVAC filters, cleaning supplies, laundry, etc?  I don’t personally accept anyone who has zero income.  Having retirement or disability income is one thing, but to be able bodied and just not work is not an adult I want to house.  Plus, they will not get approved for market rent without income.  If they have a job when you move them in, and they get approved for your rent amount then lose their job, SEC 8 will continue to pay.  The rent amount is determined based on the income amount at the time the RFTA is submitted.  If they have zero income when you submit the RFTA, I promise you they will not get approved for market rent for their approved bedroom size.  I don’t accept an application for a SEC 8 tenant who is “between jobs”, period.