Ohio - Section 8 housing

[Bobby McCourt]

I have heard many ups & downs bout this subject. I would like some input please. I have had numerous ppl ask if i do section 8 for my properties. Does anyone think that it is advisable or not to even deal with this? Please, please assist with any knowledge on this subject.

Thanx in advance 

[Brian Garlington]

I have personally screened Section 8 tenants for my units in Oakland, and Concord, Ca as well as Cleveland, Ohio.......Might take a little more work up front, but it is a peaceful feeling knowing you will get that check like clockwork at the beginning of each month.

This is not an absolute, but generally speaking I always ask

In the last 5 years in Felonies or Evictions? If yes, Goodbye.

Any animals or pets? A cat or a chihuaha is OK.....A Rotweiller or Pit Bull or Snake is NOT OK.

Always ask how many people will potentially live at the unit....You don't want the mother, and grandma, and 4 kids living in the 3 bedroom 1 bath unit.....whatever number they say...always mentally add one more person to that.

Regarding Deposits and Application Fees.........If (before they even fill out the application for the background check) they say I don't want to pay $45.00 for a deposit fee if I'm not going to get approved .....that's a red flag. As for the deposit....I will say it literally depends on how bad the person want the property....I recently had a rental unit that became available and I wanted a Section 8 tenant in there.....All three of these applicants filled out the application for the background check after seeing the unit and all wanted the unit.

Person number 1 said she will meet me at the property to fill out the paperwork to get to the Housing Authority and give me the deposit. She shows up, 20 minutes late, we fill out the paperwork, and (shocker) she doesn't have the deposit with her, but will go get the money order. Comes back 90 minutes later saying the bank screwed up her stuff, and she will be back in 2 or 3 days with the money order. I reminded her that the advertisements will stay up until the money is in my hand and that I will continue screening tenants.

Person number 2 says she does not have the entire deposit now, but she can give me part of the deposit in 3 or 4 days and the rest of the deposit, she will give me when she moves out of her current residence (Also with a Section 8 landlord). She shows me in writing that her deposit is through the housing authority so I know this is legit. However...

Person number 3 says she will meet me back at the property in exactly two days at 7pm with the entire deposit. (She also currently has a Section 8 landlord).

Person number three showed up a few minutes early to the appointment, and she is who got the unit...(coincidentally she had the highest credit score out of all the applicants).

Keep in mind if someone has a Section 8 Voucher I give a LOT of leeway on what their credit score is.....I also don't care much about the "income" because I know most if not all of the rent is paid by Section 8......However, if I see a felony or eviction on that background check in the last 5 years.....they are automatically rejected....................If two candidates are fairly equal regarding credit scores, etc....then I will also look at who smokes....anything....at all.......I don't allow smoking of anykind in my rentals in Oakland and Concord....i don't care if it;s legal or not....I will also look at if they have an animal or pet (there's a difference) or not.....I do not allow any pets in my rentals in California......and I will look at how many people will live there....the less the better.

In Cleveland, I can't really control all of this because my property manager will deal with this on a day to day basis, but if I happen to get a phone call or text from a potential renter in Cleveland you can best believe I ask these types of questions before I pass the info on to my property manager.