As a landlord, it is important for you to understand and implement fair housing to all families. You may find more information about housing and discrimination on HUD’s website under Fair Housing.
New Landlord Information
Landlords overview
Interested in Becoming a Landlord?
The Housing Choice Voucher Program is a federally funded program monitored by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The program is administered by local public housing agencies and provides rental assistance to eligible low-income households to enable them to obtain decent, safe, and sanitary housing. The program pays a portion of the rent directly to the landlord and the assisted family is responsible for the remainder of the rent.
The role of the landlord in the voucher program is to provide decent, safe, and sanitary housing to a tenant at a reasonable rent. The dwelling unit must pass the program’s housing quality standards and be maintained up to those standards as long as the owner receives housing assistance payments. In addition, the landlord is expected to provide the services agreed to as part of the lease signed with the tenant and the contract signed with the Housing Authority. The Housing Authority completes a rent reasonableness study on every unit before the initial leasing can take place and each time a rent increase is requested after the first initial lease term. This is done to ensure that the rent for your unit is reasonable compared to other similar units in the area.
The following HUD video provides HCV program basics:
Many landlords who already participate in the HCV program across the United States have shared their testimonials regarding the HCV program. Hear their testimonials here:
Landlord Fact Sheet (English/Spanish)
HCV Program Information
Marketing Your Property to HCV Program Participants
HCV Program landlords interested in participating in the HCV program can list their rental units on the Affordable Housing website. The listing is accessible to all voucher holders.
AffordableHousing.com requires landlords to create an online account and offers both free and paid memberships.
HCV Administrative Plan
HATC’s Housing Choice Voucher Program Administrative Plan offers policies for carrying out programs in a manner consistent with HUD requirements and local goals and objectives. The Admin Plan sets forth local policies for operation of the housing programs in accordance with federal laws and regulations. All issues related to the HCV program not addressed in this document are governed by such federal regulations, HUD handbooks and guidebooks, notices, and other applicable law.
Leasing Your Property to A Voucher Holder
STEP 1:
Advertise your rental unit as you normally would to include listing on https://www.affordablehousing.com/austin-tx/.
You then select a tenant who is qualified, eligible, and acceptable to you. You may conduct any screening and background checks that you normally complete, such as those relating to credit and/or criminal backgrounds.
STEP 2:
If a voucher holder is interested in your unit, they will contact you directly. Each voucher holder will provide you with a landlord packet for completion. The landlord packet includes a Request for Tenancy Approval (RFTA), W-9, Lead Base Paint Certification, Landlord Information, and Direct Deposit forms. You and your potential HCV tenant complete and submit a landlord packet which must be completed by both you and the tenant. Proof of ownership and management must be provided at the time the RFTA is submitted. For information on how to complete the RFTA packet, please refer to our RFTA Instruction Sheet included in the packet.
Step 3:
The HATC will inspect the property. Once the submitted RFTA has been approved, a representative will contact you to schedule an inspection. Initial inspections usually take place within 15 days of RFTA approval. If repairs are needed, time is given to complete them.
Step 4:
Lease and Housing Assistance Payment contracts are executed. The HATC will produce and arrange for you to sign, all documents once the property is approved. Generally, the initial lease term will be for one year (12 months). After the initial contract term expires, the lease renews on a month-to-month basis, or you may sign a new lease.
Step 5:
Payment will be made by the HATC, directly to you by direct deposit, within the first 5 days of each month. Payments are issued twice a month and begin as soon as all documents are signed to include execution of the Housing Assistance Contract (HAP) and lease.
Requesting A Rent Increase
Landlords may request a rent increase once per year following the first year of tenancy. Rent increase requests must be received by the HATC not later than 60 days prior to the tenant’s anniversary date. The rent increase request must be signed by the tenant.
Landlord Incentives
The Housing Authority of Travis County (HATC) received 34 Emergency Housing Vouchers (EHV) from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for issuance effective July 1, 2021. Eligible populations include low-income families who meet one of the following definitions of homelessness:
- Homeless
- At risk of homelessness
- Fleeing, or attempting to flee, domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, or human trafficking
- Recently homeless and for whom providing rental assistance will prevent the family’s homelessness or having high risk of housing instability
If you execute a lease with an EHV program participant, you will receive $500 upon lease up and HAP contract execution. This is a one-time lease up incentive. If the lease is renewed for a second year, HATC will provide an additional one-time payment of $500 for retention. For more information, contact Victoria Perez via email Victoria.perez@traviscountytx.gov.
Benefits to Becoming a Landlord?
- Free advertising of your available rental properties
- Free annual inspections of your unit
- You may use your own lease in accordance with state and local laws
- Direct Deposit rental payments directly from HATC
- Steady monthly rental payments
- Greater pool of potential renters
Property Owner Obligations
- Screen all applicants for suitability as tenants
- Collect application fees, deposits, and the tenant's monthly portion of the rent
- Comply with landlord/tenant and Fair Housing laws
- Comply with the terms of the lease with the tenant
- Comply with the terms of the HAP Contract and tenancy addendum
- Notify the Housing Authority if family vacates the unity and return any housing assistance payment after the family has vacated the unit
- Make timely repairs to the property
- Permit inspections
- Notify the Housing Authority of any owner change immediately to ensure timely payment to appropriate owners
Listing a Rental unit
We will provide tenants with a listing of all available units as advertised on the Affordable Housing website. If an applicant is interested in your unit, they will contact you directly. You are responsible for conducting your own screening of the applicant. The potential applicant will then provide you with all the documents necessary to begin the process. If you would like to list your rental unit, please visit the Affordable Housing website to list your unit by clicking on the button below.
Inspection Process/Inspection Checklist
All units must pass a Housing Quality Standards inspection before the subsidy can start. An information sheet about our Inspection Process and Inspection Checklist is available for you to use to prepare your unit for inspection. For detailed information on inspection standards, review “A Good Place to Live” published by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Learn more about HATC inspection checklist below.
FAIR HOUSING FOR ALL
The Housing Authority of Travis County (HATC) strives to reduce housing discrimination in all areas of housing
HATC is committed to providing services to accommodate the needs of persons with disabilities, including information on the availability of accessible units. If landlords have accessible rental units, they should consider listing their units with the HATC and Affordable Housing.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) website provides additional resources to landlords for review Visit Website.
Need information about your legal rights? The Austin Tenant’s Council website offers information on many topics related to your rights and obligations. Visit Website
For additional questions, contact Director of Voucher Programs and Homeless Initiatives at 512-854-1883.
