Renovating a Property for Section 8 Tenancy

[Nir Berko]

Hey everyone,

Just got my hands on a place I'm planning to fix up and rent out to a Section 8 tenant.

I'm new to making a place Section 8 ready and could use some pointers. Could anyone share their knowledge or resources on how to effectively approach this renovation? I'm particularly interested in understanding:

- Key renovation aspects that meet Section 8 standards
- Common pitfalls to avoid in the process
- Any specific features or improvements that are highly recommended to facilitate a smooth inspection and tenant satisfaction

Any advice or a checklist you wish you had when you started would be super helpful.

Thanks a lot!

[Evan Polaski]

@Nir Berko, while I have not ever owned properties in Cleveland, I had 6 or 7 section 8 rentals here in Cincinnati.  I am assuming the standards are fairly similar.  Vadim offers the common list, but in my experience, there will always be something.  

I had to build fences along my driveway accessing a drive under garage, because the retaining wall was more than 30" tall (standard building code item) but these properties were built in the 40s/50s and never had a fence there until I rented Section 8 and they required it.

From a tenant perspective, I never had any of the issues James notes. I did self manage and self lease, so I screened all tenants looking for no evictions, no criminal background, good landlord references, long term tenancy, etc.  

Where I do agree with James, but this is Section 8 or not, there are somethings that cost more initially but will save you a lot of money over long run.  I.e. I started tiling all tub surrounds all the way to ceilings.  When I used vinyl surrounds, yes it was much cheaper, but I had to replace almost every turn over.  Also, personally, I like solid surface counters.  Again, a little more than linoleum, but last a lot longer, and depending on color choice, most scratches are hidden.

But back to my original point, your tenants will be the primary driver of your success in real estate.  Whether they are section 8 or market rate, a bad tenant can cause $10's of thousands of dollars of damage really quickly.  While I have never had this, I have spoken to more than a few that have.  I think being very involved in the tenant screening early on can help mitigate this risk.