Should I lease to a tenant with Housing voucher

Question

Should I lease my unit to a tenant who depends on housing vouchers in Lincoln Nebraska?

Curtis Mears · Answer

I have never accepted section 8 housing for the primary reason is I do not partner with someone who would be happy to see me fail, ie, the federal govt. The government is not friends of landlords and does not care if I succeed or fail. Also, I do not want the government telling me how to manage my properties. But, you may need to look into this depending on the property.

Patrick O'Sullivan · Answer

Hi @Mohammad Murad,Whether or not to lease to a tenant with a housing voucher depends on your goals, local laws, and how comfortable you are working within the program’s structure.

In many places, including parts of Nebraska, there may be protections in place that prevent landlords from refusing a tenant solely because they use a voucher. So it’s important to make sure your screening process is compliant with fair housing laws and is based on objective criteria like income (including voucher amount), rental history, credit, and references.

There are pros and cons to working with voucher tenants:

Pros:

A portion of the rent is guaranteed by the housing authority, which can help with consistent cash flow.

Many tenants stay long-term, which can reduce turnover.

Considerations:

The unit will need to pass an inspection, and you may need to wait for approval before move-in.

Rent increases, lease changes, and eviction processes often involve additional steps and coordination with the housing agency.

As others have mentioned, having a consistent screening process is key. If the tenant meets your criteria and you’re comfortable with the program requirements, there’s no reason not to consider it.

Hope this helps as you make your decision.

Theresa Harris · Answer

I'm not familiar with housing vouchers, but if it doesn't require you to do anything to the home (eg section 8 you have to have it inspected), I wouldn't see it as a problem. I'd talk to someone familiar with it as denying them may be a form of discrimination.

Benjamin Aaker · Answer

This is an area in which you need to be careful. You should develop a policy for whom you will reject and follow fair housing laws. You should not discriminate simply on the basis of having a housing voucher. You should be looking at credit, rental history, etc. Make a policy and stick to it.

Jules Aton · Answer

I never did because I have always been in solid A&B neighborhoods where it wasn’t necessary but I knew a guy who had many Section 8 properties with minimal issues largely based on a thorough vetting process. I suspect this isn’t practical now but he used to personally take application to their residence to get an idea of how they cared for their home. If you consider this make sure you know the laws it may entail especially regarding eviction, rent increases or declining renewal.

Should I lease to a tenant with Housing voucher

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