Section 8 Rent Abatement - Memphis Housing Authority 2020

[Mark S.]

I just got my monthly PM statement for a turnkey SFR in Memphis, TN that previously had a Section 8 tenant in it. The tenant moved out at the end of April (new tenant moved in early July - we initially had it priced too high and had longer than normal vacancy but that's another story). There's a line item on the PM statement from Memphis Housing Authority that says Rent Abatement for 4/20 and 5/20 and the PM debited two full months of rent.

Based on my limited research of rent abatement, it appears that is when rent is withheld due to repairs not made.  I've never been informed that this is the case with this property.  Is this a COVID-related tactic?  Anyone else have this happening with their Section 8 tenants from the Housing Authority?  Completely caught me off guard.  I have an email in to the PM for clarification, but figured I would also try to get some feedback here in the meantime.

[Patti Robertson]

@Mark S. - Something isn’t right. The HA would not have allowed an early termination of your lease without it being signed off on by both the tenant and you or your agent. Are you SURE your lease ended Apr 30? If I were you I would call the case worker myself and find out what really happened. What does the lease that the HA has say for the ending date? What day did the tenant move into your place?