Section 8 tenant not paying her rent

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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

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

Can't start the process. In DC right now, because of COVID, you can't kick someone out. Quite frankly, you should be happy that you are getting the 80%. I know people who are renting at market and people are paying rent. We have a friend whose tenant is stiffing them on $3500 per month and they also have a job. They work for the state department and are using this as an opportunity to get over.

I would be reporting this to the state department,

+1 We have a military contractor pulling this crap. It took a little work but I have her CO's number now in my speed dial. If she is late or calls with a sob story one more time then I'm calling the CO. I don't care what happens to her clearance. She is paying for private school but she can't pay her rent? C'mon now.

A lot of people are taking advantage of the pandemic. Liars and cheaters are gonna lie and cheat, and I'm gonna expose the lies and cheats every single time. We worked hard to afford to buy the rental and it is part of our retirement plan. I have a responsibility to my family first and I'm not going to stand still and be robbed by someone who doesn't have a moral code.

Taking advantage of the situation in a place like DC and MD is on the high now. No one is paying the rent and local and other governments are supporting like landlords are some kind of criminals asking rent for their houses. Horrible!

If they care so much about people then something for landlords should have been there in addition to tenants.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are many rent assistance programs due to covid going on right now that landlords can apply for on behalf of their tenants, even tenants already receiving section 8 help. The money goes directly to the landlords. Contact the housing authority to see if your tenant qualifies. May need to waive late fees, though, but you still may be better off.

Is there anything like this for section 8 tenant in DC?
If not, then how about for regular tenants in Virginia. I have properties at both locations and tenants are not paying.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are many rent assistance programs due to covid going on right now that landlords can apply for on behalf of their tenants, even tenants already receiving section 8 help. The money goes directly to the landlords. Contact the housing authority to see if your tenant qualifies. May need to waive late fees, though, but you still may be better off.

Is there anything like this for section 8 tenant in DC?
If not, then how about for regular tenants in Virginia. I have properties at both locations and tenants are not paying.

Call Tenant Landlord for your jurisdiction and they'll tell you what is available.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think this is a troll because surely OP would call the housing authority to find out the next steps.

You mean the DC housing authority ? Good luck with that . . .

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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

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

Can't start the process. In DC right now, because of COVID, you can't kick someone out. Quite frankly, you should be happy that you are getting the 80%. I know people who are renting at market and people are paying rent. We have a friend whose tenant is stiffing them on $3500 per month and they also have a job. They work for the state department and are using this as an opportunity to get over.

I would be reporting this to the state department,

+1 We have a military contractor pulling this crap. It took a little work but I have her CO's number now in my speed dial. If she is late or calls with a sob story one more time then I'm calling the CO. I don't care what happens to her clearance. She is paying for private school but she can't pay her rent? C'mon now.

A lot of people are taking advantage of the pandemic. Liars and cheaters are gonna lie and cheat, and I'm gonna expose the lies and cheats every single time. We worked hard to afford to buy the rental and it is part of our retirement plan. I have a responsibility to my family first and I'm not going to stand still and be robbed by someone who doesn't have a moral code.

+1. But you should have called the CO yesterday.

This is why I prefer my virginia rentals. 2 of no rent weeks and the sheriff is at your door with guns and it’s either you leave or you’re forcibly removed.

Nice... says a person who's been through a physical eviction confrontation with multiple sheriffs. Lessons learned, all good.

Next time pay your rent and this won't happen. I don't know why you expect a pity party for you.

[Anonymous]

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.

Help to pay landlord or for tenant to get another section 8 housing?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are many rent assistance programs due to covid going on right now that landlords can apply for on behalf of their tenants, even tenants already receiving section 8 help. The money goes directly to the landlords. Contact the housing authority to see if your tenant qualifies. May need to waive late fees, though, but you still may be better off.

Is there anything like this for section 8 tenant in DC?
If not, then how about for regular tenants in Virginia. I have properties at both locations and tenants are not paying.

In DC, look at https://coronavirus.dc.gov/rent

HCVP tenants can't do CHAP.

Maybe tenant-based assistance https://coronavirus.dc.gov/page/dhcd-tenant-based-rental-assistance-program or ERAP https://erap.dhs.dc.gov/ but the tenant has to apply.

Asking councilmembers about their constituent service funds (whether you or the tenant is the constituent, and including the at-large members and chairman) makes sense too.

[Anonymous]

CDC has extended the eviction ban till 30th June. You can't evict but can start the proceedings which is going to take several months anyway.

You need to do it otherwise she would continue to take advantage of you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not the OP's question...but why would anyone take on a Section 8 tenant? I'm assuming D.C. has a tight rental market and landlords get their pick of renters.

First, the rents are pretty good. A 2-bedroom in a nice part of DC can rent through section 8 for over $3100 a month with utilities included. There are a lot of older buildings where that is more than you'd get with a market-rate tenant.

