Did you know that 37.9 million people are in poverty? Living in poverty leads to complex life situations, including the ability to find adequate housing.
If you own a rental property, you have the chance to help those in need without having to worry about pausing your cash flow.
Join the Section 8 Housing program in San Antonio, TX. Keep reading to learn what it means to be a Section 8 landlord.
What Is a Section 8 Landlord?
The Section 8 Housing program was authorized by the Housing Act of 1937. It aims to benefit low-income and vulnerable members of society, such as the elderly and disabled.
Millions of residents live in Section 8 Housing across the United States. The program connects people to suitable housing through the HUD's Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program.
Private landlords that offer needed housing for Section 8 tenants get paid with funding from the HUD.
Section 8 Housing in San Antonio
The San Antonio Housing Authority (SAHA) manages Section 8 housing in San Antonio. To qualify for vouchers, tenants need to meet HUD's federal requirements in addition to screening requirements related to criminal activity.
A Section 8 application might be denied if tenants arent:
- 18 years or older
- A U.S. citizen
- A documented immigrant
Tenants can also be denied if they have a past in criminal or drug-related activity that threatened the health, life, and safety of other residents.
The Section 8 Rental Process
Local Public Housing Agencies (PHAs) provide applicants with the vouchers they need. It can take a while to receive a voucher, but tenants can start looking for housing once they have the voucher.
The Section 8 rental process follows seven complete steps:
- The voucher holder looks for a property
- Section 8 landlord fills out a request for tenancy approval form
- Landlord screens the tenant applicant
- Local PHA reviews rent prices
- Scheduled inspection
- PHA agrees on the rent
- The lease gets signed
Section 8 landlords are required to take care of their property, just as they should with any other tenant. A property has to meet sanitary and safety conditions.
Outside of these normal requests, a section 8 landlord must also complete paperwork through the local PHA website.
Request for Tenancy Approval Form
The request for tenancy approval (RFTA/RTA) form provides your local PHA with details about the rent, unit, utility costs, and address. Landlords can find and fill out these forms through their local PHA website.
If you don't already have a screening process in place, consider implementing one. Section 8 tenants are screened through the PHA, but it's never a bad idea to complete your own screening as well.
A rental property management company can help you with tenant screening services.
How Can Rental Property Management Help?
Joining the Section 8 Housing program as a landlord requires a few extra steps than leasing to a traditional tenant. Whether or not you decide to become a Section 8 landlord, a rental property management company can help.
We can complete the necessary PHA forms for you and screen tenants. Contact us today to learn more about our services.
