Do I have to accept Arkansas Section 8 for my SFH?

[Diane Stinebaugh]

My question is about the Section 8 inquiries.  I don't know anything about Section 8 and I have people asking if I am going to accept Section 8.  Do I have to accept Section 8 or can I stick with income requirements that I have set?   Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. 

[Thomas S.]

Nothing in life is guaranteed. As a landlord regardless of who your tenants is or who pays the rent you will still have defaults and evictions. In the case of section 8 this means you will not collect.

Having section 8 means a portion of the rent is easier to collect but this in no way guarantees anything else about your tenant.

You must screen them with exactly the same standards as any applicant and will have the same rent collection issues, regarding the tenant portion, as with any other tenant.

In reality you have two separate entities to deal with instead of a single tenant. The government will set their standards, inspect and inforce those standards on you as the landlord. If there are issues you must then deal with a tenant and the government.

Rent collection is different, maybe easier, but certainly not guaranteed.