For those of you who take section 8, what are your screening requirements?

[Carol Burns]

I am just looking into section 8 and trying to learn.  I understand that you screen a section 8 tenant just like you would any other tenant, but for what?   They aren't going to have good credit or a lot of income, so what would be good screening requirements?  Any other advice you have to give about section 8 would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks

[Kerlous Tadres]

Hi @Carol Burns, I’d recommend looking closely at rental history, references, and how they’ve treated previous homes rather than credit scores or income levels. You still want to see things like on-time rent payments, no major lease violations, and a good relationship with past landlords. I also always verify they understand their share of rent and program rules, and I like to meet them in person to get a feel for communication and reliability. The housing authority pays the bulk of the rent, so your main risk is around property care and cooperation. Build a good relationship with your local housing authority. They’ll guide you through inspections, and once you’re in their system, vacancy risk can be lower because of steady demand.