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LMHA
189 First Street
Painesville, OH  44077
P: (440) 354-3347
F: (440) 354-5008
How to be a Landlord for the Housing Choice Voucher Program (section8)

The Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8) can help you achieve your goals as a landlord while providing housing opportunities to low-income individuals and families in Lake County.

With the Housing Choice Voucher Program:

  • Payments from LMHA are mailed on the same business day as when the Department of Housing and Urban Development provides the funds to the housing authority (typically, the first business day of the month).
  • LMHA provides inspection services to a participating landlord to ensure the property meets HUD standards of housing quality.  A successful inspection documents that a property is considered a safe place to live and in decent condition when rented to a Section 8 participant.
  • Criminal background screening from local court databases helps disqualify some applicants who have been convicted of violent or drug-related crimes in the last five years.

 WHAT THE HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER PROGRAM DOES NOT DO:
  • LMHA and The Housing Choice Voucher Program does not relieve the landlord of their responsibilities for enforcing their lease.  LMHA does not enforce your lease.
  • LMHA does not determine whether a household is qualified to live in your unit.  We strongly recommend a landlord establish screening criteria on items such as previous rental history, credit, criminal background and the like and to do background checks before entering into a lease with any tenant, HCVP or conventional tenant.
  • LMHA does not assist in the payment of security deposits.  LMHA can assist households with referrals to agencies that do provide security deposit assistance.  Also, LMHA is not responsible for any unpaid rent or damages by the tenant.

 HOW DO I GET STARTED?
Please feel to free to request a landlord packet from LMHA at (440) 354-3347, or by e-mail. 

LMHA does not pre-approve landlords or properties for participation in the Housing Choice Voucher Program.  When you have a prospective tenant who is receiving help from the Housing Choice Voucher Program, we begin a process which includes two major activities: Inspecting the unit to ensure it satisfies HUD Housing Quality Standards, and that the rent you propose to charge is comparable to similar properties in your community.  Once those two activities are successfully completed, LMHA enters into a contract with you and you enter into a lease with the tenant.  Payments may begin as soon as the first day of the month.

If you are interested in listing your rental property as available to Housing Choice Voucher holders, you may register for free online at www.gosection8.com, or by calling 1-866-466-7328.