Involved Parties:

1. Section 8 Voucher Holder (Tenant)

2. Property Owner (Landlord)

3. Public Housing Agency (PHA)

1. Tenant's Role:

• The Section 8 tenant finds a rental and contacts the property owner.

• Once both parties agree, the tenant and owner notify the PHA to start the paperwork and schedule an inspection.

• Pay required rent and security deposit

2. Property Owner's Role:

• The owner agrees to rent to the Section 8 tenant.

• The owner provides required documents to start the process, including:

• Lease Agreement

• W-9

• Proof of Ownership

• The property must pass an HQS inspection (housing quality standards)

• The PHA reviews the lease, and if approved, adds a lease addendum that includes program rules.

3. PHA's Role:

The PHA collects essential documents, such as:

• Request for tenancy approval

• Proof of ownership

• W-9

• Lease Agreement

• Tenancy Addendum (provided by the PHA)

• Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) Contract (provided by the PHA)

4. The Inspection Process:

• The PHA schedules an HQS inspection.

• The rental unit must pass the inspection before the contract is finalized.

• Once the inspection passes, the lease is signed and rent payments can begin.

The goal of the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program is to provide “decent, safe and sanitary” housing at an affordable cost to low-income families. Housing Quality Standards help HUD and local Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) accomplish that goal by defining “standard housing” and establishing the minimum quality criteria necessary for the health and safety of program participants. All HCV housing units must meet these housing quality standards to participate in the HCV program.

HQS inspections come in three different varieties. Initial Inspections occur when a voucher holder indicates to their PHA that they desire to lease a specific housing unit. The unit must pass the initial inspection before the execution of the assisted lease and housing assistance payments (HAP) contract and the initiation of payments. Annual Inspections occur once a year on housing units that are currently under lease by an HCV participant family. Annual inspections ensure that HCV housing units continue to meet HQS throughout the tenancy of the HCV participant family. Special Inspections may be complaint inspections or quality control inspections. Complaint inspections occur when a tenant, owner, or member of the public complains about the condition of an HCV housing unit. Quality control inspections examine a sample of housing units within a given PHA’s jurisdiction each year and occur throughout the year.

The 13 key aspects of housing quality covered by HQS include:

• Sanitary facilities
• Interior air quality
• Food preparation and refuse disposal
• Water supply
• Space and security
• Lead-based paint
• Thermal environment
• Site and neighborhood
• Illumination and electricity
• Sanitary condition
• Structure and materials
• Smoke Detectors

Note: The unit will fail if there is interior or exterior peeling paint or if there is no stove and/or refrigerator installed.

Search below for more guidance: https://www.hud.gov/topics/housing_choice_voucher_program_section_8#hcv01