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The Section 8 Program provides
decent, safe and sanitary affordable rental housing for
very low-income families throughout Marin County. Housing
is made affordable by assisting the family with a portion
of the rent. A family pays approximately 30% of their
monthly income for rent and Marin Housing pays the remainder
of the rent directly to the owner.
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Residents of Marin County,
who are families, seniors or disabled individuals who
are considered very low-income, are eligible. Please see
the eligibility and application page for more information.
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| Property owners wishing
to participate in the program simply advertise and screen
their prospective tenants, just as they normally do.
An applicant will provide you with a Request for Lease
Approval (RFLA), which is completed and submitted to
Marin Housing. The RFLA is a basic form that identifies
the information about the owner's unit, such as: size,
address, type of utilities (and which are provided),
and date the unit is available for inspection. Upon
receipt of the RFLA, Marin Housing will schedule an
inspection of the rental unit within 3-5 business days.
If the unit meets the basic Housing Quality Standards
and the rent amount is considered reasonable, the owner
and tenant may sign a lease. The owner then signs the
Housing Assistance Payments Contract (HAP) with Marin
Housing for the guaranteed rent portion. In addition,
if the owner chooses to use their own lease (which Marin
Housing encourages), they also sign a Tenancy Addendum.
Leases may be month-to-month, 6 months, or 1 year, the
same as the owner's prevailing practice. The term of
the HAP contract mirrors the term of the lease the owner
has with their tenant.
The owner should collect the same security deposit as
they do with their regular tenants. The owner will collect
the family's share of the rent and Marin Housing will
pay the balance. These amounts will be determined after
the inspection and may change during the course of the
lease, if the tenant's income changes.
The landlord is expected to maintain the property's
overall condition and see that the basic plumbing, electrical,
heating systems, etc. are functioning properly. Should
the family violate the terms of the lease or fail to
pay the rent, the landlord would evict the family through
the normal court eviction procedure and send Marin Housing
copies of any notices that the tenant is served as they
are served.
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The participating family
is responsible to pay the rent and the utilities for which
they are obligated under the lease. They are also responsible
to follow all the terms of the lease. The family is responsible
for normal housekeeping maintenance of the rental unit.
Serious or repeated lease violations can result in the
termination of housing assistance under the program regulations.
If the family damages the rental unit beyond normal wear
and tear, they are responsible to pay for the damages.
Damaging the unit may also result in the termination of
a family's assistance.
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We offer a free listing
service. Please call (415) 491-2564 and leave the information
about the size, address, rent, date available and contact
information and this listing information will made available
to Voucher families who are looking for a unit. An informational
packet for new owners will be mailed to you at your request.
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Rent rates are the same
as you charge everyone else. HUD gives us enough money
to pay for most housing, but not enough for luxury living.
There are Payment Standards, which we cannot exceed. In
addition, we check that it is comparable and reasonable
in relation to other units in the area, and that it is
affordable to the tenant.
Please note the Payment Standards are rent amounts at
which the participating family would be paying 30 percent
of their income toward the rent and utilities. Therefore,
the total cost of rent and utilities should not exceed
the payment standards.
What kind of rental unit qualifies?
Any existing rental housing may be eligible; single family
homes, condominiums, apartments, mobile homes, townhouses,
duplexes, etc. All rental units must conform to Housing
Quality Standards and meet local code requirements.
For Payment Standards click here.
For Payments Standards for High Cost Areas click here. (Ross, Belvedere, Tiburon and Sausalito)
For Utility Allowance click here. (Effective 12-1-2011)
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Anywhere in Marin County.
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Yes. When the initial term
of the lease is over, the owner may request an increase
in the rent. Any increase request must be in writing at
least 60 prior to the date (90 days if more than 10%).
Owners must also notify their tenants at lease 30 days
(60 days if more than 10%).
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The rules are the same for
tenants with a voucher as with any of your regular tenants.
If you have grounds for eviction, you simply follow the
procedures consistent with California Law (please see
an attorney for specific advice relating to the process).
Marin Housing requests that you send us a copy of any
notices you give to your tenant. In the case of an eviction,
we will continue to pay the portion of the rent for as
long as the tenant occupies the residence.
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Yes, an owner may sell the
property under contract. See the Voucher contract for
more details.
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The rental units are inspected
prior to a contract being signed and annually thereafter.
The inspection helps provide owners with a record of the
condition of their property and alerts them to potential
problems before they occur.
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One of the strongest reasons
given by the majority of the 1000 guaranteed rent is one
of the strongest reasons over 1000 local owners work with
Marin Housing. The Voucher program also allows you to
fill a vacancy with a tenant who, by being on the program,
gives you greater assurance of being able to afford the
unit. Plus, with longer-term tenancies than average renters,
voucher tenants have a lower turnover rate and cost less
to owners over time.
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Owners may list their vacant
units with Marin Housing for free and attract families
with vouchers by calling 491-2564. Simply provide with
the address, size and rent of the unit and give a contact
number for applicants to call. We'll list you on the Vacancy
Hotline referral. To hear available listings, call 446-7650.
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Unfortunately, the resources
of the Housing Authority are limited and we can only do
inspections after an eligible family selects your unit
and a Request for Lease Approval is completed.
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| The unit needs to meet basic
standards for decent, safe and affordable housing (see
link below for specific requirements).
Doors and windows must open, close and lock. Plumbing
and electrical systems must work properly. Heating and
cooling must be adequate. Most well maintained rental
units should be able to pass an inspection. |
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Supply information about
citizenship, income and family composition to Marin Housing.
Verify that the family is living in the rental unit or
disclose absence from the unit.
Notify the Marin Housing and the owner in writing before
moving out of the unit or terminating the lease.
Use the unit as the family's only residence and allow
only the designated family members to live in the unit.
Promptly notify Marin Housing of any changes in family
composition.
Request written approval, from the owner and Marin Housing,
to add any other family member as an occupant of the unit.
Provide Marin Housing a copy of any owner eviction
notice.
Any information that the family supplies must be true
and complete.
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- Committing fraud or bribery in connection with the
program.
- Participation in illegal drug or violent criminal
activity.
- Subleasing the unit or transferring the unit.
- Damaging the unit beyond normal wear and tear or
permitting a guest to damage the unit.
- Failure to meet the family obligations listed above.
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| California Apartment Association:
http://www.caanet.org
Department of Consumer Affairs (booklet
on landlord/tenant rules): www.dca.ca.gov/legal/landlordbook
Updated: 1/26/2012
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