Landlord Responsibilities

Checklist of Responsibilities for Housing Choice Landlords:

  1. A Housing Choice landlord is responsible for providing decent, safe, and sanitary housing at a reasonable rent.
  2. 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 violations 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.
  3. Subsidy payments are made directly to the landlord on a monthly basis via direct deposit.
  4. 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.
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