Responsibilities of Family
Families in the Section 8 program must:
- Provide accurate information to the Housing Authority regarding family composition, income, medical and child care expenses. Comply with the conditions of the Voucher. Promptly notify the Housing Authority in writing of changes when they occur.
- Look diligently for a decent, safe and sanitary living unit.
- Submit Request for Approval of Tenancy and the How to Inspect a Unit form.
- Negotiate and execute a lease with the property owner. Provide a copy of the lease to the Housing Authority.
- After leasing, maintain the dwelling in decent, safe and sanitary condition and report unsafe or broken appliances, heating, leaking plumbing or roofing immediately in writing to both the landlord and the Housing Authority.
- Promptly pay rent.
- Notify the Housing Authority and the property owner of intention to vacate with a written 30 day notice.
- Promptly report all family income from all sources and the names of all persons who will be living in the household.
- If, at any time during the year, anyone in the family moves in or out, it must be reported immediately, in writing, to the Housing Authority. A person who stays more than 30 days per year or who uses the unit address as his/her address is considered to be a resident of the household. Only those family members listed on the lease as approved by the Housing Authority may live with the family.
- If, at any time during the year, any member of the family has a change in income or income source, it must be reported to the Housing Authority, in writing, no later than 10 days after the change occurs. This includes any family member who gets a job or changes jobs, goes on or off public assistance, goes from part-time work to full-time work or goes on or off unemployment benefits or Social Security benefits.
- Any rent overpaid by the Housing Authority may have to be repaid by the tenant, and the tenant's rental assistance eligibility may be terminated. Cases of program abuse will be turned over to the appropriate investigative office for further investigation and possible prosecution.
- The tenant is responsible for the behavior of all persons in the household, and the tenant must keep the unit in clean and sanitary condition at all times. The family is responsible for Housing Quality Standards violations caused by the family. Failure to pay for tenant-supplied appliances and/or damage caused by the family or guests of the family to the unit or premises constitutes Housing Quality Standards (HQS) violations. The Housing Authority may terminate assistance to the family for these HQS violations.
- The tenant will allow the Housing Authority to inspect the unit, at least annually, at a reasonable time after being given reasonable notice. The tenant will be at home at the scheduled inspection time or will make arrangements for a responsible person, at lease 18 years of age, to be present in the unit for any scheduled inspection.
- As a program participant, if the tenant has not already done so, the tenant will disclose, verify (and certify as appropriate) to the Housing Authority the assigned Social Security numbers (SSNs) of all current and future household members who are at least six (6) years of age, in accordance with the policies set forth by the Housing Authority. Failure to do so may result in termination from the program.
- The head of household or any other family members or guests will not engage in drug-related criminal activities or in violent criminal activities.
- Your participation in the Program may be terminated if you do not comply with the conditions of your Voucher, or other obligations under the program, as outlined above.