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Resources for Landlords and Property Owners
Dedham Housing Authority partners with private landlords and property owners to expand housing opportunities for households participating in the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program. By leasing to a voucher participant, you can help provide safe, stable housing while receiving a dependable portion of the rent directly from the housing authority.
Owner/Landlord Portal
Manage Your HCV Account Online
Access your Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program information online. Landlords can securely view:
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HCV payment history
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Manage documents
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Submit documents
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Payment lookup
Need an account? Register as a new user.
Partner With DHA Across the Communities We Serve
The Dedham Housing Authority partners with private landlords and property owners throughout Dedham, Bellingham, Belmont, Billerica, Millis, North Attleborough, Oxford, Warren, Webster, and Wellesley to connect eligible Housing Choice Voucher households with privately owned rental homes.
By participating in the Housing Choice Voucher Program, you can help families, older adults, and individuals with disabilities access safe, stable housing while working with DHA throughout the rental process. DHA helps guide property owners through tenancy approval, rent review, required inspections, leasing, and Housing Assistance Payments, with approved assistance paid directly to the landlord.
Explore the resources below to learn how the HCV program works, understand your responsibilities as a participating landlord, and get started with DHA.
How the Housing Choice Voucher Program Works
The Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program, commonly known as Section 8, is the federal government's major program for assisting low-income families, which may include elderly individuals or people with disabilities to afford decent, safe, and sanitary housing in the private market.
This video from HUD Exchange explains the basics of the HCV program, some benefits, and how prospective landlords can participate.
HCV Section 8 Applicant
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Selects a rental unit
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Pays their required portion of the rent
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Complies with the lease and program requirements
Property Owner/ Landlord
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Screens and selects the tenant
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Maintains the rental unit
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Complies with applicable housing quality requirements
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Enters into a Housing Assistance Payment agreement with DHA
Dedham Housing Authority
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Determines the family's rental assistance
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Reviews the proposed rent
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Coordinates the required inspection
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Pays the approved housing assistance directly to the landlord
Interested in Becoming a Housing Choice Voucher Program Landlord?
Before offering your rental to a Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) participant, make sure the property is ready for inspection and meets HUD’s Housing Quality Standards (HQS). HCV-assisted units must provide decent, safe, and sanitary housing and must continue to meet applicable standards throughout the tenancy.
Find a Voucher Participant
A household with a DHA Housing Choice Voucher identifies a rental property that may meet its needs.
Complete the Request for Tenancy Approval
The landlord and prospective tenant complete the required Request for Tenancy Approval (RFTA) documentation and submit it to DHA.
DHA Reviews the Proposed Tenancy
DHA reviews the submitted information, including the proposed rent and applicable program requirements.
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Property Inspection
The rental unit is inspected to ensure it meets applicable Housing Quality Standards and other program requirements.
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Rent & Assistance Are Approved
Once the unit and proposed tenancy are approved, DHA determines the Housing Assistance Payment and the tenant's portion of the rent.
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Sign the HAP Contract & Lease
The landlord and tenant execute the appropriate lease documents, and DHA enters into the Housing Assistance Payment contract with the owner.
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Begin Receiving Housing Assistance Payments
Once all required steps are completed, DHA begins making the approved housing assistance payments directly to the landlord.
Before Getting Started Explore Landlord Resources
Participating landlords must maintain their units in compliance with HUD Housing Quality Standards and fair housing laws, complete required inspections and re-inspections, provide safe and habitable living conditions, honor lease terms approved by DHA, and promptly notify DHA of any lease changes or tenant issues that may affect eligibility.
Landlords retain responsibility for tenant selection and screening, including reviewing credit, rental, and criminal history in accordance with fair housing laws, and must approve the tenant before the lease is executed; DHA does not select tenants for landlords.
All HCV-assisted units must pass an HQS inspection and meet 13 minimum housing quality requirements at move-in and throughout the tenancy.
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Learn how the HCV program benefits landlords through reliable payments, protections, inspections, rent increases, and the opportunity to provide affordable housing.
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Landlords participating in housing voucher programs must comply with applicable federal, state and local fair housing and nondiscrimination requirements.
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Once you find a unit and agree on lease terms with the landlord, DHA must inspect the property to make sure it meets HUD Housing Quality Standards (HQS) before your rental assistance can begin.
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This form provides DHA with the property, rent, utility, and owner information needed to determine if a unit is eligible for HCV rental assistance.
(HUD) is authorized to collect the information required on this form which is used to determine if a unit meets the housing quality standards of the Section 8 rental assistance program
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The HCV Housing Assistance Payments Contract, which establishes the agreement between the Public Housing Agency and landlord for rental assistance payments.
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A payment standard is the maximum monthly assistance amount a housing authority can pay to a landlord on a tenant's behalf under the Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) program.
Contact DHA for Landlord Application Support Today!
Our staff are available to assist landlords throughout the HCV leasing process, including answering questions, providing guidance, and helping with required forms and inspections. If you require a reasonable accommodation due to a disability, please contact our team for support.
