Information for Landlords

Welcome to the Lake Metropolitan Housing Authority’s Information for Landlords page. As a vital partner in our mission to provide safe, affordable housing solutions, landlords play a crucial role in the success of our housing programs. Whether you are currently working with us or considering joining our network, this page is designed to offer you all the necessary resources, guidelines, and updates to navigate the housing programs effectively.

Fair Market Payment Standards

2024 Payment Standards (HUD Approved Increase)
FY 2024 HUD Payment Standard – Eff. 12/01/23

2023 Payment Standards (HUD Approved Increase)

Utility Allowances

2024 Utility Allowances
Effective 4/1/24

2023 Utility Allowances
Effective 4/1/23

Benefits for HCV Landlords

The Housing Choice Voucher Program (formally known as Section 8) can help you achieve your goals as a landlord while providing housing opportunities to low-income individuals and families in Lake County.

Payments from Lake MHA will be directly deposited into your bank account – typically on the third business day of the month.
Lake MHA provides inspection services to a participating landlord to ensure the property meets HUD standards of housing quality. A successful inspection documents that a property is considered to be a safe place to live and in decent and sanitary condition when rented to an HCV (Section 8) participant.
A criminal background screening from the local court databases is completed for each applicant.

List your rental property for Housing Choice Voucher holders at Affordable Housing for free online registration or by calling 1-866-466-7328.

Please complete the Landlord Property Form to be listed on the Lake MHA Housing List and/or on our website: Landlord Sign-Up Form (updated 03/12/24).

Instructions for HCV Landlords

When you have a prospective tenant who is receiving help from the Housing Choice Voucher Program, Lake MHA will begin the process which includes two major activities:

Inspecting the unit to ensure it satisfies HUD Housing Quality Standards (HQS Inspection Updated Checklist)
The rent you propose to charge is comparable to similar properties in your community.

Once these two activities are successfully completed, Lake MHA enters into a contract with you, and you enter into a lease with the tenant. Payments may begin as soon as the first day of the month.

Landlord Payment Lookup

With the landlord payment lookup, Lake MHA landlords can view their Housing Assistance Payments (HAP) at any time. The username is the landlord’s last name and first initial OR business name (up to 30 characters). The password is the last four digits of the SSN or TIN.

FAQ for Landlords

Q. How do I become a Housing Choice Voucher Program landlord?

A. If you have a property or properties, you would be interested in listing with Lake Metropolitan Housing Authority, you can print and send in the Landlord Listing Sign-Up Form or contact our office to have forms mailed to you.

Q. When will I receive payment from the Housing Authority?

A. Direct deposit payment will occur on the third banking day of the month. The following are anticipated dates for monthly direct deposit of HAP from Lake MHA for 2024/25.

Thursday, January 4, 2024
Monday, February 5, 2024
Tuesday, March 5, 2024
Wednesday, April 3, 2024
Friday, May 3, 2024
Wednesday, June 5, 2024
Wednesday, July 3, 2024
Monday, August 5, 2024
Wednesday, September 4, 2024
Thursday, October 3, 2024
Tuesday, November 5, 2024
Wednesday, December 4, 2024
Monday, January 6, 2025
Wednesday, February 5, 2025

Q. What happens if my property is cited for inspection deficiencies?

A. You will have 30 days to complete repairs. If you are the landlord and deficiencies are not completed, the unit may be abated.

HQS-Inspection-Checklist updated

Q. Will I get paid once the deficiencies are corrected?

A. Once the abatement is lifted, you will get paid; but you will not receive back payment at all during the time the unit was abated. Any time a unit is abated, you may not ask the tenant for these monies.

Q. What is NSPIRE?

A. Lake MHA will be converting from the Housing Choice Voucher/Housing Quality Standards (HQS) inspection to the NSPIRE Inspection Standard, which is a program implemented by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

Change in Inspection Protocol – National Standards for the Physical Inspection of Real Estate (NSPIRE).
HQS/ NSPIRE Inspection Protocol effective 10-01-24

Q. What are the roles for the tenant, the landlord, Lake MHA and HUD?

A. Once Lake MHA approves an eligible family’s housing unit, the family and the landlord sign a lease and the landlord and Lake MHA sign a housing assistance payments contract that runs for the same term as the lease. The tenant, landlord and Lake MHA have obligations and responsibilities under the voucher program.

Tenant’s Obligations: When a family selects a housing unit and the unit passes the Lake MHA inspection and Lake MHA approves the lease, the family signs a lease with the landlord for at least one year. The tenant may be required to pay a security deposit to the landlord. After the first year the landlord may initiate a new lease or allow the family to remain in the unit on a month-to-month lease.

The family is expected to comply with the lease and the program requirements, pay its share of rent on time, maintain the unit in good condition and notify Lake MHA of any changes in income or family composition in writing.

Landlord’s Obligations: The role of the landlord in the voucher program is to provide decent, safe, and sanitary housing to a tenant at a reasonable rent. The dwelling unit must pass the program’s housing quality standards and be maintained up to those standards as long as the owner receives housing assistance payments. In addition, the landlord is expected to provide the services agreed to as part of the lease signed with the tenant and the contract signed with Lake MHA.

Housing Authority’s Obligations: Lake MHA administers the voucher program locally. Lake MHA provides a family with the housing assistance that enables the family to seek out suitable housing and Lake MHA enters into a contract with the landlord to provide housing assistance payments on behalf of the family. If the landlord fails to meet the owner’s obligations under the lease, Lake MHA has the right to terminate assistance payments. Lake MHA must reexamine the family’s income and composition at least annually and must inspect each unit at least annually to ensure that it meets minimum housing quality standards.

HUD’s Role: To cover the cost of the program, HUD provides funds to Lake MHA to make housing assistance payments on behalf of the families. HUD also pays Lake MHA a fee for the costs of administering the program. HUD monitors Lake MHA administration of the program to ensure program rules are properly followed.