How to Become a Section 8 Landlord

Getting Started

You do not need to sign-up or fill out an application to get started with Section 8. The steps for getting started are listed below.

1

Advertise your property

OHA can help you advertise your property directly to Section 8 participants for free and we print Section​ 8 rental listings bi-weekly for Section 8 participants.

2

Screen & select a tenant.

You should screen​ ​prospective Section 8 tenants just like you screen other prospective tenants.

3

Set up an OHA inspection.

Fill out the paperwork your prospective tenant gives you to schedule an appointment. Learn more about Housing Quality Standards​ (HQS) inspections.

4

Prepare for the inspection.

Carefully go over the Tenant & Owner Inspection Checklist​​ and prepare the necessary paperwork​.

5

Attend the inspection

OHA will inspect the unit for basic health and safety and will usually discuss the rent and take care of the necessary paperwork at the inspection.

6

Execute an OHA Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) contract.

After passing an inspection, completion of all required paperwork and OHA’s approval of the contract rent, OHA and the Landlord can execute a HAP contract.​

7

Maintain Landlord/Tenant Relationship.

Maintain your property in accordance with HQS and pass annual inspections.

Benefits of Becoming an AHA Landlord

Owner Benefits Program

Partnering with OHA comes with Benefits ​​

The Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program in the City of Oakland has been impacted by a dramatically escalating rental market and very limited inventory. In response to market conditions, OHA implemented the Owner Benefits Program. 

The HCV (Section 8) program has some incredible new benefits for property owners, and joining the program is a simple process that can help prevent homelessness and ensure that Oakland remains economically diverse.  

The goals of the Owner Benefits Program are:

  1. to support existing owners & recruit new owners to the Section 8 program; 
  2. to increase the number of units available for families to rent within the City of Oakland; 
  3. to increase the lease-up success rates for vouchers issued; and 
  4. to increase the overall voucher utilization rate for the Authority.

The five initiatives of the Owner Benefits Program are:

OHA will assist with paying a portion of the security deposit on behalf of an eligible voucher family. Once the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) contract is signed, OHA will pay the owner up to one month of rent to assist with the cost of the security deposit on a new unit.

To apply for Security Deposit Assistance, click here.​

Note: In order to submit a request, you must have the tenant/voucher family’s email address.

For property owners who sign a contract with OHA allowing a HCV family to move into one of their available units, OHA will pay the owner a $1,000 signing bonus. This benefit is for existing and new owners. By posting a listing on www.AffordableHousing.com, the many families searching for housing in Oakland right now can easily access your available unit(s).

When an existing Section 8 property owner re-rents a unit to a new Section 8 tenant within 180 calendar days of the previous Section 8 tenant vacating that unit, OHA will pay up to two months of rental assistance.  The Re-Rent Bonus process is convenient and hassle-free. If eligible, owners will receive the Re-Rent Bonus within 30 days of leasing the unit to a new Section 8 participant.

Example:

  • On March 20, the Curry family, who had been renting a 2-bedroom unit with HAP of $1,500, moved out. 
  • On April 15, the Thompson family, moved into the same unit.
  • Since the new Section 8 tenant moved in within 180 days of the previous Section 8 tenant vacating, the owner qualifies for a Re-Rent Bonus. Remember, the owner has already received the full HAP of $1500.00 for the month of March. It is OHA’s policy not to recoup HAP in the month the HCV tenant vacates the unit.   

Vacancy Payment Amount Calculation:

  • Previous tenant HAP amount: $1,500             
  • Number of days the unit was vacant (From April 1 to April 14): 14        
  • Vacancy HAP Amount ($1,500 /30 days X 14): $700.00     

Federal Regulations require all Section 8 units be inspected before we can pay any housing assistance. However, this does not need to slow you down. To move quickly through OHA’s inspection and leasing procedure, a new or existing landlord can have the unit inspected even before you have a prospective Section 8 resident. You can schedule an inspection at a convenient time, and once the unit passes, you are ready to go. The inspection will be good for 90 days, giving you time to find a Section 8 participant who passes your standard screening process. This streamlined service ensures you receive your first rent check on time because there is no need to wait for any further inspections after the tenant moves in.

If your property is inspected and requires some repairs, we can help.  OHA will reimburse owners up to $2, 250 for repairs made to fix Housing Quality Standard fail items on your unit.  The repairs must be verified by OHA by submitting before and after pictures with invoices detailing the costs of repairs.  Once the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) contract is signed and repairs are verified, OHA will reimburse the owner for the requests received within 45 days of HAP contract execution.  OHA reserves the right to determine the reimbursement amount.​

To apply for the Apartment Repair Program reimbursement, click here​. ​