Any Remedy for Government Delays in Approving Section 8 Tenants/Units?

[Jordan Becker]

I have some vacant units in Columbus, Ohio for which we have approved section 8 applicants.  But the local housing authority, CMHA, is dragging their feet approving both the units and the tenants for section 8.  Meanwhile those units are sitting vacant and earning me no income.  Can I put them back on the market and rent them out to a non-section 8 tenant if we get a qualified applicant before CMHA completes their approval process?  My property manager said no, but it doesn't seem fair that just because we approved a section 8 tenant, now we have to keep the units off the market indefinitely while CMHA takes their good ole' time to approve.

[Michael Smythe]

What is the legal part of your PMC's approval process?

Technically, legally, just because an applicant is approved, doesn't mean a contractual relationship has been set up. 

Usually a lease would need to be signed to establish a legal relationship. That lease should have a MoveIn and Start Dates. If those have been exceeded, the lease should be worded such that it is no longer valid.