Section 8 tenant not paying her rent

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think landlord can apply for any kind of government assistance. She is gaslighting you. Tenant is the one who applies.

Let the water get disconnected if the bill is so high and she's not paying for any of it. First of all, she's not paying rent and then you have to pay for her water in addition to that?

I live in a BMR building in another state and our management is applying on behalf of tenants. I am thinking of not paying too (this is a large organization not a small landlord). I am just not sure I can get away with it, but I have allied for future assistance.

This can't be correct that landlord could apply on behalf of tenants. What forms are they using?

Landlords can apply for Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) on behalf of eligible tenants. I don't know what org in DC is implementing the program, but all states plus DC received funds.

The law is here: https://www.congress.gov/116/bills/hr133/BILLS-116hr133enr.pdf

The relevant section for landlords -
f) APPLICATION FOR ASSISTANCE BY LANDLORDS AND OWNERS.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraph (2), nothing in this
section shall preclude a landlord or owner of a residential
dwelling from—
(A) assisting a renter of such dwelling in applying
for assistance from a payment made under this section;
or
(B) applying for such assistance on behalf of a renter
of such dwelling.
(2) REQUIREMENTS FOR APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED ON
BEHALF OF TENANTS.—If a landlord or owner of a residential
dwelling submits an application for assistance from a payment
made under this section on behalf of a renter of such dwelling—
(A) the landlord must obtain the signature of the tenant on such application, which may be documented electronically;
(B) documentation of such application shall be provided
to the tenant by the landlord; and
(C) any payments received by the landlord from a
payment made under this section shall be used to satisfy
the tenant’s rental obligations to the owner.

I tried this for Virginia but my tenant is not providing all the necessary documents. How to file for rental assistance now?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you don't pay the water bill a lien can be put on your property even if the water bill is in the tenants name.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My section 8 tenant has not paid and tells me to apply for government assistance because apparently that is available for landlords, according to her.
Also, the unpaid wssc water bill is almost $1500. Water is not being shut off for non payment. She blames me because she cannot get paper work for assistance and that is my fault.

Why is it your fault she cannot apply for assistance? She hasn't paid for a year. At some point let it shut off. Eventually they will shut it off.

Wssc is not shutting off water. Landlord cannot request for water to be shut off

The water Bill is ALWAYS the responsibility of the landlord. It can’t be put in anyone else’s name.

Rental agreement says tenant pays and water is not included in the rent.
So if the renter leaves and doesn't pay, you have to settle the account before the next tenant can have it in their name

You can also get it disconnected by giving her 7 days notice. You can't go in debt to pay for her services; that's her responsibility.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you don't pay the water bill a lien can be put on your property even if the water bill is in the tenants name.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My section 8 tenant has not paid and tells me to apply for government assistance because apparently that is available for landlords, according to her.
Also, the unpaid wssc water bill is almost $1500. Water is not being shut off for non payment. She blames me because she cannot get paper work for assistance and that is my fault.

Why is it your fault she cannot apply for assistance? She hasn't paid for a year. At some point let it shut off. Eventually they will shut it off.

Wssc is not shutting off water. Landlord cannot request for water to be shut off

The water Bill is ALWAYS the responsibility of the landlord. It can’t be put in anyone else’s name.

Rental agreement says tenant pays and water is not included in the rent.
So if the renter leaves and doesn't pay, you have to settle the account before the next tenant can have it in their name

You can also get it disconnected by giving her 7 days notice. You can't go in debt to pay for her services; that's her responsibility.

Nobody can give 7 days notice and cut off utilities.

My section 8 tenant refused to accept certified mail letter

This is turning into a nightmare

[Anonymous]

Has anyone succeeded in getting a non paying tenant to move out?

[Anonymous]

Wow, you’d think landlords in DC would be more familiar with DC’s landlord-tenant laws and all the covid-related housing legislation and programs. Utility companies cannot shutoff services (water, gas, electric) during the emergency period. ERAP are out of funds and has essentially been replaced by StayDC. Either a landlord or a tenant can initiate an application with StayDC, which covers up to a maximum of 18 months of rent. It’s definitely not a perfect system, but tenants who receive public assistance are eligible (at least, receiving public assistance is not necessarily an automatic disqualification). Virginia, and many other states, received federal funds for the same-type of programs although I don’t know what it’s called in VA or MD. But, from what I’ve heard, the application process is much easier and streamlined and funds have been quickly dispersed in Virginia (and directly to landlords, if they are willing to participate).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow, you’d think landlords in DC would be more familiar with DC’s landlord-tenant laws and all the covid-related housing legislation and programs. Utility companies cannot shutoff services (water, gas, electric) during the emergency period. ERAP are out of funds and has essentially been replaced by StayDC. Either a landlord or a tenant can initiate an application with StayDC, which covers up to a maximum of 18 months of rent. It’s definitely not a perfect system, but tenants who receive public assistance are eligible (at least, receiving public assistance is not necessarily an automatic disqualification). Virginia, and many other states, received federal funds for the same-type of programs although I don’t know what it’s called in VA or MD. But, from what I’ve heard, the application process is much easier and streamlined and funds have been quickly dispersed in Virginia (and directly to landlords, if they are willing to participate).

