Screening Section 8 Tenants
Member since 2021 · 28 posts · 13 votes
Screening Section 8 Tenants
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Real Estate Broker · Chicago, IL · Member since 2014 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
2dQuote from @Sharon McCants:
I'm "considering" Section 8 to get maximum rent for a house I'm closing on in the Penn Hills, PA area this month and wanted any tips/advice for getting a good tenant. I typically screen my tenants well, but not sure if there's anything different I should consider when screening section 8 tenants. I'm really leery and still on the fence, so hoping for some good advice here.
So here's how the law works regarding screening tenants at least in Illinois and most likely in your location. A section 8 voucher is a source of income and it's illegal to deny a rental application soley because of the source of income.
With that said you should establish Uniform objective criteria for screening of all tenants. Examples- background check, landlord references, or a clean eviction history, minimum income requirements. Treat the voucher as a source of income. We've had properties in the past where we established a 720 credit score criteria with income requirements of 3x the rent & accepted Section 8 applicants that met the requirements.
I'm adding this last comment because of one ignorant response to your post saying" If your property is not in the ghetto, going Section 8 would be a terrible decision, as all the tenants are going to be of low quality. If it's in a nicer area you should have no issue getting a more responsible party in there to pay market rent while not totally jacking the house up over their tenancy." Here's how ignorant this post is- at least for landlords in Chicago- Chicago has what is called mobility areas. These are areas where the crime stats are low compared to other areas. We own properties in many of these areas & what we charge for rents are market rates & we do. not change our criteria to attract Section 8. In these areas section 8 will actually pay above market rates . So we love it when someone meets our objective criteria and one of their sources of income is a voucher. While not a guarantee it means that the rent is just about guaranteed. We've even helped voucher holders purchase homes using Section 8.
I don't know if you can tell but that negative comment really bugs me. Good luck with your efforts to find a tenant.
12 Replies
- 5dVaibhav PuranikPro MemberMember since 2025 · 45 posts · 19 votes
There is a Biggerpockets podcast episode on section 8 which includes screening tenants - #356. Here is the link - https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/biggerpockets-podcast-356-joe-asamoah
- Member since 2021 · 28 posts · 13 votes5d
@Vaibhav Puranik Just finished watching! Awesome video. Totally changed my perspective on Sevtion 8 tenants.
- Real Estate Broker · Cleveland Dayton Cincinnati Toledo Columbus & Akron, OH · Member since 2013 · 30k+ posts · 20k+ votes4d
Is your property in the ghetto? If it's in the ghetto going for Section 8 can minimize your risk because the tenant base you are dealing with is low quality. And if they're all low quality, you want the low quality tenants who've got rent taken care of by someone else (government).
If your property is not in the ghetto, going Section 8 would be a terrible decision, as all the tenants are going to be of low quality. If it's in a nicer area you should have no issue getting a more responsible party in there to pay market rent while not totally jacking the house up over their tenancy.
- Member since 2021 · 28 posts · 13 votes4d
@James Wise Hey James , thanks for your input. No my place is not in the ghetto, but not high end either... somewhere in the middle. But, the rent in the area is fairly low, unless the house is totally renovated ( LV, stainless steel appliances, granite, etc), which I'm not planning to do right now. The house shows nice, just not totally renovated to that level. So section 8 is just a consideration right now.
- Chicago, IL · Member since 2026 · 9 posts · 3 votes4d
Sharon, I would separate the program from the applicant. Start with the written criteria you already use and apply them consistently, then learn the local program mechanics: what portion the tenant pays, inspection and approval timing, deposit requirements, and what documentation the housing authority provides.
I would not treat voucher status as a shortcut for predicting how someone will care for the home or communicate. Evaluate the actual applicant, rental history, references, and ability to meet their portion.
Source-of-income and screening rules vary by location, so it is worth confirming the Penn Hills process with the local housing authority or a Pennsylvania housing attorney before you advertise or make a decision.- Member since 2021 · 28 posts · 13 votes4d
@Jamison Theander Thanks Jamison, very sound advice. I'll start researching the process now.
