APPLY FOR SECTION 8 RENTAL ASSISTANCE

The Columbiana Metropolitan Housing Authority has the responsibility to provide safe, affordable housing to its residents. CMHA also works to promote customer satisfaction, pride and respect by working with residents for strong and safe neighborhoods.

Rent subsidy assistance is available to families with very low income throughout Columbiana County. The program is run according to CMHA's Administrative Plan adopted for the Housing Choice Voucher Program.

If you qualify for housing assistance (families are taken from the top of the waiting list), you may find the housing of your choice. It must be inspected by CMHA and meet or exceed the housing quality standards. A list "Common Fail Items" is available on this site. You also may be able to remain where you now live if the unit passes the CMHA inspection and does not exceed the payment standard of maximum rents.

Once you qualify, you will pay no more than 30% of your adjusted gross income for rent.

You will rent directly from the landlord and have all the responsibilities like any other tenant in a private, unassisted dwelling. You must abide by the lease, including the provision that you give a 30 day notice if you intend to move. This is done through the HCV office.

• Smoke detectors are required on each level of the house, including basements and attics with floors.
• All steps (inside and outside) which have 4 or more steps require a handrail. No loose handrails. Treads must be even and level.
• All interior stairways and halls must be well lit.
• All porches higher than 30 inches off the ground must have a railing.
• All windows must be in good condition and have no broken or cracked panes which can cause air leakage or cuts.
• All windows that are accessible from the ground must have workable locks.
• All bathrooms must have a workable window or vent.
• All switches and outlets must have covers with GFCI outlets. Ground Faults Interrupter Circuits must test and reset.
• All electrical splices must be in a junction box with a lid attached.
• No exposed, bare or frayed electrical wiring.
• No open slots or knock outs in the circuit breaker box permitted.
• All water heaters must be equipped with a temperature/pressure relief valve and a diverter tube extending to within 6 inches from the floor.
• Flue pipes on gas furnaces and water heaters must slope upward to the chimney.
• All cover panels must be in place on furnaces and water heaters.
• No deadbolt locks requiring key to unlock from both sides (double key locks).
• All exterior doors must have locks, including basement doors.
• Appliances supplied by the landlord must be in good working condition.
• All plumbing fixtures - sinks, bathtub, toilet, etc., must be secure.
• All repairs must be completed and ready for inspection. No credit will be given for work yet to be completed.
• No over loaded outlets.
• No short circuits in lighting.
• No un-vented heaters or kerosene space heaters.
• No tripping hazards such as loose or torn carpeting. No cracks or uneven sidewalks.
• No cable wires or phone cables on the floor, stretched across rooms, or from room to room (tripping hazard).
• All windows must stay open without a prop.
• No standing water in basement.
• No leaking pipes or faucets.
• All light fixtures must have a shade.
• All sinks and tubs must have control knobs.
• No missing tiles (floor or ceiling).
• All dryers must be vented.
• No garbage or debris in or around the premises (old furniture, tires, trash, etc.).
• All doors must be in hinges.
• Floors must be solid and not give more than one inch under foot traffic.

 What do I have to do to qualify as a HCV landlord?

The landlord has to be willing to participate in the HCV program and have a unit that can pass inspection.  Owners further qualify by attesting they are not related to the assisted family, that they have not been debarred by HUD and that they are the rightful owner of the property. This does not occur until the landlord selects a HCV tenant. There is nothing an owner must do to pre-qualify or register as a landlord.

I want to list my unit for rent. How do I do that?  

Landlords can contact CMHA and request that their information be made available to HCV tenants.

I have a tenant to rent my unit. Now what?

• When a family finds a unit, they ask the owner/landlord if they will accept the voucher holder as a tenant and if they are willing to accept the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) from CMHA.
• The owner and family sign a Request for Tenancy Approval (RFTA) and submit with it verification of paid taxes for the previous year. This is to verify legal ownership of the property.
• If the owner's request for rent amount is acceptable and affordable for the family, the CMHA Inspector will conduct a Housing Quality Standards (HQS) inspection. Inspectors are scheduled after the RFTA and all tax documents are received.

Can I charge a security deposit?

Yes. However, the amount cannot be higher than you would charge an unassisted tenant. It is recommended that you put the return policy in writing should the tenant not rent your unit.

How much can I rent my unit for?

CMHA has established payment standards by bedroom size and location within Columbiana County that are guidelines for determining the maximum subsidy we can pay for a family. This payment standard is generally a gauge of the current rental market. However, each unit is evaluated by the inspector on a case-by-case basis. Each unit's rent must be reasonable and comparable to unassisted private market rental units of similar size, location, amenities, quality, unit type, maintenance, utilities and services. In no case can the rent be more than comparable available unassisted units. Current payment standards can be obtained through the CMHA main office.

Does the family pay for utilities?

Yes, unless the landlord includes utilities in the rent. The landlord decides which utilities they will provide as a part of the rent and which utilities the family will be responsible to pay.

• Utility service, including water, must be on at the time of the initial inspection.
• Utilities that the HCV participant pays for cannot be master metered or shared with another unit or common area and must be billed directly by the utility service provider.
• If the family is responsible for paying a utility, CMHA generally will credit the family with a utility allowance that lowers their tenant rental share portion and leaves them with the necessary money to assist with the utility cost.

Can a voucher be used to rent from a relative?

Housing Choice Voucher holders cannot rent from their immediate relatives. This includes the participant's mother, father, brother, sister, grandparents, grandchildren, step-family, in-laws or any member of his or her household.

What types of housing can someone rent with a voucher?

Housing Choice Vouchers can be used to rent houses, duplexes. triplexes, apartments, condominiums and townhouses. Other housing types, such as group homes and shared rentals are only available as a reasonable accommodation for people with disabilities.

