Reply to Expansion of Housing Choice Voucher Program in Ward 3?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]In DC, it is illegal to refuse to accept Housing Choice Vouchers (aka Section 8 Vouchers).  It happens all the time but it is against the law.  The building that you looked at is complying with the DC Human Rights Act.

https://ohr.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/ohr/publication/attachments/OHRGuidance16-01_SourceofIncome_FINAL.pdf[/quote]

It’s not quite that simple.  I am a landlord in DC and have properties on Capitol Hill and in Trinidad.  When I list them, I get tons of interest from Section 8 tenants and even get calls from social workers at DCRA trying to place tenants.  I always show the property to whoever shows up ( and most of the Section 8 tenants who make an appointment fail to show and don’t cancel).   However, DCRA vouchers are set by neighborhood and they have a max rent that they will pay in each neighborhood for a property with a certain number of bedrooms.  I have never had a situation where a Section 8 voucher is actually high enough to cover the rent I am asking (and have previously gotten for the unit) so I cannot and do not have to accept the voucher.  I have market rate renters who are happy to pay my asking rent.  All a landlord has to do is know the voucher amount for their unit and set their rent above that level and they are complying with the law.  [/quote]

PP you quoted here.  Obviously, you’re right. As a landlord, you get to set the rental amount and you certainly aren’t breaking the law if you set it above HUD’s fair market rent.  You don’t have to rent to a voucher holder at a lower rate than another prospective tenant is willing to pay.  You can even choose to rent to a non voucher holder over a voucher holder for the same amount of rent.  You simply can’t categorically refuse to rent to a voucher holder without violating the law.  Obviously, the effect of what you describe is that more expensive areas will have fewer voucher holders, like in Ward 3, typically.[/quote]

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