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The following provides information as to what an Owner needs to know as a Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program participant.
Issuance of Housing Voucher: Housing choice vouchers are issued to eligible families and individuals with instructions to locate suitable rental housing in the private rental marketplace within the greater Albuquerque and Bernalillo County area. The family has up to 60 days to locate and enter into a lease agreement with a prospective landlord.The unit selected MUST pass a housing quality inspection prior to the tenant moving into the unit and before any housing assistance payments are issued for the unit.
Tenant Screening and Selection: AHS does not pre-screen or select tenants for owners of rental property. This responsibility belongs solely to the landlord to screen and select their future tenant. During the screening process, the landlord MUST comply with all federal, state, and local Equal Housing Opportunity laws.
Request for Tenancy Approval (RFTA): After the landlord agrees to enter into a lease with an AHS housing voucher holder, the landlord MUST complete, sign and date the Request for Tenancy Approval form (form HUD-52517).Either the tenant or the landlord MUST return the completed form to our offices at 1840 University Blvd. SE, Albuquerque, NM in order to set up a unit Inspection appointment.
Rent Request: The rent requested by a participating owner for a rental unit must be “reasonable.” HUD rules and regulations require that rents charged by owners to HCV program participants must be reasonable when compared to other unassisted units in the private rental housing market. This means that the total rent cannot be more than rent for similar units based on number of bedrooms in the same general area or neighborhood (within a three mile radius from where the unit is located).Other criteria AHS may consider to determine the rent includes, but is not limited to:
Security Deposits: The landlord is encouraged to collect a security deposit from the tenant.However, AHS will prohibit security deposits that are in excess of private market practice or in excess of amounts owner’s charge to unassisted tenants.Security deposits must be held in compliance with State and Local laws regarding interest payments and disposition of deposits.It is the tenant’s responsibility to pay the security deposit. AHS does not provide Security Deposit assistance to its clients.
Effective Date of Lease and HAP Contract: The effective date of the Lease and HAP Contract will be determined only after all housing quality standards violations have been corrected (if any), and the tenant has terminated a previous lease agreement with a prior landlord (if applicable).
Rent Increases: The owner may request an annual rent increase once a year.Rent increases are not automatic and must be requested in writing 60 days prior to the expiration of the existing lease. Any increases in rent are subject to “rent reasonableness test” requirements and AHS approval. In addition, the annual inspection for the unit must be current with no outstanding HQS violations prior to approval of HAP contract renewal and any rent increase. When a rent increase has been approved, AHS will send both the owner and the tenant a notice of the change in rent with the new effective date.
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