CMHA: Consider Becoming an HCVP Landlord

EASY STEPS TO BECOME A
HCVP LANDLORD:

1. Advertise available property at HousingCleveland.org. The owner may list properties free of charge.

You may also wish to advertise your property through a newspaper or alternative source. If so, please place in your ad that "vouchers are welcome."

2. Screen Applicants. Once your property is listed, it is the owner's responsibility to screen applicants for suitability in renting the unit. If you receive calls from applicants interested in your unit, take applications, show your unit and choose a family you are interested in renting the unit to.

3. RFTA. (Request For Tenancy Approval) Packet. The family chosen by the owner will provide the owner with a packet of moving forms. Please fill out the forms completely. A lease will be included in the packet. The owner may also use his/her own lease. The lease is the agreement between the owner and participant. Both the owner and participant should sign and date all forms where indicated. The owner or participant should take the completed forms to HCVP at 3400 Hamilton Ave, Building B (front desk Contracting department) Cleveland, Ohio 44114.

4. Rent Determination. After submitting the RFTA packet, our Contracting Department will contact the owner and family by phone to make a preliminary rent offer. This offer will include the participant's portion and HAP (Housing Assistance Payment) portion of the monthly rent. The owner may either accept or decline the offer.

5. Inspection. If the owner accepts the rent offer, an inspection will be set up on the available unit. All units must pass a Housing Quality Standard (HQS) inspection in order to qualify for the program. The owner will be notified of the date and time of the inspection. The unit will either pass or fail the inspection. If the unit fails, the owner will be given a list of failed items and ample time to make corrections to the unit. A re-inspection will then be scheduled. A final rent offer is made after the unit passes inspection.

6. Contract. Once the unit passes the HQS inspection, the owner will be contacted to schedule a visit to our office to sign the contract. The contract is the agreement between the owner and CMHA. The contract will be for 12 months.

7. HAP Payment. Once the contract is signed by the owner, the monthly HAP payments will begin. CMHA will make the initial HAP Payment and continue to make monthly payments as long as the participant and the property continue to meet program criteria. HAP payments are made to the owner on the third of the month. All new owners must sign up for Direct Deposit of their monthly HAP payment. Also, it is the owner's responsibility to collect the participant's monthly portion of the rent and enforce the lease.

CMHA has expanded its Housing Choice Voucher Program to assist over 14,000 families in Cuyahoga County. To meet the demand for housing, we need good landlords.

Housing Choice Voucher Program tenants typically pay 30% - 40% of their adjusted income for rent, while a rent subsidy (paid by the CMHA Housing Choice Voucher Program) covers the difference between the approved contract rent and the tenant's rent payment. This guarantees Housing Choice Voucher Program landlords will receive a portion of the rent on time each and every month.

Being a Housing Choice Voucher Program landlord provides the satisfaction of making it possible for low-income families to enjoy quality, affordable housing. Landlords benefit as well by enjoying the following aspects of the program:

It's just good business to meet the needs of your community by providing good affordable housing to tenants, and there is also the guaranteed rent. You can bank on receiving your Housing Choice Voucher Program rent subsidy check on time each month. You will also benefit by joining the network of over 7,000 Housing Choice Voucher Program Landlords in Cuyahoga County who are successfully providing housing to nearly 14,000 families.

The Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority has made responsibility part of our contract by including landlord and renter obligations. The obligations on the part of the renter are to: