The Section 8 Partnership

The Section 8 program is a joint effort among you, your tenant, and Home Forward — we each have a set of responsibilities.

Landlord Responsibilities

• Perform all management and rental functions for the assisted unit, including screening and selection of tenants.
• Maintain the unit in accordance with Housing Quality Standards (HQS), including performance of maintenance.
• Comply with equal opportunity/fair housing requirements.
• Prepare information required under the Housing Assistance Payments contract and furnish the information to Home Forward.
• Collect from the renter: security deposit, tenant portion of the rent, any charges for damages to the unit.
• Enforce the tenant obligations under the lease.
• Pay for utilities and services agreed upon in the lease.
• May not collect side payments from Section 8 renters or charge more than approved by Home Forward.

Tenant Responsibilities

• Supply information determined necessary by the Home Forward or HUD to administer the program, including completion of scheduled income reviews.
• Pay utilities that are not supplied by the landlord.
• Provide and maintain the appliances for which they are responsible.
• Correct damages inflicted to unit by family member or guest, in specified time period.
• May not commit serious or repeated violation(s) of the lease.
• Notify Home Forward and the owner 30 (no more than 60) days in advance, prior to moving or terminating the lease.

Home Forward Responsibilities

• Make rent assistance payments to the landlord in a timely manner.
• Regularly evaluate family eligibility.
• Inspect units at least once every two years.
• Investigate potential fraud or program abuse by tenants or landlords.
• Provide quality customer service to Section 8 landlords and tenants.
• Notify landlord of any change in subsidy amount.