All Forum Posts by: Account Closed

You are correct @Chris Martin . Talking to the Raleigh Housing Authority is like talking to a weasel.  My attorney commented that they are public employees but don't act like it.  So for Mr. @Bradley Bogdan  OF COURSE I have attempted to respectfully advise them that the tenant has a current lease. How far did that go? Actually worse. They advised the tenant to complain to Fair Housing. REALLY. And how exactly am I discriminating? I guess by asking to enforce our lease. I believe they are trying to intimidate me so I go away. Which is exactly what the attorney advised me to do.

They have been in the news for many scandals including this instance

Judge Wins

 for taking a voucher. Also for the ridiculous management salaries that are paid by taxpayers.

Raleigh Housing Authority Controversy

Now their fearless leader has announced his 'retirement' amidst a large scandal: Head who Did Magic Announces Retirement

In a city as fine as Raleigh it is a shame that landlords are reluctant to participate in the Section8 program. I believe that most landlords who are willing to accept Vouchers are trying to be a part of the housing crisis solution. Any business person who willingly agrees to the arduous extra inspections and paperwork required by participating in the Section8 program has a good heart for people. I have always been proud of the properties that I had that participated in the program. I know I provided clean safe affordable housing to families in great need. I will have to find another way to serve. Unfortunately, the Raleigh Housing Authority is not a good business partner in my opinion.

Another observation- I did speak to the landlord of this tenant prior to her moving into my place. The landlord had nothing negative to say, only that their mother had passed away and they were ceasing participation in the Section 8 program. I wonder now if they were being totally honest with me. The tenant has obviously found a new landlord to accept her. I did not receive a screening phone call.  If I had, I would not have given her a positive reference.

Properly screening tenants can sometimes prevent future headaches.

File this one under "It seemed like a good idea at the time".

I got some answers today when the attorney reviewed the HAP contract.

There is a paragraph in the HAP  contract that states that the HAP payment will not be made if the tenant moves out and then the  HAP contract automatically terminates.

There is also a paragraph that states that if the HAP contract terminates then the lease terminates.

The attorney said forget about fighting it and move on.

Just in case someone will say " Why didn't you read the HAP contract before??" I have to say the HAP contract was not provided until 30 days after the tenant had taken possession of the unit. Today, my attorney recommends against doing business with the "Raleigh Housing Authority". He said my story is not uncommon and until enough landlords stop doing business them they will not change.

Seth- The tenant thought she was going to fail her last inspection because I did not pay for repairs for damages she caused this last time around. At the last minute the repairs were made and she passed.

She told me that housing put her in the moving program because she ' thought' she was going to fail the inspection. When she gave me written notice that she was moving, I called housing and they said if she was in an active lease then she could not move unless I agreed. I assumed that was the end of it. I told her I did not agree to early termination. I did not put it in writing to housing. In the past , housing has the landlord sign the moving package. I never received a moving package from them so I assumed we were fine.  Dumb of me.

I am so frustrated with Section 8. This tenant has caused over $5000 worth of damage, I was counting on 3 more months of rent to absorb some of the cost of the damages that exceed her security deposit.

I agree she is judgement proof. But the Section 8 program is a 3 way contract.. I may have some leverage with the housing authority.

This is the last Section 8 tenant I have. Thankfully. Hard lessons learned with this one- even though I am a very experienced landlord.

I bet it wont pass inspection. HQS. Health and Safety. Not just building code.

You can choose whether or not to take the voucher. There is no law that says you have to accept payment from a third party- even if you already accept it at another unit. If you decide to go with the Section 8 applicant, You will have to remove the property from the market if you decide to lease to her and wait until the inspection passes BEFORE she can move in.  (could take 30 days or longer) If it doesn't pass then you have wasted a lot of time for nothing.

If it does pass then you will have to WAIT for rent to be paid by the Housing Authority according to their local schedule.

If the tenant turns out to be a bad apple, it is extremely difficult to evict. They will claim Fair Housing Discrimination, You will lose a LOT of money.

In my opinion its better to avoid that whole scenario from the beginning. Section 8 seems like a good idea until you get burned.

I am hoping someone will have some experience with HAP contracts and Section 8. I have a tenant who is currently in a lease with me for 3 more months. She advised me that she is leaving at the end of this month and Housing has moved her voucher to a new place.  How in the world can they do that without my agreement to an early termination.  We have a contract with housing and with the tenant for three more months. I have already sent this one to my real estate attorney, just hoping someone else will have had some experience in this matter.

A word of advice for anyone thinking about Section 8 landlording: RUN!