Section 8 tenants/applicants

[Victoria S.]

Talk to me about section 8 applicants. Should I consider them when comparing other applicants? pros and cons to section 8? 

[Ned Carey]

@Wes Short this will vary from agency to agency. Section 8 is run by local agencies even though it is a Federal Law. Baltimore City and baltimore County in Maryland have different section 8 offices. The point is the rules and efficiency will vary from one place to another. 

For us it takes about two months to get a tenant placed. Most of that time is waiting on section 8. You wait for an inspection of your property, you wait for a re-inspection, you wait for them to decide on a price for your unit they you wait for them to call you in to sigh the contract. 

Every year you have a re-inspection and inspectors can nitpick 2 fails in a row, which could be because your tenant wasn't there to let them in and they with hold your rent until resolved. 

Regarding how fast you can find a section 8 tenant vs a market tenant - that will vary from market to market.