- 3dJoseph ScoreseBusiness MemberBanker · Philadelphia · Member since 2009 · 2k+ posts · 629 votes
Sharon, I think the key is to treat a Section 8 applicant the same way you would any other prospective tenant—have a clear, consistent screening process and don’t lower your standards simply because part of the rent is subsidized.
Verify rental history, speak with previous landlords, review the applicant’s ability to meet their portion of the rent, and look closely at how they maintained their previous residence. I’d also make sure you understand the local housing authority’s inspection process, payment timelines, lease requirements, and procedures for rent increases before committing.
Section 8 can provide more predictable rental income, but the quality of the tenancy still comes down to selecting the right tenant and managing the property properly.
I’d focus less on whether someone is a Section 8 tenant and more on whether they meet your established rental criteria and appear to be someone you’re comfortable having in the property long term.
Good luck with the Penn Hills purchase!
- Member since 2021 · 28 posts · 13 votes3d
@Joseph Scorese Thanks for the sound feedback Joseph. Definitely makes sense to proceed this way.
- Real Estate Broker · Chicago, IL · Member since 2014 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes2d
Quote from @Sharon McCants:
I'm "considering" Section 8 to get maximum rent for a house I'm closing on in the Penn Hills, PA area this month and wanted any tips/advice for getting a good tenant. I typically screen my tenants well, but not sure if there's anything different I should consider when screening section 8 tenants. I'm really leery and still on the fence, so hoping for some good advice here.
So here's how the law works regarding screening tenants at least in Illinois and most likely in your location. A section 8 voucher is a source of income and it's illegal to deny a rental application soley because of the source of income.
With that said you should establish Uniform objective criteria for screening of all tenants. Examples- background check, landlord references, or a clean eviction history, minimum income requirements. Treat the voucher as a source of income. We've had properties in the past where we established a 720 credit score criteria with income requirements of 3x the rent & accepted Section 8 applicants that met the requirements.
I'm adding this last comment because of one ignorant response to your post saying" If your property is not in the ghetto, going Section 8 would be a terrible decision, as all the tenants are going to be of low quality. If it's in a nicer area you should have no issue getting a more responsible party in there to pay market rent while not totally jacking the house up over their tenancy." Here's how ignorant this post is- at least for landlords in Chicago- Chicago has what is called mobility areas. These are areas where the crime stats are low compared to other areas. We own properties in many of these areas & what we charge for rents are market rates & we do. not change our criteria to attract Section 8. In these areas section 8 will actually pay above market rates . So we love it when someone meets our objective criteria and one of their sources of income is a voucher. While not a guarantee it means that the rent is just about guaranteed. We've even helped voucher holders purchase homes using Section 8.
I don't know if you can tell but that negative comment really bugs me. Good luck with your efforts to find a tenant.
- 2dDivin KanyamaBusiness MemberAccountant · Seattle, WA · Member since 2025 · 155 posts · 44 votes
@Sharon McCants Section 8 can work well, but I'd focus less on whether a tenant has a voucher and more on the same things that matter with any tenant: rental history, communication, housekeeping habits, and whether they've taken care of previous homes.
One advantage of Section 8 is that a portion of the rent is typically paid directly through the program, which can provide some stability. The challenge is making sure the property meets inspection requirements and understanding the local housing authority's process.
I've seen landlords have both great and terrible experiences with Section 8, just like with market-rate tenants. The common theme is that good screening still matters.
It's also worth remembering that tenant laws can vary dramatically by state and city. For example, Washington State tends to have more tenant-friendly regulations, which can make screening, notices, and evictions more procedural and time-sensitive. Mississippi is generally viewed as more landlord-friendly, but a good tenant is still far more valuable than having stronger legal remedies after things go wrong.
At the end of the day, I'd rather have a well-qualified Section 8 tenant than a poorly screened market-rate tenant. The quality of the tenant usually matters more than the source of the rent.
- 2dDrew SygitBusiness MemberProperty Manager · Royal Oak, MI · Member since 2012 · 12k+ posts · 9k+ votes
Tell ALL applicants with credit scores below a specific number, to be Fair Housing compliant, that you require an interview via video to make sure they are who they say they are.
Then ask them 3-5 decent questions and then surprise them with a request to show you, via video, their kitchen, bathroom and one other room (like a basement).
Why?How their current home looks is how yours will look within 90-days of them moving in.
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