What has your experience been recently with Section 8 in Massachusetts / New England?

Question

Hey BP Fam. Just curious what other operators and investors experience has been dealing with section 8 over the past few years in Massachusetts and New England in general? From my experience, section 8 seems to be pulling back and pushing back on rent increases and cutting costs whereever they can. For Mass specifically, section 8 makes up a large population of renters hence a little concerning for a class C and B operator. What have others experienced recently?

Kyle Mccaw · Answer

@Andrew Freed We've seen HAP offices slow-walk rent increases and get pickier on inspections. That's not just Massachusetts.

Don't plan on getting every market bump approved. The authority is going to protect their budget. What actually bites you is a failed inspection that stops HAP while you scramble on repairs.

I'm in Texas, so I won't pretend I know your PHA. Ask someone who works those New England authorities how payment standards and rent reasonableness are running this year. The operator lesson is the same: underwrite the housing-authority process, not last year's HAP amount.

What has your experience been recently with Section 8 in Massachusetts / New England?

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