Second, the rent is guaranteed. If my tenant loses his job, DCHA just pays a bigger portion of his rent. During the eviction moratorium, tenants without vouchers are coming up on 13 months where they might not have paid anything at all, and it's not like there are lots of buyers for tenant-occupied condos or multifamily buildings where the tenants aren't paying and can't be forced to leave. If I'd had a market-rate tenant who didn't pay, I might have wound up mailing the keys back to the bank and walking away...and I have good reserves and a steady job outside of real estate. Instead, I get enough to cover my expenses from DCHA. If the tenant pays, it's gravy. I just make an extra payment towards my mortgage principal.

Third, you can't discriminate based on source of income in DC. If someone comes to you with a voucher and otherwise meets your screening criteria and you turn them down, you could be faced with a lawsuit and fines. Of course there are ways of screening out all Section 8 tenants (price it above the neighborhood's payment standards) or many of them (credit checks, criminal background checks, high application and move-in fees and security deposits) but you can't just advertise "no section 8."

Fourth, some people actually like providing affordable housing. I've had my share of ups and downs with my tenant, but it's cool that his kid gets to go to a better school than before and live in a neighborhood with a lot fewer shootings. And I know their old unit had mold and probably lead paint, and their current home doesn't.

This was interesting to read....so would it be legal to ask for pay stubs or tax returns to confirm gainful employment?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Good luck weeding out section 8 tenants as a landlord in DC or nationwide these days. There’s a huge movement to prevent people from discriminating against those with vouchers. Whether it’s to try and end the use of credit score rating in screening applicants or removing their names from any applications so there’s no name bias, it will get very hard for landlords in DC, or much harder, to simply screen out tenants they don’t want without being accused of discrimination.

It’ll get to the point where you have to interview everyone, and then you’ll be scared you’ll go to court if for some reason the person with the section 8 voucher doesn’t get the house or the apartment you’re trying to rent. It sucks people want just won’t let the market work the way it should. I do understand racism is a terrible thing and name discrimination and racial discrimination definitely exists in the rental market. However, forcing people to take on section 8 tenants and they otherwise would not do so isn’t fair. Also, how is it fair to working people for someone to get a voucher in the first place? Why do some people get vouchers another stone? What is vouchers pay for so much? Is it crazy to wonder why people should be able to have their pick up housing in the central parts of the city when others have to move out to the suburbs to afford something?

Essentially, being a landlord in DC is tough. Automated systems for listing your property online may now make it harder because of the Biden ministration’s new rules regarding housing policy and rentals. 74% of landlords are small time landlords. It’s very annoying how hard they have to make it in the name of promoting racial justice and all this other stuff. Not everyone wants to rent to section 8 tenants and they shouldn’t be forced to if they don’t want to.

I don't understand this thinking. Isn't a landlord required to go through a whole process with the Housing Authority in order to qualify to be a a section 8 landlord? If you haven't gone through that process, how could you be accused of discriminating against tenants who you aren't approved to accept? (Speaking as a small (1 unit) landlord)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:CDC has extended the eviction ban till 30th June. You can't evict but can start the proceedings which is going to take several months anyway.

You need to do it otherwise she would continue to take advantage of you.

In DC, it's not clear that you can "start the proceedings." For example, I don't know if you can serve a notice to quit. And I don't know if the court is accepting filings,

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not the OP's question...but why would anyone take on a Section 8 tenant? I'm assuming D.C. has a tight rental market and landlords get their pick of renters.

First, the rents are pretty good. A 2-bedroom in a nice part of DC can rent through section 8 for over $3100 a month with utilities included. There are a lot of older buildings where that is more than you'd get with a market-rate tenant.

Second, the rent is guaranteed. If my tenant loses his job, DCHA just pays a bigger portion of his rent. During the eviction moratorium, tenants without vouchers are coming up on 13 months where they might not have paid anything at all, and it's not like there are lots of buyers for tenant-occupied condos or multifamily buildings where the tenants aren't paying and can't be forced to leave. If I'd had a market-rate tenant who didn't pay, I might have wound up mailing the keys back to the bank and walking away...and I have good reserves and a steady job outside of real estate. Instead, I get enough to cover my expenses from DCHA. If the tenant pays, it's gravy. I just make an extra payment towards my mortgage principal.

Third, you can't discriminate based on source of income in DC. If someone comes to you with a voucher and otherwise meets your screening criteria and you turn them down, you could be faced with a lawsuit and fines. Of course there are ways of screening out all Section 8 tenants (price it above the neighborhood's payment standards) or many of them (credit checks, criminal background checks, high application and move-in fees and security deposits) but you can't just advertise "no section 8."

Fourth, some people actually like providing affordable housing. I've had my share of ups and downs with my tenant, but it's cool that his kid gets to go to a better school than before and live in a neighborhood with a lot fewer shootings. And I know their old unit had mold and probably lead paint, and their current home doesn't.

This was interesting to read....so would it be legal to ask for pay stubs or tax returns to confirm gainful employment?

