Dallas Housing Authority Timeframe

[James H.]

Hello Everyone,

At a meetup group about a year ago, the speaker mentioned that Dallas Housing Authority is slow about inspecting homes for Section 8 applicants.

It is a slow time of year and we agreed to accept an application from someone with a DHA voucher with the understanding that we will rent to someone else if another applicant meets our rental criteria before DHA finishes their process.  Nobody else has come along yet (as expected with the property we have this time of year.)  But, there has been increased interest over the past week.  And DHA has not called for an inspection.

The application packet from DHA states that DHA will call to schedule an inspection within 7 to 10 business days.  It has not been 16 business days.  No call.  We called them, though.  And our perspective tenant called them on Friday too.  DHA was not able to tell either of us what the status was.  All they would tell the perspective tenant is "keep paying your current landlord this month and you'll pay the new landlord next month."

Is this normal?  This is not what we expected when we heard "slow" at the meetup group.  

Does anyone else have experience with DHA or any insight about how much longer to expect the process to take?  We have had only one other Section 8 experience and the other housing authority was prompt and professional...

Jim

[Brooke Etie]

The new leadership team at the Dallas Housing Authority (DHA) appreciates honest feedback and is committed to delivering quality customer service to all our partners, including landlords. We understand the private sector cost of doing business, that’s why we are actively engaged in continually making process improvements designed to streamline processes, delivery of payments and our accessibility.

Our mission is to deliver quality housing services accurately, efficiently and effectively while safeguarding the public trust. To give you some examples of recent changes; intent to rent paperwork is processed upon receipt and vacant units available for rent are inspected by DHA within 2-3 business days.

Your partnership in the mission to provide affordable housing to our community is absolutely critical. We can’t do it without your support. DHA deeply regrets any inconvenience you may have experienced due to slow processing and we encourage you to give DHA another opportunity to earn your business. Contact me if I can be of any assistance. 

Brooke Etie

Vice President, Voucher Programs