Landlord Information

The Landlord, The Housing Authority, and The Family HCV Program depends on a cooperative relationship between the landlord, the housing authority, and the assisted family. The program is designed to maintain the regular owner and tenant relationship. The role of the housing authority is to subsidize the family's rent; all other aspects of the lease agreement must be resolved between the landlord and the tenant. The following summarizes the responsibilities of each party.

Baytown Housing Authority's Responsibilities:

Reviews all applicants to determine families' eligibility for the program. Explains the rules of the program to families and property owners/managers. Issues vouchers to families. Inspects and approves the assisted unit for compliance with housing quality standards and conducts rent reasonable surveys based on the private market. Calculates the family's share of the rent and pays BHA's rent portion to the property owner on behalf of the participant in a timely manner. Re-examines the family's income and composition annually and adjusts the rent and processes changes to rent portions when there are changes. Ensures that owners and families comply with the program rules. Provides prompt, professional service to owners and tenant families.

The Landlord's Responsibilities:

Thoroughly screens and interviews families who apply. Maintains the property in compliance with Housing Quality Standards (HQS) and makes necessary repairs on time. Collects application fees, security deposits, and the tenant's monthly rent portion. Manages the property and enforces the lease. Complies with the terms of the Housing Assistance Payment Contract and HUD Tenancy addendum. Complies with all fair housing laws and not improperly discriminate against any family. Notifies the housing authority if a tenant vacates the unit and returns any housing assistance payments received after a family leaves a unit. Promptly notifies the housing authority of owner changes, so payments are issued to the new landlord without delay.

The Family's Responsibilities:

Provides the housing authority with complete and accurate information about the family's income and composition. Reports changes in income and family composition to BHA within 10 days of occurrence. Locates a suitable unit before the voucher expires and pays the security deposit and application fee to the owner. Attends scheduled appointments and returns documents on time. Maintains the unit in a good, safe, decent, and sanitary condition. Signs and complies with the terms of the lease. Pays their portion of the rent on time to the owner.