raising rent new section 8 landlord

[Larry Hucks]

Hi guys,

I am in escrow on a house with a house currently occupied by a section 8 tenant in Los angeles county (Lancaster, CA). The tenant is on a month to month lease, which I am thinking about continuing after closing escrow as month to month. The tenant has a 1 bedroom voucher but the house is a 4b/2b (she stated she would be getting a 3 to 4 bedroom voucher soon), and currently pays $1150/mo. I think I can raise the rent because the FMR for a 4b/2b is a lot higher than 1150. I think it can be 1250+, and I've seen on gosection8.com, some 4b/2b in that area for $1500. My question is that if she has a 1 bedroom voucher, the FMR for LA county say the rent is $1154 (https://www.huduser.gov/portal/datasets/fmr/fmrs/FY2016_code/2016summary.odn). Would my rental increase request be denied if the tenant just has a 1 bedroom voucher since the voucher wouldn't cover them for a higher rent? Is that how the housing authority determines if the rent can be increased? What should I do if I want to increase the rent?