Has anyone dealt with section 8 tenants? I have someone who is section 8 interested in one of my rental listing.

I am in Virginia

Thanks for your help!

No problem. You should screen them just like any other tenant. They just get their rent paid by the government. Check out my website below and search for Section 8 for more details.

I have several Section 8 properties and have few issues with them but as Scott stated above screen then just as any other tenant. I do credit and criminal background checks on all my tenants.

I have a buddy here in Alabama that has 79 single-family houses rented to section 8 tenants.

The only real difference he notices between them and his regular tenants is, some of them don't understand they have some maintenance duties as a tenant.

One of them (that had just moved out of a section 8 apartment) even called one of the section 8 property inspectors last summer to tell him, the landlord had not cut the grass.

It took the inspector 20 minutes to explain to the tenant that they now live in a single-family home and would be responsible for cutting their own lawn.

Not all of his tenants have 100% vouchers. So they pay part of the rent.

Yeah, not only do they not know they are supposed to mow the grass, they seem to feel it's the landlord's responsibility to replace the batteries in the smoke detectors. Jeeesh! And then they can call codes and report smoke detectors not working properly. Of course, the battery-operated toy that takes a 9-volt battery may have a battery that looks suspiciously familiar. I've had both good and not-so-good Sec 8 tenants.

I'm trying to help a family with a Section 8 voucher find a single family home to rent. They were interested in one and I was told by the listing agent that it was not an approved property. The family came in with the rental and credit app and said if their app was accepted they would have the section 8 inspector go to the property. I was then told that a lease was signed that very day by another tenant (still not a closed rent on the mls tho??). So I have yet to completely go thru the entire process.

There is no such thing as an "approved property". I do have a building that I know won't pass Section 8 inspections because of the size of the window in one bedroom. Are they saying there is something about the building that has previously been noted by section 8 as a problem and they have chosen not to change/fix it?

Otherwise, the listing agent does not know what they are talking about. The approval happens once the tenant signs the lease and Section 8 inspects the property.

I think he said that it was never rented to a tenant on Section 8 before, therefore never inspected. Can a homeowner reject someone with section 8 because they don't want to deal with an inspection? this is a real gray area for me.

Legally, you can not refuse to rent to someone because they receive subsidy, BUT...you can chose not to participate in a program like Section 8 (because you disagree with it or hate dealing with the government).

You need to say that you refuse to work with the program, not the people.

It has been my experience that Section 8 is a good program to participate in. Screen the applicants as you would any other of course.

Many people on Section 8 know that there are longggg waiting lists and if they "mess up" they will be booted from the program. So, with proper screening you may get a very good tenant and a nice very regular check from the government.

Correct, no approved section 8 properties (at least here). They are approved for 1 year I suppose, but reinspected each year, even with no turn over.
I recently turned a rental from one Sect. 8 tentant to another. My "approved" section 8 property failed inspection on 4 accounts, a previous inspector had overlooked. The new inspector was pleasant, but insistant and nitpicky we get the property in line by adding a deadbolt to the rear door for instance, and extending my handrailing to cover each step, caulking around the tub, and a 4th item I can't remember.

I have a friend who does leasing. Her line is "We do not participate in that program."

Knowing apartment leasing agents and seeing their Section 8 tenants, I would be very cautious about participating in the program! I'm sure there are good ones out there, just few and far between.

I am going to go to bat for the program. The tenants are individuals and each has their own qualifications or lack there of. You can entertain applications without obligating yourself or your landlord.

I have 2 very responsible sect. 8 tenants in my personal rentals. If you are against housing assistance then you will not be interested in the program, but I would encourage you to look at the appliacants based on their ability to provide the landlord reliable income and preserve the property.

Section 8 can work out great as many of posters have noted here. You will screen them exactly like you would anyone else and make sure that they meet your qualifying criteria.
Your property will be inspected by your local Section 8 office to make sure it is up to speed.
If you do register to accept Section 8, try to befriend as much as possible the officer working your neighborhood. They could provide you with a nice stream of Section 8 renters.