Landlord Responsibilities
- A Housing Choice landlord is responsible for providing decent,
safe and sanitary housing at a reasonable rent.
- When contacted by a prospective Housing Choice tenant, the
landlord should carry out the following tasks:
- The landlord should screen each applicant as he/she would in
the private rental market including rental and credit history,
criminal history, etc. to determine the suitability of the
applicant as a tenant.
- The landlord must accurately complete a Leasing Packet. This
packet must be signed by both the landlord and the tenant and
submitted to the Housing Choice Voucher Program at 2013 Ridge
Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19121.
- PHA will contact the landlord and schedule an inspection within
15 days of receipt of the request. In order to qualify for the
Housing Choice Program, the unit must pass inspection and be
maintained according to federally established Housing Quality
Standards as long as the tenant receives Housing Choice subsidy
payments. If the unit does not pass inspection, the landlord will
be notified in writing and given 30 days to complete the necessary
repairs to bring it into compliance.
- All 24 hour or emergency violations must be rectified on the
subsequent day. If these violation remain the landlord could be
subject to abatement or HAP termination.
- A Lease Agreement (approved by PHA), a Lease Addendum, and
Housing Assistance Payment Contract (using HUD language), must be
entered into for an initial term of one year.
- Following approval of the unit and the rent determination, the
landlord may collect a security deposit from the tenant but it
should not exceed two times PHA's agreed upon contract
rent. The Security deposit should only be collected at lease
signing.
- Subsidy payments are made directly to the landlord on a monthly
basis via direct deposit.
- Annual inspections will be scheduled 120 days prior to the
unit's contract anniversary date. If the unit does not pass
inspection, the landlord again will have 30 days to make necessary
repairs. A written repair notice will be sent to the landlord. If
those repairs are not made within 30 days, the landlord will
receive written notice of termination from the Housing Choice
program.
