Benefits of Housing Choice
(Section 8) Vouchers
The King County Housing Authority's Housing Choice Voucher
program can offer landlords and property owners regular rental income. Currently, more
than 3,000 property owners participate. Tenants in the program pay a portion of
the rent and KCHA pays the rest -- up to a reasonable cap -- reliably and on time. Landlords and property
managers appreciate the following advantages of the Housing Choice Voucher
program:
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As a tenant's income changes, the Housing Authority portion can be adjusted to ensure the full contract rent is paid monthly.
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Stable rent, even if a tenant's income drops, because the Housing Authority's
portion can be increased.
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Minimal paperwork and the freedom for landlords and management to use their own
leases and screening criteria.
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Inspections by the Housing Authority that help property owners maintain their
property, which helps ensure its resale value and also makes it easier to lease
up again when a tenant vacates.
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The Housing Choice Voucher program provides an additional avenue for locating
tenants to fill vacant units.
If you are interested in making your unit(s) available to people with Housing
Choice vouchers, we offer an online list that prospective tenants will consult where you can advertise your unit, in addition to your other marketing efforts.
Housing Choice Voucher
Property Listing Tool
New program to help homeless veterans
A special Housing Choice rental assistance program that specifically helps homeless veterans and their families is now available through KCHA.
If you own or manage rental property and/or are interested in supporting our veterans, we invite you to consider participating in this program -- Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH).
Information about the VASH program
How the Housing Choice Voucher program works
In this section of the Web site, we review important elements of the Housing
Choice Voucher program, including: inspections, lead-based paint regulations, and utility allowances.
Tenant Screening
You'll want to screen prospective tenants with vouchers the same way you screen
other prospective tenants. The Housing Authority initially screens participants for
certain elements of criminal history, but it is recommended that you screen them for suitability
for your unit. The Housing Authority does make the screening process a little
easier by supplying the name, address and telephone number of the last landlord
to rent to the tenant, if known. A landlord may charge a screening fee to
prospective tenants as long as it is the same fee charged to unassisted
tenants.
Request for Tenancy
Approval
If the prospective tenant passes your screening criteria, they will give you
four forms to complete: "Request for Tenancy Approval," "Section
8 Landlord Certification," "Taxpayer Identification Number" and
"Lead-Based Paint." You will want to fill out and send these forms to
the Housing Authority promptly to begin the process that leads to housing
assistance payments.
KCHA will determine if the requested rent is comparable to rents for similar
units in the area and will make sure the tenant's portion does not exceed 40
percent of the household's income. If the requested rent fails to meet one or
both of these criteria, the Housing Authority will ask you to negotiate a lower
rent. There is no obligation to alter the rent. After the forms have been
completed and reviewed by the Housing Authority, the unit will be inspected.
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An HQS inspector checks an electrical outlet.
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Inspection Process
To ensure that units are safe and sanitary, the U.S. Department of Housing and
Urban Development has established housing quality standards (HQS). An initial
HQS inspection is required for a unit to be registered for the Housing Choice
Voucher program. After that, it is subject to annual HQS inspections.
Details on the HQS inspection process
Details about lead-based paint regulations
In 2005 the Washington State Legislature passed a bill that requires landlords to inform their tenants about mold. All new tenants after July 24, 2005, and all current tenants by Jan. 1, 2006, must be informed of the health effects of mold, steps to take to avoid mold growth and how to clean up mold.
Learn from the Washington Department of Health how best to comply with the new law
Move-In Checklist
State law requires that you and the tenant complete a move-in checklist report,
detailing the condition of the rental unit before the tenant has moved in. A
copy of this report should be given to the tenant.
Annual Lease and Contract Changes
After the initial 12-month lease term ends for units on the Section 8 program,
you may change the terms of the lease and contract, including rent and utility
responsibilities. The Housing Authority notifies landlords at least 90 days
prior to the end of the year term, reminding them to request any desired
changes. KCHA requires landlords to provide a 60-day notice of a change in the
lease to the tenant. Copies of such notices should also be submitted to the
Housing Authority.
If a change in rent is requested, the rent must remain comparable to similar
units in the area. The tenant's portion of the rent can rise above 40 percent
of the household's income. However, in the case of an approved rent increase,
the tenant, not the Housing Authority, pays the increased amount and
affordability may become a factor if their portion gets too high.
Property Foreclosure
On May 20, 2009, President Obama signed a bill that includes a nationwide 90-day pre-eviction notice requirement for tenants in foreclosed properties. To find out more about the new law, please read the Landlord Foreclosure Notice (pdf).
Landlord Foreclosure Notice (html)
Fair Housing
All property owners doing business with KCHA are required to comply with fair housing laws, detailed in the Fair Housing/Accessibility Notice (pdf). To learn what constitutes illegal discrimination against housing applicants or
tenants, you can consult the local HUD Fair Housing Office at (206) 220-5170 or
1-800-877-0246. King County's
Office of Civil Rights also has information about fair housing.
Fair Housing/Accessibility Notice (html)
Letter to Section 8 landlords about tenant and landlord rights under the Violence Against Women Act, reflecting an interim rule published by HUD in December 2008
Reporting Misrepresentation
The Housing Authority values the integrity of its programs and takes all reports of fraud, misrepresentation or other program violations seriously. If you know someone benefiting from a KCHA program that you believe is violating his or her required obligations, please download a Fraud Allegation Complaint form (pdf), complete it and mail or fax it to:
Fraud Investigations Unit
15455 65th Ave. S.
Tukwila, WA 98188
Fax: (206) 357-2432
Finding Us
The office hours, which vary from those of other KCHA offices, are:
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Wednesday, Saturday, Sunday: Closed
Section 8 Office
15455 65th Ave. S.
Tukwila, WA 98188
Telephone: 206-214-1300
Fax: 206-243-5927
View Directions
Section 8 Staff Directory