Landlord Benefits & Responsibilities

LANDLORD BENEFITS

We understand your business needs:

  • Direct Deposit on the first business Friday of the month.
  • Prompt and consistent payments. If your tenant experiences a loss of income, the Housing Agency adjusts the level of subsidy. You continue to get the rent you require each month, and the portion paid by the Housing Agency adjusts to keep the unit affordable to the tenant.

Market Rate Rents:

Caribou Housing Agency works hard to keep up with changing market in the Caribou area. Earn rental income while helping individual tenants and families who otherwise couldn’t afford to live in our community. You can make a real difference in the affordable housing shortage.

You stay in charge of your property:

  • You choose and screen your own tenant. To attract tenants with voucher, you may choose to list your name and phone number on our Landlord Listing.
  • You use your own rental agreement. The tenancy is between your and your tenant. Tenants must abide by your rental agreement.
  • You establish the rent. You are not always limited to the Housing Agency payment standard, and you and you can increase the rent within 60 days notice.
  • The Housing Agency inspects for decent, safe and sanitary unit that meet Housing Quality Standards.

As a Landlord (or Property Owner of a rental unit), you have the responsibility to provide decent, safe, and sanitary housing to tenants at a reasonable rent.  You are are expected to provide the services agreed to in your lease and in the contract signed with CHA. 

CHA may not allow a Landlord to continue participating in the Section 8 Program if these responsibilities are not met. 

LANDLORD OBLIGATIONS  

Tenant Screening and Selection

  • Tenant screening and selection are the responsibility of the Landlord
  • CHA encourages Landlords to consider a family’s background regarding their payment of their rent, care of their unit and premises, and criminal activity.
  • CHA will provide only information that is required by regulations and only if the Landlord requests this information in writing.
  • To assist Landlord in determining applicant suitability, CHA may provide the owner with the name and address, if known, of the landlord at your current unit and prior address (unless your family’s location must be protected due to domestic violence).
  • CHA will not provide prospective Landlords with information about the family’s income, household composition, or past rent payment history.

Receive Approval for Rent Increases

  • Unless the CHA mails a new Rent Breakdown letter, the tenant will only pay their share of rent that the CHA calculates.
  • To request a rent increase you must submit a Rent Increase Form, signed by both you and the tenant, and submit it to CHA at least 60 days before the proposed effective date of the increase.
    • CHA will review proposed rent increases to determine whether they are reasonable.
    • Approvals of all reasonable rent increases will depend on whether CHA funds are available for the increased HAP payment.
    • If CHA approves a rent increase or decrease, then a new rent breakdown letter will be mailed to the tenant and you notifying both the amount and the effective date.

Complying with HAP Contract, Lease, and Tenancy Addendum

  • The Landlord must comply with all provisions of the HAP contract, the lease and the Tenancy Addendum.
  • The Landlord must submit the Landlord Package/RFTA and all required supporting documentation (the tenant may submit this on behalf of the Landlord).
  • The Landlord must notify CHA of any:
    • Rent increase requests
    • Change of ownership
    • Change of owner address

Comply with HQS Requirements

HCV Program regulations require that all unit meets basic Housing Quality Standards (HQS) to ensure the health and safety of program participants. 

Landlord’s responsibilities include:

  • Comply with all HQS requirements except those items specifically assigned to tenants
  • Perform ongoing maintenance
  • When necessary, perform paint stabilization to correct deteriorated paint
  • Disclose know lead-based paint hazards to potential tenants prior to executing a lease
  • Notify tenant each time lead hazard reduction activities are performed
  • Perform all work in according with HUD-prescribed safe work practices

Other Owner Responsibilities

Other Landlord responsibilities include:

  • Routine owner functions:
    • Lease enforcement
    • Maintenance
    • Collect tenant’s share of the rent
    • Charge tenants for damages
  • Comply with Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity requirements
  • Pay for utilities, maintenance, and services, unless they ae paid for by the family under the lease terms.

NON-DISCRIMINATION

All rental property owners are subject to federal and local laws that prohibit discrimination in housing against persons due to their sex, age, ethnicity, race, color, familial status, because they have children, or because of a disability.

Violations of Fair Housing and non-discrimination laws will result in denial or termination of participation in the Housing Choice Voucher Program and could result in civil penalties.

It is in your best interest to utilize the same methods of screening and selection for all tenants and to keep complete documentation.  At your request, the Caribou Housing Authority will furnish you with additional information pertaining to Fair Housing requirements.

REASONABLE MODIFICATION OF THE UNIT UNIT

Owners cannot discriminate against families with disabilities and should be aware of their obligations to make reasonable modifications to the unit for such families at the family’s expense, as required for all persons with disabilities under the Fair Housing Act for the private rental market.  Notify the Housing Authority if you have, or know of an owner who has units accessible to persons with disabilities.          

SALE OF UNIT

Before the Landlord officially sells a piece of property that is being rented by a Section 8 tenant, the Landlord needs to notify the Caribou Housing Authority.  The CHA may transfer the HAP contract to the new owner at the prior owner’s written request. 

CHA may terminate the HAP contract if the new owner is ineligible; the tenant will then be given the opportunity to search for a new unit.