Some people do not take government handouts
Staydc is very slow to even pay. Too little too late

Either way, it is a better option to pay your way

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s probably too late to advise you not to buy rental properties in DC because it heavily favors renter’s rights....

Give them 30 days notice to pay you the back rent or you’ll start the eviction process.

I'm sorry. And yes this..it's insane DC wants affordable housing yet allows such mistreatment of every day mom and pop landlords.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have 70 and none are paying below market and none are taking advantage of the covid situation. Consider why that might be? Of the 70, how many are Section 8? Not a single one. Yes, I have some vacancies, but I wouldn’t screw my neighbors for some goberment money.

Why would you assume Section 8 tenants would screw your neighbors? Do you know that section 8 tenants include disabled veterans?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have 70 and none are paying below market and none are taking advantage of the covid situation. Consider why that might be? Of the 70, how many are Section 8? Not a single one. Yes, I have some vacancies, but I wouldn’t screw my neighbors for some goberment money.

Why would you assume Section 8 tenants would screw your neighbors? Do you know that section 8 tenants include disabled veterans?

lol, sure section 8 in DC is chalk full of disabled veterans

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s probably too late to advise you not to buy rental properties in DC because it heavily favors renter’s rights....

Give them 30 days notice to pay you the back rent or you’ll start the eviction process.

I'm sorry. And yes this..it's insane DC wants affordable housing yet allows such mistreatment of every day mom and pop landlords.

A mom and pop landlord is a business. It’s a business with rules like all other businesses. If you can’t make it work within the rules, sell and get out of the business. I don’t even have a position on whether the rules are appropriate but this “I’m just a small landlord who needs to cover the mortgage” stuff is BS. If you can’t cover the mortgage, it means your business is failing as most do. Sell the property. Close the business. The end.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s probably too late to advise you not to buy rental properties in DC because it heavily favors renter’s rights....

Give them 30 days notice to pay you the back rent or you’ll start the eviction process.

I'm sorry. And yes this..it's insane DC wants affordable housing yet allows such mistreatment of every day mom and pop landlords.

A mom and pop landlord is a business. It’s a business with rules like all other businesses. If you can’t make it work within the rules, sell and get out of the business. I don’t even have a position on whether the rules are appropriate but this “I’m just a small landlord who needs to cover the mortgage” stuff is BS. If you can’t cover the mortgage, it means your business is failing as most do. Sell the property. Close the business. The end.

You are right. I have been thinking about selling for some time
But first I need to evict the non paying tenant with unauthorized pets
I do not know how he thinks he will be able to find another place to live with an eviction on his record, no income and 4 dogs

[Anonymous]

What are these programs?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Be sure you can evict before you complain to DCHA. They can pull the voucher and you'd still have a nonpaying tenant you can't evict!

Definitely check this. It is a fantasy that you will get the rent and legal costs from a section 8 tenant who has not been paying. She will never pay again and you will probably eventually have to evict, but at least keep getting the 80% until the eviction moratorium is lifted. As soon as you start eviction proceedings, she may destroy your property, because she will lose her section 8 voucher which is A Really Big Deal. (and again, you will never get a dime in compensation for the damages.)

Does a tenant lose section 8 voucher if they are evicted for non-payment of rent?

Generally yes, but there are programs to help out with eviction funds, at least in MD.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have 70 and none are paying below market and none are taking advantage of the covid situation. Consider why that might be? Of the 70, how many are Section 8? Not a single one. Yes, I have some vacancies, but I wouldn’t screw my neighbors for some goberment money.

Why would you assume Section 8 tenants would screw your neighbors? Do you know that section 8 tenants include disabled veterans?

Because someone is a veteran does not mean she is a model neighbor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks for all the feedback.

First of all, tenant has a steady job and still works where she was employed before Covid. Second, I have cut her enough break by not taking rent or foregoing late payments for several months. She has been constantly asking for maintenance/repair items which I am getting fixed asap.

Is there anything else I could do before contacting DCHA? I don’t want to jeopardize her chances of getting section 8 again but don’t want her to stiff me with the rent payment either.

You need to fix all the maintenance items now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s probably too late to advise you not to buy rental properties in DC because it heavily favors renter’s rights....

Give them 30 days notice to pay you the back rent or you’ll start the eviction process.

I'm sorry. And yes this..it's insane DC wants affordable housing yet allows such mistreatment of every day mom and pop landlords.

A mom and pop landlord is a business. It’s a business with rules like all other businesses. If you can’t make it work within the rules, sell and get out of the business. I don’t even have a position on whether the rules are appropriate but this “I’m just a small landlord who needs to cover the mortgage” stuff is BS. If you can’t cover the mortgage, it means your business is failing as most do. Sell the property. Close the business. The end.

Uh, you're missing the landlord's point. The landlord can't make the business work because the tenants are STEALING from him. How are they STEALING? They are STEALING when they don't pay their rent. In this country we usually arrest and try people accused of CRIMES. The same standard should apply to tenants who STEAL from their landlord.