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.