What are Housing Quality Standards?

Housing Quality Standards (HQS) are the HUD minimum quality standards for housing assisted under the rental assistance program. HQS have been developed for program use nationwide and help to ensure your home will be safe, decent and sanitary. These standards are applied by the Housing Inspector during the inspection. Please note: if the borough your unit is located in requires an occupancy permit, your unit will not pass without a copy of the passed occupancy permit.

Are inspections required?

Yes. Inspections will be completed prior to the unit being places under Housing Assistance Payment contract and annually. A special inspection may be requested by tenants or landlords under different circumstances.

How can I help my unit to pass the inspection the first time?

A list of common fail items is available on this website

Does the owner have to be present when the inspection occurs?

No. There must be a responsible adult (age 18 or over) present to let the inspector into the unit. We advise that landlords be present for inspections. This is an opportunity for you to find out first hand why the unit did not pass inspection.

I'm not satisfied with the rental amount CMHA is offering. Can the tenant pay extra rent to make up the amount I want?

No. The CMHA determines the tenant's portion of the rent. The owner, cannot under any circumstances, charge or accept additional payments from the family for their share of the rent that has not been approved by CMHA.

When will I receive my money?

If it is a new contract, you will be paid in the next scheduled check run after we have received both signed copies of the contract and the lease that matches the occupancy dates on the contract. CMHA will not pay subsidy before the contract terms have been agreed upon. If the owner permits the tenant to move into the unit before the contract begins, the tenant will be responsible for the full amount of the rent and CMHA will not pay the back amount retroactively.

Will you send me a check?

No. All landlords are required to have direct deposit or receive their money on a debit card. The CMHA will not mail checks to landlords. The direct deposit form can be found on our website.

My tenant is on the program, but I didn't get a rent check this month.

There are vaious reasons you may not have gotten a check:

• The main reason is for HQS failure. Rent is abated (stopped) when the repairs are not completed by the re-inspection deadline date. The unit will be taken out of abatement if it passes inspection and payments will resume the day after the unit passes inspection. You will not be back paid when the unit is under failure.
• Any time your rent payment is stopped, you will receive a letter (or copy of a termination notice) that advises the rent will not be paid until such time the infraction has been corrected.
• If you are not sure why your rent check was stopped, please contact the appropriate Housing Counselor for that unit.

My tenant was not home for the annual HQS inspection.

If the first inspection is missed, the unit will automatically be rescheduled for a second inspection within the next 30 days. If a second appointment is missed, the family will be recommended for termination of assistance. In addition, the HAP and utility allowance (UAP), if received, will be placed on hold and the check will not be released until an inspection is done. If possible, it is recommended you are present at the inspection so you can learn first-hand any repairs need to be made.

I sold my unit. How do I notify the Housing Authority?

As soon as you know that you are closing with the new landlord, please inform the Housing Counselor that ownership will change. We can then stop payment to you and issue the rent check to the new owner. Once the rent check has gone to you, and you no longer own this unit, you will need to forward the funds to the new owner.

When can I ask for a rent increase?

ACHA must receive, at a minimum of sixty (60) days prior to your tenant's re-examination date, the request for a rent increase. Every rent increase will be reviewed to ensure it is reasonable rent. If your request places your rental amount above the payment standard, please note that the tenant will be responsible for the entire amount above the payment standard. For this reason, you will need to have the teant's approval to raise the rent. If approved, your rent will increase on the effective date of your tenant's recertification date. You may only request a rent increase once per year. 

What are my rights and responsibilities as a landlord?

Landlords have the same rights and responsibilities in the Housing Choice Voucher Program as they have with any open market renter, including:

• Maintain your property in good condition.
• Complete all necessary repairs within a resonable amount of time upon request by the Housing Authority or tenant, including all 24 hour emergency items. The amount of time that is considered reasonable depends upon the nature of the problem.
• Set reasonable rules about the use of the unit and common areas.
• Collect appropriate security deposit as directed under the program and use it only in accordance with the state and local law.
• Comply with equal housing opportunity requirements.
• Enforce tenant obligations under the terms of your lease.
• Take action through the court system to evict a tenant when they violate the lease.
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What should I expect from Housing Choice Voucher tenants?

• Pay their portion of the rent on time.
• Keep the unit clean.
• Maintain exterior of residence and yard.
• Avoid illegal activities by household members and guests.
• Allow ACHA inspectors access to the unit to conduct HQS inspections.
• Permit landlord and designated repairmen access to the unit for repairs.
• Avoid damage to the property by household members and guests.
• Refrain from disturbing neighbors.
• Allow only those occupants on the lease to reside in the unit.
• Comply with terms and conditions of the dwelling lease and tenancy addendum.

Who do I call if I have questions or problems with my tenant?

The CMHA is not a party to the lease. Generally, the role of the Housing Counselor is to handle any matters concerning the family's income, Household composition changes and all matters concerning the unit and payments. To find out who your tenant's staff representative is, contact our main office number at 330.386.5865.

how long can I rent to a Housing Choice Voucher Particpant?

The initial lease is for one year. After the initial term, the lease continues on a month-to-month basis indefinitely as long as there are available funds and the unit, family and landlord are in compliance with program requirements, including family income.

Can I cancel the CMHA contract if I'm not satisfied?

No. Only CMHA can cancel the Housing Assistance Payments (HAP) contract. A landlord is free to terminate a lease agreement pursuant to state and local laws. Once a lease agreement ends, the HAP contract terminates automatically.

I have a specific question that isn't answered here. Where can I get the answer?

If your question isn't answered in this list, please contact us.

Is this how I find out if my fax or paperwork has been received?

Yes. Due to the large volume of paperwork our office receives, it is not practical to answer via telephone.