Summer 2013
RentSense Information for Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program Landlords
Register Now for Direct Deposit of Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) Checks! Starting in June, IHFA will only provide rental assistance payments for the Housing Choice Voucher program by direct deposit. If you haven’t registered to have your payments sent electronically, please contact your local branch office to get a copy of the authorization form. Then, just submit the form with a VOIDED check and return it to the office. In about one month, your checks will automatically be deposited into the account you choose. Until then, you will receive a physical check. Using direct deposit helps ensure that your payments aren’t stolen, forged, or lost in the mail. Plus, it’s convenient and guarantees you’ll get your checks on time.
Lease Agreements, the HAP Contract, and You Idaho Housing and Finance Association, landlords, and Housing Choice Voucher Program participants have a unique relationship when it comes to rental assistance, a lease, and the Housing Assistance Payments contract. The lease is the binding agreement between you and your tenant and it must be in writing, comply with Idaho and local law, and be signed by both of you before payments can begin. Your lease must specify: n
The name of the owner and the tenant.
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The address of the unit.
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The term of the lease, including any renewal provisions. If a lease expires and there isn’t a holdover or renewal provision, you won’t be entitled to further HAP payments until a new lease is in place. The amount of the monthly rent. Who is responsible for payment of the utilities and appliances in the unit.
The HAP contract is the agreement between you and IHFA for Housing Assistance Payments. The HAP contract ends if IHFA terminates assistance to the family, the family moves out of the unit, or 180 days after the last HAP payment to the owner. IHFA and the tenant are connected through the voucher, which grants federal rental assistance to your participating tenant. The family must comply with the program’s rules to participate. If you use your own lease, the HUDrequired Tenancy Addendum must be attached. Although IHFA is not a party to the lease, it offers a model lease that can be used, which also needs to include the Tenancy Addendum. You cannot use the model lease and then execute your own lease. Lease agreements and housing assistance payments
HUD regulations require that the initial term of the lease must be for at least one year. If you want to execute a new lease after the first year, please notify IHFA beforehand. A new HAP contract must be signed and a new Housing Quality Standards (HQS) inspection must be performed. Other than the annual recertification process, any time you and your tenant agree to a change in the lease the changes must be in writing and a copy must be sent to IHFA. Changes to the lease that require the execution of a new lease and contract include: n
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Changes regarding tenant or owner responsibility for utilities or appliances. Changes to the term of the lease. Change of unit, even if the unit is in the same building or complex.
If you have questions about the lease and contract or any other issues, please contact your local IHFA branch office.
Need more information? Contact an IHFA branch office near you. Coeur d’Alene . . . . . . . 208.762.5113 Idaho Falls . . . . . . . . . 208.522.6002 Lewiston . . . . . . . . . . 208.743.0251 Twin Falls . . . . . . . . . . 208.734.8531
www.idahohousing.com
ProgramSense
Resources for landlords: Get helpful information and more by clicking the link under “Rental Assistance” at IdahoHousing.com.
RentSense Published annually by Idaho Housing and Finance Association. Comments are welcome. Please contact IHFA Rental Assistance at 800.219.2286. Visit our website at www.idahohousing.com 3M0613
Connect with us!
The IHFA branch office locations in Idaho Falls, Twin Falls, Lewiston and Coeur d’Alene hold annual workshops to inform you about issues that affect you and your properties. Past workshops have covered issues such as bed bugs, direct deposits, and fair housing. Local housing partners and experts are on hand to provide further advice. These free workshops are open to landlords, property management staff members, and owners, whether or not they currently rent to voucher participants. All you need to do is call your local branch office to register.
Take Advantage of a Free Learning Opportunity at a Landlord Workshop Notices of upcoming landlord workshops are placed in the local paper, on Housing Assistance Payment check advices, and on the “Resources for Landlords” page in the “Rental Assistance” section at IdahoHousing.com. If you are interested in attending the next interactive workshop or have suggestions for topics you would like to hear more about, email rentalassistance@ ihfa.org or follow the link on IHFA’s landlord resources page. To join our email list and be included in future communications about issues concerning rental assistance or training opportunities, click the link on IHFA’s landlord resource page and sign up.
ResourceSense
Updated Landlord and Tenant Guidelines
Connect with Idaho Housing and Finance Association on Facebook at www.facebook.com/idahohousing or on Twitter at @idahohousing.
The Idaho Attorney General’s office has a pamphlet that explains landlord and tenant guidelines, which is designed to minimize problems, help resolve conflicts, and ensure both parties understand their rights and responsibilities. The latest version has information regarding lease agreements, eviction issues, rent increases, and maintenance responsibilities. In addition, the guide provides an index of applicable Idaho code statues for use when researching a specific issue as well
QuickTips Don’t forget to mark your HAP repayments so they reach the proper department. To make sure that any checks you send are credited properly, please clearly write “RENTAL ASSISTANCE” on the check and on the envelope. IHFA has many departments in the Boise office and checks can be mistakenly routed.
as a comprehensive resource list for consumer and discrimination issues, landlord associations, and housing and rental assistance contacts. This edition of the landlord and tenant guidelines includes two checklists. One is designed to help renters when selecting and renting a property. The other can be used as a thorough inspection guide during the move-in and move-out processes. You can download the publication at www.ag.idaho. gov/publications/consumer/LandlordTenant.pdf.
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