How To Deal With Section 8 Renters?

[Santosh Maharaj]

Just joined! But is anyone else having issues with Section 8 renters? They're such a pain in the butt! Like seriously? You're not even paying yourself, all you have to do is fill a form with the gov't. You've got free food (food stamps), free housing, and free healthcare, all while driving around in a lexus; which I may add is the most hideous $70k car that I have ever seen, yet can't find the time to do whatever it is you have to do to get money for rent... I don't care about your supposed "pandemic difficulties"... You didn't have a job before and you sure as heck don't have one now! As the famous saying goes: f!ck you, pay me! Thank you for reading my rant and for your tips!

[Scott M.]

I would hope that you deal with them like they are human beings with hopes and dreams and struggles and difficulties even if you fail to see them that way. 

In our portfolio we have found no basic difference between Sec 8 tenants and market rent tenants in all the ways that matter.  When they pay, % of evictions, cost of turns etc.  We have wonderful tenants on both sides and we have complete PITA tenants on both sides.  

It isn't Sec. 8 or market rent that makes them wonderful or difficult it is the individual.  As a property owner you need to find ways to deal with all sorts of personalities or hire a manager to do it for you.