All
Members
Companies
Blog
Forums
Podcast
Webinars
    User Log in  /  Sign up
  • Forums
    Newest Posts Trending Discussions Followed Forums Real Estate News & Current Events General Landlording & Rental Properties Buying & Selling Real Estate Deal Analysis See All
  • Education

    Read

    BiggerPockets Blog BPInsights: Expert Analysis Guides Glossary Reviews Member Blogs

    Watch

    Webinars Video Library Financial Independence Blueprint Intro to Real Estate: Rentals

    Listen

    BiggerPockets Real Estate Podcast BiggerPockets Money Podcast BiggerPockets Business Podcast Real Estate Rookie Podcast Daily Podcast (Audio Blog)

    Topics

    Business Operations Finance Finding Deals Property Management Property Types Strategy
  • Network

    Recommended Vendors

    Real Estate Agents Mortgage Lenders Companies Hard Money Lenders Contractors Investment Companies

    Search

    Members Events Jobs
  • Tools

    Calculators

    Rental Property Fix and Flip BRRRR Rehab Estimator
    Wholesaling Mortgage Payment 70% Rule Airbnb

    Services

    BPInsights: Property Insights Tenant Screening Property Management Lease Agreement Packages

    New Feature

    BPInsights (beta)

    Quickly analyze a property address or ZIP Code to compare your rent in your neighborhood.

    Analyze a property
  • Find Deals
    Real Estate Listings Find Foreclosures External Link Ads, Jobs, and Other
  • Bookstore

    Real Estate Books

    Profit Like The Pros Bidding to Buy See all books

    Featured Book

    BiggerPockets Wealth Magazine book cover
    BiggerPockets Wealth Magazine

    Written by financial journalists and data scientists, get 60+ pages of newsworthy content, expert-driven advice, and data-backed research written in a clear way to help you navigate your tough investment decisions in an ever-changing financial climate! Subscribe today and get the Oct/Nov issue delivered to your door!

    Get the Magazine
  • Pricing
Log In Sign up
User
Quick search links
Podcast Hard Money Lenders Books New York
BlogsArrowMaryland Management MattersArrowWhat You Need to Know About Section 8 in Baltimore

Posted 8 months ago

What You Need to Know About Section 8 in Baltimore

Author

Stephen Kehoe

Stephen Kehoe
Property Manager from Maryland

What You Need to Know About Section 8 (Housing Choice Vouchers) in Baltimore

Advantages

  • Rent payment - Tenant’s can’t move out while still owing rent and not lose their voucher without just cause such (eg. domestic violence). Baltimore city enforces this rule stringently.
  • Higher rent - you can expect ~15% higher rents in Baltimore with section 8 renters. Especially in lower tier neighbourhoods.
  • Consistency - you will be paid the governments portion on the 1st.
  • Leverage - tenants do not want to lose their voucher so may behave better.
  • Longer tenancies - On average section 8 participants stay longer

Disadvantages

  • Tenant friendliness - The housing authority in Baltimore is very tenant friendly.
  • Extra paperwork - It’s the government we’re talking about here.
  • Inspections - Properties rented to section 8 tenants are inspected initially and yearly after that. The initial inspection can be a pain because you can get an overly tenant friendly inspector who fails you and then you have to wait another 4-6 weeks for a reinspection without rent. The inspection is looking at health and safety issues. Detailed info. Is available here. https://www.hud.gov/sites/documents/DOC_11742.PDF



Would I rent to section 8?

A class neighbourhood - maybe. These properties rent easily so maybe it’s not worth the paperwork

C class neighbourhood - yes. Think of the higher rent

Any neighbourhood with older tenants and smaller property - definitely. These tenants stay longer and are unlikely to not pay, trash the place or move in the whole gang.

Please keep in mind you cannot choose not to rent because of income source in Baltimore City, Baltimore County & Howard County. 

Other things to note

  1. Vouchers are distributed by the local county/city authority. This means if the tenant is moving Baltimore city to Baltimore county he/she will be reassessed for eligibility for vouchers.
  2. Project based vouchers do not travel with the tenant.
  3. If the tenant tells the housing authority for example there is a window that won’t lock Baltimore won’t pay and you won’t know why until you notice your funds didn’t show up. Que the inspection process again.

The process

  1. Must be inspected and registered with city of Baltimore. More on this at https://dhcd.baltimorecity.gov/pi/alarmproperty-registration
  2. Sign up at https://www.gosection8.com/ll/benefits.aspx?benefittype=landlord to list your property on gosection8. I also recommend the zillow group, facebook marketplace and a yard sign.
  3. Fillout request for tenancy approval (RFTA) https://www.hud.gov/sites/documents/52517.PDF and send in.
  4. Prepare for inspection https://www.habc.org/habc-information/programs-departments/hcvp/hcvp-landlords/hcvp-property-regulations/housing-quality-standards-inspections-checklist/

Related Posts

July 15, 2020 Lead Inspections & Registrations in Maryland
July 14, 2020 Baltimore City Non-Owner Occupied Property Registration Process
July 24, 2020 Eviction Process in Baltimore

Comments


Log in Sign up

Log in

Forgot password?

If you signed up for BiggerPockets via Facebook, you can log in with just one click!

Log in with Facebook

Or
btn_google_dark_normal_ios Created with Sketch. Continue with Google

Let's get started

We just need a few details to get you set up and ready to go!

Use your real name

Use at least 8 characters. Using a phrase of random words (like: paper Dog team blue) is secure and easy to remember.

By signing up, you indicate that you agree to the BiggerPockets Terms & Conditions.

Or
btn_google_dark_normal_ios Created with Sketch. Continue with Google

Why create an account?

Receive a free digital download of The Ultimate Beginner's Guide to Real Estate Investing.

Connect with 1,000,000+ real estate investors!

Find local real estate meetups and events in your area.

Start analyzing real estate properties, we do the math for you.

It's free!

Explore

  • Membership
  • Community
  • Education
  • Marketplace
  • Tools
  • FilePlace
  • REI Resources
  • Perks
  • Glossary
  • Reviews
  • iOS App
  • Android App

Company

  • About Us
  • Press
  • Advertising
  • Careers
  • Stats
  • Contact Us

Important

  • Editorial Guidelines
  • Terms of Use
  • Rules
  • Privacy
  • FAQ

Social

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Instagram
© 2004-2021 BiggerPockets, LLC. All Rights Reserved.