So I see many here will not accept section 8 people so how do you get away

with that?

Do ya believe everything ya hear

In VA, I may not discriminate based on the source of an applicant's income.

That means I "have to" accept Section 8.

The local housing authority really helps because they take so long to schedule an inspection ( and completing paperwork)

Then, if they find the slightest thing wrong, so that the home does not pass inspection, it takes more time to re-schedule another one.

There is no law (yet) that says I have to take the place off the market until they are processed, or that I have to lower my standard qualification requirements.

I have been dragged thru agencies before , at a high legal cost, last one by adult protective services that cost me 11k so far from a mean old lady with dementia, and claimed harassment because against our MTM she violated rules of smoking and pets,.and screams that "she knows her rights!" and calls the BOH instead of us about any little thing, like small drip of her facet, a window that is hard to raise ,...a Window World window installed 6 years ago, stains of the bath tub caulking, etc and has pointed out to neighbors that she knows she can't be evicted for 6 months if the BOH is called,

to Jim [ca]

Applicant "Do you accept Section 8?"

Landlord "Yes, I accept Section 8, but they don't accept me! Section 8 requires a first year's lease and I only rent month-to-month"

Carol, the PHA case worker is partially correct, but I think that you might be not understanding what the PHA case worker is actually saying. In MA you cannot deny an applicant a rental unit for a variety of reasons. If you don't want to accept a S8 tenant, you just need to find another legitimate reason to not accept them.

Unlawful discrimination

Massachusetts Fair Housing law prohibits discrimination in housing on the basis of race, religion, national origin, age, ancestry, military background or service, sex, sexual preference, marital status, disability or the need of a guide dog, except owner-occupied two family dwellings. A landlord also cannot refuse to rent you an apartment because you receive a rental subsidy, because the apartment contains lead, or, with some exceptions, because you have children.

Do you have a written list of minimum qualifications that an applicant must have to be considered? One of my qualifiers is that an applicant cannot have caused a Landlord to spend money to either make the tenant follow their rental contract or to spend money to remove them from a rental. Another easy qualifier is they need to fully complete their rental application which is something they rarely do.

Are you a member of Mass landlords or one of its subgroups? I find them to be an excellent source of what you should do & more importantly what you shouldn't do a rental property owner in MA. If you join & participate in any of their groups, you'll have the opportunity to meet like-minded LLS. Once you make a few connections you should be able to ask these types of question either in person, via email or by phone instead of posting them on a public forum.

Here's a list of the sub groups;

Mass. Chapters

For now, regional Google groups comprise members in:

Berkshire County (Pittsfield)

Greater Boston (Cambridge)

Cape and Islands

Central Worcester County (WPOA)

Charles River (Greater Waltham)

Franklin County

Greater Brockton

Greater Haverhill

Greater Lawrence

Greater Lowell

Greater New Bedford

Greater Springfield (RHAGS)

Greater Taunton-Attleboro

Lawrence (Spanish only, solo Español)

MetroWest (MWPOA) google group

North Shore

Northern Worcester County

South Shore

Southern Worcester County (SWLCA)

Carol, I look for three times their portion of the move-in funds, two years uninterrupted employment, No evictions in the last seven years, a debt ratio of 3: 1 income to debt and a FICO of 700.

Carol, I look for three times their portion of the move-in funds, two years uninterrupted employment, No evictions in the last seven years, a debt ratio of 3: 1 income to debt and a FICO of 700.

WOW!

Thanks to all for your advice!

Some of you really put a lot of effort in your answers, what a great site this is!

Ray I remember under the post "if section 8 fails inspection"

here that it was said by Steve [ma] and he gave reasons that that wouldn't work.

'

MA is a "source of income" state -- so you can't deny because they have a Sec8 voucher -- but you can still deny people with Sec 8.

I disagree with those saying to purposely fail inspections. I think that is asking for trouble.

I agree with those that just make it clear that you can set other minimums FOR ALL APPLICANTS which Sec8 applicants aren't going to reach. The "must make 3x the rent at a job or other verifiable income" is what I think works best.

That way, you have the SAME requirements for ALL of your applicants and don't have to cheat around anything by tanking an inspection.

You should always use the same requirements for any tenant, and 3-3.5 times the rent in income (of any sort) is one of ours, along with 2x the rent as a Security Deposit, the ability to have the utilities turned on in their name, no smoking, no non-neutered/spayed animals, no violent crimes against people or property, and no evictions.