What To Do If You’re On Section 8 And Need To Move

Some people love the fact that a Section 8 voucher can make rent very affordable, as it limits how much you’ll have to pay your landlord out of pocket. Since many spend over half of their income on housing each month, it’s nice to know you won’t have to spend over 30 percent if you have a voucher.

What can be even better than the affordable rent Section 8 provides? The stability that it offers. Because if you can make your rent payments on time, you won’t have to worry about evictions. And you won’t have to worry about constantly moving from place to place after having problems with landlords.

Section 8 is so popular, that some waiting lists for vouchers can last years. And if it takes you that long to secure a voucher, the last thing you want to do is lose it. That brings up this question: What if you have to move? The prospects of relocating could lead to a fear of losing your Section 8 voucher, but the good news is that it’s transferrable.

The Voucher Transfer Process

Section 8 vouchers are transferable, but there are steps you must take to keep your housing assistance. Before we jump into those steps, know that you can’t use your voucher wherever you’d like.

The property – whether a townhome, apartment, or single-family home – must fall within Section 8’s standards. It’ll need to be affordable compared to the market, and it must also be safe and pass inspection before you can transfer your voucher.

With that out of the way, let’s discuss the basic steps needed to complete a housing voucher transfer:

• Contacting your Public Housing Agency (PHA) – Since they’re the ones who approved your voucher in the first place, they’ll be the first who need to know you’re moving. You’ll need to request a transfer packet, plus tell your PHA if your family composition has changed by adding or subtracting any members to your household.
• Providing one to two month’s notice to your landlord – This step is necessary so you can break free from your current lease before beginning a new one in your next location. The earlier you complete this step, the better, as your two leases could overlap, causing you to pay more out of pocket until your updated voucher becomes active.
• Interviewing with your PHA – All of your transfer information will be reviewed for accuracy. If all is good to go, you should get your voucher that can be applied to rent at your next home.

What can prevent a Section 8 voucher transfer? As mentioned, picking a new place that doesn’t adhere to the program’s requirements regarding affordability and safety. But other obstacles can keep you from transferring your voucher.

First, you’ll have issues if you can’t get out of the lease with your current landlord. Second, you cannot owe your landlord or PHA money. And third, violations of Section 8 rules could lead you to lose your voucher altogether.