your home can be used as section 8, did you know that?

toile · 10-20-2008, 10:06 PM

I got an unexpected call from a realtor tonight.
It was a builder/neighborhood that I visited 4 years ago.

I explained that in this economy I'm rather stuck and wont be moving for several years, if ever.

The realtor told me something unusual!
She and others have listed their homes with their local county section 8.
I asked her if she was sure, because I live in a home that includes 2 extra bonus rooms. She said that all size homes are used for section 8.
Your lease $ comes from the govt, on time.
The family is somehow checked on every 3 months.

I am not the lease out, rent out kind of gal but I wanted to mention this if someone needs to lease their home out etc...

I am leaving out my thoughts on the actual section 8 aspect.
I try to avoid debates here that raise my blood pressure and rosacea LOL.

**frooz** · 10-21-2008, 01:29 AM

What is section 8?

**Lady_V** · 10-21-2008, 06:18 AM

The Housing Choice Voucher Program is a type of [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_assistance"]Federal assistance[/ame][ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Department_of_Housing_and_Urban_Development"]United States Department of Housing and Urban Development[/ame] (HUD) dedicated to sponsoring subsidized housing for low-income families and individuals. It is more commonly known as Section 8, in reference to the portion of the U.S. [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Housing_Act_of_1937"]Housing Act of 1937[/ame] under which the original subsidy program was authorized. provided by the the [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Department_of_Housing_and_Urban_Development"]United States Department of Housing and Urban Development[/ame] (HUD) dedicated to sponsoring subsidized housing for low-income families and individuals. It is more commonly known as Section 8, in reference to the portion of the U.S. [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Housing_Act_of_1937"]Housing Act of 1937[/ame] under which the original subsidy program was authorized.

[ame]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_8_Housing_Choice_Voucher[/ame]

**DonnainME** · 10-21-2008, 07:47 AM

That is very interesting. I however need to LIVE in my house. If you have an "extra" house, I think this might be a good idea if you want to rent it. Depending on where you live, that might be one of the few ways that that you could get it rented out.

**geckoace** · 10-21-2008, 09:48 AM

section 8 has requirements as far as housing code that you should check on first. my inlaws have to properties with section 8 tenants and they require things like hard wired smoke alarms and other things that older homes may not have already.
it wasnt really that big of a hassle for them though.
also the type of home owners insurance you carry is different on rental properties.

just to add to things to consider.

**stinkbug** · 10-21-2008, 09:49 AM

I can guarentee they do not check Section 8 family housing every three months here.....

toile · 10-21-2008, 05:03 PM

The agent that called me said this is the new way to buy your new dream home when you feel you cant sell our old one.

We are not even looking, they found my # from a visit 4 years ago and called and chatted away to try to drum up sales I guess.

I was just so surprised that a 5 bedroom home could be section 8.
I assumed it was more like apartments and such?

To be honest I don't even really know what section 8 is so thanks for posting that info above.

**sueh** · 10-21-2008, 05:33 PM

Here they check section 8 homes on a yearly basis.
It doesn't matter if it's an apt or house as long as it meets certain requirements for suitable living.
I have a section 8 voucher and as long as the rent is fair market value and the home passes an inspection then it can be used. They do have thier own inspection company come in and check out the place.

**barky586** · 10-22-2008, 06:28 AM

I'll get flamed for this I'm sure, but I would bet many (not all, but many) people who do not have to pay their own rent will not take as much pride in YOUR home as another family who do have to put their own money into a home would. I would not do it for fear of them not taking care of it/messing it up.

**YankeeMom** · 10-22-2008, 08:06 AM

It sounds like a nice way to get you to rent out your current home and buy a new one...netting the realtor a nice chunk of commission

**Denvergirlie** · 10-22-2008, 10:09 AM

Section 8 often(not always) but often end up trashed. I have a friend that has several and the hassle of always fixing the propereties is getting old for him. Gaurenteed rent is nice but the damage is worse than a normal renter.

**jamie79** · 10-22-2008, 10:24 AM

There is no way I would do this

**Spikey1341** · 10-22-2008, 10:34 AM

I guess I could see doing this if you were in the real estate game and owned several houses. But to move out of my home, rent it out and buy another, well I think I would want someone who I knew would take care of the place. There may be some really good people out there who have come on hard times, but I don't think I would want to open my home to just anyone.

**treeluva** · 11-17-2008, 08:53 PM

I know I will sound harsh, but I would never rent out to a section 8 applicant. After my experience renting out my home while assigned to Germany to non section 8 people, I am weary of ever renting again, but I would certainly NEVER rent to section 8. The program is with the best of intentions, but the majority of section 8 homes get trashed and the people are not "vetted" (its the only word I can think of right now that matches what I mean! LOL) except for the fact that they make below XX amount of dollars.

If you ever want to see who rents out via section 8, just stop by your local government assistance office. Sure, there are some decent, hardworking people who have fallen on some hard times. But the majority are people I would feel uneasy standing in line next to at a store.

**Kaos Kitty** · 11-18-2008, 10:24 AM

I had an experience with renting out my legal basement suite to people who were government subsidized. They threw a party that we finally had to call the cops on to stop. They broke the front door off its hinges and put holes in the wall and ceiling. I gave them notice to vacate, as is legal under Canadian Landlord/Tenant Act. The tenant apologized and on the condition she either fixed or paid for the damages they could stay.(Her 16 year old daughter had thrown the party). The agreement was to have the damages fixed with in the next 30 days. She could plaster the holes herself and I suggested a payment plan to replace the door. Three months went by without any payments or work done so I had to re-instate the notice to vacate. The damages were over $5000. In response, the tenants urinated all over the carpets before leaving. I thought it might be in a corner or something from the smell. Nope, the carpet cleaning guy had a black light and showed it had been deliberately "sprayed" all over. (The 10 year old son did it while the mother watched. I heard it happening from outside their open front door but didn't realize that's what it was at the time. The mother thought it was funny). The government "official" called upset that they didn't get their damage deposit back. I explained the situation. But the sad fact is, it wasn't the tenants money that was lost - so the tenants didn't care.

Just be careful of renting to people who have no financial commitment to the property.