SANFORD HOUSING AUTHORITY
Frequently Asked Questions About Section 8
 Relocation because of Capital Fund Emergency Assistance
October 1, 2010

Will I be issued a permanent Section 8 Voucher?
Yes.  The Sanford Housing Authority must verify that you are a resident of the public housing complex that was included in the Emergency Capital Fund request:  Lake Monroe Terrace, Cowan Moughton Terrace, Edward Higgins Terrace, William Clark Court and Castle Brewer Court.  The voucher will be issued after you have been relocated to a private market rental unit.   

Will I have to pay any portion of the rent?
Yes.  Like in public housing, Section 8 tenants pay 30% of their adjusted income toward housing.  Because of  a different utility allowance and the payment standard calculation, the amount of rent you pay may not be the same as in public housing. 

What is the Section 8 Program?
The Section 8 program assists low-income households.  The Orlando Housing Authority selects families/individuals who meet income and eligibility requirements.  A participating family may choose to remain in the unit they are currently living in or move to a participating unit.

How is rental assistance provided?
The Orlando Housing Authority calculates the amount of assistance each family receives.  The level of assistance is based upon family size and income.  A family is expected to pay approximately 30% of current income toward their rent.  Each month the Orlando Housing Authority will make housing assistance payments directly to the landlord. 

What are the tenant’s rent responsibilities?
The tenant must pay all rent and utilities that are not covered by the section 8 housing assistance payments contract.  Because the family is receiving assistance, the rent burden should be reduced, enabling the family to pay rent more easily and on time. 

What are the terms of the lease?
A written lease for an initial term of a minimum of one year is required.  The Orlando Housing Authority must review and approve the lease, or you may use a standard lease provided by the Orlando Housing Authority. 

How much may landlords charge for security deposit?
Landlords are allowed to charge a security deposit of up to one (1) month’s rent. 

What if I want to terminate the lease?
The owner may terminate the lease unilaterally only if the tenant violates the lease, or for other good cause.  The owner and the tenant can decide to mutually terminate the lease at any time by completing the required Orlando Housing Authority forms.  As a tenant you may terminate your lease by submitting a written thirty (30) day notice to your landlord and the Orlando Housing Authority.  In this instance, the landlord may pursue legal action against the tenant if he or she disagrees with the termination.   

What if the tenant vacates the unit in violation of the lease?
The owner may retain the assistance payment for the month that the tenant vacates.  The owner may also retain the security deposit for the amount of the unpaid rent and damages caused by the tenant.  The landlord may pursue legal action against the tenant if he or she vacates the unit in violation of the lease.   

What is a utility allowance?
The utility allowance is the amount that the Housing Authority estimates as the cost to the tenant that  is not included in the rent.  The utility allowance is, in part, based on the appliances that are actually included in the apartment to be rented. 

Will the Housing Authority Pay a Deposit to the Landlord?
The Housing Authority will pay a security deposit to the landlord.  The Housing Authority will negotiate the security deposit with the landlord.   

What is the Total Tenant Payment?
The Total Tenant Payment is the highest of the following amounts, rounded to the nearest dollar:

(1)   30% of the family’s adjusted monthly income;

(2)   10% of the family’s monthly gross non-excluded incomes (the total gross annual amount after subtracting income exclusions and dividing by 12); or

(3)   The minimum rent set by the Housing Authority.