Utah Regional Housing provides rental assistance to low-income families in the private rental market. The amount of assistance is based upon the Section 8         participants’ income. URH is not a party to the lease, but does pay a portion of the rent directly to the landlord on behalf of the participant

 

 

Other Information

What do I do when a Voucher holder is interested in my unit?

 

Screen Tenants

You must screen the prospective tenant carefully to insure you are making a good selection.  We cannot provide a reference as to their expected behavior as tenants.  You may use any or all of the following screening procedures: credit check, criminal check, landlord references, home visits.

We encourage all of the above screening methods as long as you do not discriminate.  Discrimination includes any tenant selection based on race, color, religion, ancestry, sex, country of birth, handicap, disability, or familial status.  The prohibition against discrimination based on familial status makes it illegal in most circumstances, to refuse to allow children to live in a residential unit.

Landlord Packets

When a tenant is eligible for a Voucher, they will have a yellow covered “Landlord Packet” for the Landlord to complete.  This packet contains the pre-lease information necessary for us to inspect a unit and begin a contract with you as the landlord.  When the tenant submits the completed Landlord Packet to our office we then schedule an inspection of the unit that is specified in the packet.

Inspection and Rent

The unit will be inspected to insure that it meets HUD Housing Quality Standards.  You will also be mailed a copy of the inspection repair list, if applicable.  The rental subsidy will start the day it passes inspection.  It may take up to 15 days to schedule an inspection of a unit, depending upon the availability of our inspector.  The subsidy contract will begin when the lease begins, the first day the unit passes inspection unless it’s after the 25th of the month.  If it passes inspection on or after the 25th of the month the subsidy contract will begin the first of the next month.

Lease and Contract

After the unit passes inspection and the rent has been approved, the landlord and tenant enter a lease for an initial term of one year.  The Housing Authority and the landlord sign a Housing Assistance Payments Contract through which the rent is assisted on behalf of the tenant.  The leases and contracts are signed by both the tenant and the landlord and  must be returned to the Housing Authority office before a subsidy check will be released to the landlord.  Leases and contracts are usually available to be signed 7 to 10 days after a passed inspection.

Rights and Responsibilities as a Landlord

  • Maintain your property in good condition.
  • Maintain a current Rental Dwelling License with the City of Provo.
  • Complete repairs within a reasonable amount of time upon request by the Housing Authority or tenant.  The amount of time that is considered reasonable depends on the nature of the problem.
  • Set reasonable rules about the use of the unit and common areas.
  • Do not enter the unit without tenant’s permission and proper notice except for emergencies or tenant requested repairs.
  • Collect an appropriate security deposit and administer it according to state law.
  • Comply with equal opportunity requirements.
  • Enforce tenant obligations under the lease.
  • Expect your tenant to: pay rent on time, keep unit clean, avoid illegal activity, permit access for repairs, avoid damage to property, refrain from disturbing others, allow only those occupants on the lease to reside in the unit.
  • Comply with terms and conditions of the lease and contract.
  • Take legal action to evict when tenant violates lease.