Happy Home InsiderGetting help from the government with paying your rent sounds excellent, but what’s involved? Do you have to live in public housing? Do you have to work in exchange for that help? And are there any responsibilities a Section 8 tenant may have that makes getting such help not so great?
Here’s a look at Section 8 tenant responsibilities so you can figure out whether or not the Housing Choice Program is the right fit for you.
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1. Applying for Section 8 assistance.
Before you become a Section 8 tenant, you will have to apply for a Housing Choice Voucher. Even though the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) funds the voucher program, you’ll be dealing directly with your public housing agency (PHA).
The application process begins by contacting your PHA, which you can do by going here and selecting your state from the menu. Your PHA will tell you how to apply and what’s needed in terms of requirements, such as:
- Citizenship
- Income limits
- Eviction/criminal history
- And more
After you apply for Section 8, you will find out whether or not you are approved. Once approved, you move on to the next step.
2. Sitting on the waiting list.
The waiting list for Section 8 can be lengthy. With so many people needing such assistance, you could be waiting over a year for your voucher.
You can shorten your time on the waiting list by letting your PHA know of any preferences that may apply to your situation, such as:
- Homelessness
- Displacement due to disaster or the government
- Paying over half of your income towards rent
- Living in substandard housing
3. Getting your voucher.
After getting approved and reaching your spot on the waiting list, you can get your housing voucher. To use it, you will need to find a property that:
- Has a landlord that accepts Section 8 vouchers.
- Meets Housing Quality Standards for safety, efficiency, etc.
- Has a reasonable rent.
You’ll have at least two months to use your voucher. It may be possible to use it where you are currently living if you do not want to move.
4. Becoming a tenant.
Once the Section 8 program approves your property, you will have to sign at least a one-year lease with the landlord. This can be renewed after the year, or the landlord may keep you as a month-to-month tenant.
To stay eligible for Section 8 assistance, you will have to do the following as a tenant:
- Abide by the lease.
- Pay your portion of the rent on time every month.
- Keep the unit in proper condition.
- Avoid any criminal activity.
- Follow Section 8’s program requirements.
- Notify your PHA of changes to your income or family composition.
Follow those rules, and you can continue to live in a safe, sanitary apartment, townhouse, or single-family home at a significantly reduced rent.
