I know it’s some sort of housing welfare allotment, and some rental properties accept it and some don’t.
What I’m unclear about is why some don’t.
They can get enough “normal” tenants and they would rather not deal with section 8 tenants.
“Section 8” or the “Housing Choice Voucher Program” is a program of government subsidies for housing for low-income tenants. Part of the housing rental cost is paid with a government voucher.
Where state law prohibits housing discrimination based on “source of income”, it is illegal for landlords to refuse a tenant because they’re using Section 8.
However, many landlords prefer not to deal with Section 8 vouchers for the same reasons that they prefer not to deal with low-income people and government programs for them in general. E.g., they don’t want to be bothered with the paperwork, they’re concerned about government oversight, they’re worried that low-income tenants might be less reliable or capable about rent payments, or they might be mixed up with drugs or crime, etc. etc.
This reaction is natural, but where state laws prohibit this kind of housing discrimination, it is illegal.
Thanks.
I think I also see now that a person could lose a benefit and then the landlord would have a non-paying tenant.
Beyond that, the government will only reimburse you for something like $200 worth of damages or cleaning fees. That’s nothing for a good-sized rental property. If you add in a pet or some other natural enemy of carpeting, you can get damages in the thousands. And where you can go after a deadbeat tenant for the extra money, you can’t go after the government.
YMMV. I work in a property management office that doesn’t accept Section 8 or HUD, and this was just what my boss told me when I asked her why.
Susan, IANAL, but as far as I can tell, it’s possible that in Oregon your office’s policy might be ruled illegal:
I read about a case in NJ where a judge ruled that discrimination by a landlord against Section 8 tenants was permissible for exactly that reason (i.e., that the nondiscrimination statute didn’t explicitly mention Section 8 vouchers). But the ruling was overturned on appeal. Refusing to accept Section 8 apparently can be interpreted as illegal discrimination based on source of income.
Rental property management person here. I work with Section 8 almost every day.
It is illegal in NJ to discriminate based on “source of income.” However, it’s very easy to find another reason to refuse someone on Section 8.
Other factors include: People don’t want the government in their business. Section 8 Tenants are well known for not paying their portion of the rent on time. Often Section 8 doesn’t pay current asking price for apartments, and accepting money under the table is illegal. If the tenant screws up and loses their Section 8, it can takes months to get them out for non-payment. Section 8 inspects the apartments every year, and makes the landlord fix any damages, even if it’s the tenants fault. In one case, Section 8 made us replace a front door because the (crazy) tenant had put seven locks on it!
On slow days we sit around and swap Section 8 stories.
I dunno. We get calls every day asking if we accept HUD. No one has ever argued with me when I tell them that we don’t. I did have one poor girl tell me that she was “going to be homeless in 3 days because no one takes HUD.” I felt bad for her, but I can understand why we don’t make exceptions in this area.
However, to the asshat who accused me of discriminating against his son (who did not have a high enough income to meet our criteria): “Student” is not a protect class, Johnny McCochran.
protected class :smack: