Section 8 Rental Assistance
Housing Choice Voucher Program
Landlord Briefing
Introductions

Executive Director
 Angela Strickland

HQS Inspector
 Rick Bassett

Director of HCV
 Jewel Small

Accounting Specialist
 Leslie Bautista

HCV Specialist
 Kristen Tidman

Director of IT
 Brian Collins
HCV Program Goals
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To provide decent, safe and sanitary housing for very
low income families while maintaining their rent
payments at an affordable level.
To promote fair housing and the opportunity for
very low income families of all ethnic backgrounds
to experience freedom of housing choice.
To promote a housing program which maintains
quality service and integrity while providing an
incentive to private property owners to rent to very
low income families.
Agenda
 Roles
and Relationships
 Responsibilities
 Leasing Process
 Inspections
 Financials
Q&A
Roles and Relationships
Housing
Authority
Tenant
LEASE
Landlord
Roles and Relationships
 HAP
Contract: Binding contract between the
Housing Authority and the Landlord
 The HAP contract is a written agreement between
the PHA and the owner of the dwelling unit
occupied by a housing choice voucher assisted
family. Under the HAP contract, the PHA agrees
to make housing assistance payments to the owner
on behalf of a specific family occupying a specific
unit and obliges the owner to comply with all
program requirements.
Roles and Relationship

Voucher: Binding contract between the Housing
Authority and the Tenant
 A written agreement between Program Participant and
the Housing Authority. It outlines the obligations of
the family while participating in the program

Lease: Binding contract between the Landlord
and the Tenant
 A legally binding written agreement between Tenant
and Landlord regarding the unit being occupied.
Responsibilities

Housing Authority:
 Must determine applicant eligibility (verify income and
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other information), complete annual household reexaminations, and make timely housing assistance payments
Perform initial and annual inspections to ensure
compliance with HUD HQS
Ensure contract rent amount is reasonable in comparison
to other similar rental units in the area
Required to comply with all applicable HUD rules and
regulations
Required to follow policies as outlined in the PHA
Administrative Plan
Responsibilities

Landlord:
 Screen and select Section 8 voucher holders just as you
would any other tenant renting the home/unit
 Maintain the same landlord/tenant relationship with a
Section 8 tenant as you would with any other nonsubsidized tenant
 Must abide by the terms of the Housing Contract and
the terms of YOUR LEASE
 Maintain the dwelling unit in safe and decent
condition in accordance with Housing Quality
Standards
Responsibilities

Landlord (continued):
 Collect appropriate rent amount
 Provide and maintain any and all utilities as described
on the Request for Tenancy Approval and in the lease
 Comply with Fair Housing and American Disabilities
Acts which prohibit discrimination against any person
on the grounds of race, color, religion, national origin,
gender, sexual orientation, and/or disability
Responsibilities

Tenant:
 Find suitable housing
 Abide by program rules and family obligations
 Provide income information, and family composition in
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compliance with annual and interim re-examinations
Comply with all HQS Inspections
Maintain good housekeeping and be a good neighbor
Pay appropriate rent amount in the allotted time as
established by the lease agreement
Provide and maintain any and all utilities as required by
lease
Leasing Process
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Eligible persons are invited to group briefing to complete
paperwork and be issued a Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher
Request for Tenancy Approval must be completed by prospective
Landlord and returned to the Housing Authority for approval
Housing Authority complete the affordability worksheet to
ensure tenant is financially able to rent purposed unit
If not approved, Landlord may be requested to lower the
requested rent amount.
 Please note: Landlords MAY NOT accept any additional monies or
extract any additional charges from and against tenants above the
approved rent amount. Acceptance of additional money is against
Federal and State Law.

If approved, the HQS Inspector will send out letters containing
inspection date and time
Leasing Process
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Landlord, or their adult representative, must be present
to allow HQS Inspector to complete initial inspection of
unit
If unit fails inspection and you would like to participate
in the program, all repairs must be made and you must
contact the HQS Inspector to schedule a 2nd inspection.
The unit MUST pass inspection before any payments
will be made from the Housing Authority.
After unit passes Initial Inspection a lease must be signed
with Tenant and a copy provided to the Housing
Authority
Leasing Process
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Tenant must establish/transfer utilities they are
responsible for paying into their name. Utility
Verification form must be completed and returned to the
Housing Authority.
Once the case worker has the passed Inspection booklet,
the signed lease, and the utility verification form in their
possession, a move-in will be completed.
The case worker will mail out a HAP Contract for
Landlord signature, a copy of the HAP Contract for LL
records, and a letter explaining portions of rent owed by
the Tenant and the Housing Authority.
Housing Quality Standards (HQS)
Inspections

Types:
 Initial
 Annual
 Special
 Re-inspections
 Quality Control
HQS Inspections

Initial
 Property must be inspected by HQS Inspector prior to
occupancy by a new applicant or transferring participant
 HQS Inspection scheduled by Inspector after the Request
for Tenancy Approval has been reviewed and found
affordable for the prospective tenant
 No payments will be made to a Landlord unless the HQS
Inspection has been completed and successfully passed
 Inspection Packet can be found online at
www.brunswickpha.org
HQS Inspections

Annual
 HUD requires the PHA to inspect each unit under
lease at least annually to confirm that the unit still
meets HQS. The inspection may be conducted in
conjunction with the families annual reexamination
but also may be conducted separately .
 Letters are mailed to both the Tenant and the
Landlord advising them of their scheduled date and
time
 An adult (18 years of age or older) MUST be present
at the time of the inspection
HQS Inspections

Special
 May be requested by Tenants, Landlord/Owner, or a 3rd
Party as a result of problems identified with a unit between
annual inspections
 Any items identified as needing repair will result in a failed
inspection. Repair deadlines can range from 24 hours to
30 days depending on failed items.
 Note:
○ The Housing Authority encourages Tenants to consult their
lease and speak with the Landlord. The lease agreement
between the Tenant and Landlord should provide protocol on
any repairs that may arise during lease term.
HQS Inspections

Re-inspections
 24 hours are given to correct any and all life threatening
conditions. This notice can be given to Tenants /Landlords in
person or via phone, email or fax.
 Otherwise, a letter will be mailed within 5 days to both the
landlord and tenant detailing who is responsible for correcting
the violations. Generally, no more than 30 days will be given to
make corrections.
 If the re-inspection fails due to a landlord not making
appropriate repairs the unit will be abated for a maximum of 30
days during which time no HAP payments will be made
 If the re-inspection fails due to a tenant not making appropriate
repairs, the tenant will be terminated according to PHA policy.
HQS Inspections

Quality Control
 HUD requires a sample of units to be re-inspected by
supervisor or other qualified individual to ensure that
HQS are being enforced correctly and uniformly by
the Inspection
 QC Inspections are done on a monthly basis
 Both the tenant and landlord will receive a letter
including the date and time the inspection will be held
Financials
HAP payments are typically direct deposited on
the 1st and additional payments on the 15th of
every month (if weekend or holiday, payment
deposits on next business day)
 New move-in payments: Payments begin on the
tenants official move-in date recognized by the
Housing Authority. A prorated payment will be
made if tenant moved in after the first of the
month.

Landlord Portal
At this point, we would like to Welcome Mr. Brian
Collins who will be providing information, as
well as a demonstration, of our new Landlord
Portal!