I think you could ask them for proof that what they put on the application is accurate, so you know that they can pay their portion (and if they can't, they need to recertify to get their portion reduced). But if they have no income or their only income is TANF or they work and earn just $300 a month, you can't hold that against them because DCHA will pay the rent beyond their portion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Good luck weeding out section 8 tenants as a landlord in DC or nationwide these days. There’s a huge movement to prevent people from discriminating against those with vouchers. Whether it’s to try and end the use of credit score rating in screening applicants or removing their names from any applications so there’s no name bias, it will get very hard for landlords in DC, or much harder, to simply screen out tenants they don’t want without being accused of discrimination.

It’ll get to the point where you have to interview everyone, and then you’ll be scared you’ll go to court if for some reason the person with the section 8 voucher doesn’t get the house or the apartment you’re trying to rent. It sucks people want just won’t let the market work the way it should. I do understand racism is a terrible thing and name discrimination and racial discrimination definitely exists in the rental market. However, forcing people to take on section 8 tenants and they otherwise would not do so isn’t fair. Also, how is it fair to working people for someone to get a voucher in the first place? Why do some people get vouchers another stone? What is vouchers pay for so much? Is it crazy to wonder why people should be able to have their pick up housing in the central parts of the city when others have to move out to the suburbs to afford something?

Essentially, being a landlord in DC is tough. Automated systems for listing your property online may now make it harder because of the Biden ministration’s new rules regarding housing policy and rentals. 74% of landlords are small time landlords. It’s very annoying how hard they have to make it in the name of promoting racial justice and all this other stuff. Not everyone wants to rent to section 8 tenants and they shouldn’t be forced to if they don’t want to.

I don't understand this thinking. Isn't a landlord required to go through a whole process with the Housing Authority in order to qualify to be a a section 8 landlord? If you haven't gone through that process, how could you be accused of discriminating against tenants who you aren't approved to accept? (Speaking as a small (1 unit) landlord)

If someone applies for your unit and you don't take them because they have a voucher, or you refuse to deal with the Housing Authority (basically this involves another inspection and uploading a bunch of documents through a web portal) you could get a source of income discrimination complaint. Could you get away with saying "look DCHA told me it would take a month to do this and I found someone who could move in sooner at the same rent"? Maybe, if it's true. But it would be a pain to deal with the complaint and have OAG put out a press release with your name when they charge you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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

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

Can't start the process. In DC right now, because of COVID, you can't kick someone out. Quite frankly, you should be happy that you are getting the 80%. I know people who are renting at market and people are paying rent. We have a friend whose tenant is stiffing them on $3500 per month and they also have a job. They work for the state department and are using this as an opportunity to get over.

I would be reporting this to the state department,

+1 We have a military contractor pulling this crap. It took a little work but I have her CO's number now in my speed dial. If she is late or calls with a sob story one more time then I'm calling the CO. I don't care what happens to her clearance. She is paying for private school but she can't pay her rent? C'mon now.

A lot of people are taking advantage of the pandemic. Liars and cheaters are gonna lie and cheat, and I'm gonna expose the lies and cheats every single time. We worked hard to afford to buy the rental and it is part of our retirement plan. I have a responsibility to my family first and I'm not going to stand still and be robbed by someone who doesn't have a moral code.

How do you know she is paying for private school? Kid could be on scholarship. And even if she is paying for private school it is the prudent thing to do. She would have a contract with school. So if she pulls kid they can sue for tuition owed. She can’t get evicted so, what should she do? Pay rent, pull kid, get sued? She is buying time within the law. She is doing exactly what you would do in that situation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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

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

Can't start the process. In DC right now, because of COVID, you can't kick someone out. Quite frankly, you should be happy that you are getting the 80%. I know people who are renting at market and people are paying rent. We have a friend whose tenant is stiffing them on $3500 per month and they also have a job. They work for the state department and are using this as an opportunity to get over.

I would be reporting this to the state department,

+1 We have a military contractor pulling this crap. It took a little work but I have her CO's number now in my speed dial. If she is late or calls with a sob story one more time then I'm calling the CO. I don't care what happens to her clearance. She is paying for private school but she can't pay her rent? C'mon now.

A lot of people are taking advantage of the pandemic. Liars and cheaters are gonna lie and cheat, and I'm gonna expose the lies and cheats every single time. We worked hard to afford to buy the rental and it is part of our retirement plan. I have a responsibility to my family first and I'm not going to stand still and be robbed by someone who doesn't have a moral code.

How do you know she is paying for private school? Kid could be on scholarship. And even if she is paying for private school it is the prudent thing to do. She would have a contract with school. So if she pulls kid they can sue for tuition owed. She can’t get evicted so, what should she do? Pay rent, pull kid, get sued? She is buying time within the law. She is doing exactly what you would do in that situation.

This is horrible! You are pretty much telling people to not pay the rent when they could and it is ok to take advantage of the situation. I can bet you are not a homeowner, forget being a landlord.