The Section 8 Rental Assistance Program is a federally-funded program administered by the Carlsbad Housing Agency.  Advantages to an owner or property manager are:

• The contract begins the day the unit passes an inspection.
• The owner/manager receives the rent each month.
• There is an annual inspection of the unit.

Steps to begin:

• List the property with the rental assistance program by calling 760-434-2810 or completing a Notice of Vacancy Form.
• The Housing Agency screens participants for lifetime sex offender registration (Megan’s Law) and drug-related or violent criminal activity.  Final selection is the owner’s responsibility.
• Landlords can charge an application fee as long as Section 8 participants are charged the same fee as non-Section 8 prospective tenants.
• Once the owner/agent has agreed to rent a unit to a Section 8 participant, they will receive a Request for Tenancy Approval and the tenant returns the completed RFTA to the Housing Agency for processing.
• Upon receipt of the RFTA, a Housing Quality Standards inspection is scheduled and conducted.  The rent charged must be comparable to other unassisted rentals in that area.

Effective October 1, 2010, the payment standards are:

• Studio - $1075
• One bedroom - $1228
• Two bedroom - $1559
• Three bedroom - $2067
• Four bedroom - $2493

Enter into a lease/rental agreement with the tenant and enter into Housing Assistance Payments Contract with the Housing Agency.  The lease/rental agreement and HAP contract are effective the day the unit passes inspection and the tenant takes possession of the unit.  If fraud is suspected:

• Make a confidential report via fax, mail or by calling the Carlsbad Housing Agency’s 24 hour Section 8 Fraud Hotline at 760-434-2882, option 8.
• Complete the Suspected Fraud Report on line.
• Reports can be filed anonymously.
• All reports are taken seriously and will be investigated in a timely manner.

Owner/Agent Responsibilities:

• Maintain the property in good condition and complete repairs within a reasonable amount of time upon request by the Carlsbad Housing Agency or the tenant.
• Refrain from entering the unit without the tenant’s permission and proper notice (except for emergencies).
• Comply with Equal Opportunity and Fair Housing Requirements.
• Enforce family obligations and the provisions of the lease/rental agreement.
• Comply with the terms and conditions of the lease/rental agreement and HAP contract.
• Collect from the tenant any security deposit required under the lease/rental agreement, the tenant’s portion of rent and charges for any damages caused by the tenant.
• Pay for utilities and services as obligated.
• DO NOT collect side payments in excess of the tenant’s share of the rent; and
• Make reasonable modifications for persons with disabilities.