General Owner/Landlord Information

Index of specific topic areas

The Rental Assistance Program offers opportunities for owners to participate in a program that offers many benefits. Low income families are given the opportunity through the Housing Choice Voucher Program to find and enjoy decent, safe, and sanitary housing offered by private owners such as you.
Some of the benefits you will realize are:

• Owners may use their own leases and set terms. Leases must meet Maryland law standards.
• Yearly inspections of the unit.
• Fair market rent rates, based on the published payment standards and the rent reasonable test.
• Strict tenant responsibilities as defined in the lease addendum.
• Monthly payments issued at the first of the month.
• Owners may charge up to 2 months rent under Maryland law for security deposit. Owners cannot charge more for a security deposit to an assisted family than to a non-assisted family.
• Owners may request a rent increase with a 60-day notice to the Housing Authority and the family.
• Owners screen and select the tenants they choose.
• Housing Authority will provide name, address, and phone number of last two owners if known.
• If tenant's income is reduced, their portion of the rent will be adjusted and the Housing Authority portion will be increased.
• Owner briefing provided by the Housing Authority.
• The owner may terminate the lease for lease violations, and after the initial term, for other good cause.

The Housing Authority pays a portion of the rent directly to the owner based on the family's income and household size. Each family must pay a minimum of 30% but no more than 40% of their income for rent. As the owner, you are expected to have the same owner/tenant relationship as with any other non-assisted tenant.

You may notify this office of an available unit for rent by completing the Unit Availability Form. Listings are updated on a regular basis and provided to our participants seeking housing. You may also advertise your unit in the newspaper or other source such as a Real Estate Agent.

When you have selected a prospective tenant, you must complete a Request for Tenancy, Certification for Landlords, and provide a copy of your unsigned lease in order to begin the inspection process. Please do not submit multiple tenants for one property. After the inspection process is completed, the owner will be required to provide a W-9 for Internal Revenue reporting and sign the Housing Assistance Payments Contract. Also at that time, the tenant and the owner will sign the owner's lease. A tenant may not move into a unit until the unit passes inspection and the contract rent is agreed upon by the Housing Authority and the owner. The Housing Authority encourages all owners to thoroughly read the Housing Assistance Payment Contract and ask questions on portions not clear so no misunderstandings will occur.

On a bi-monthly basis, the Housing Authority provides an Owner Briefing to supply information about the Rental Assistance Program specifically for you. Housing Authority staff is available to answer questions and offer assistance. Handouts are provided, including "A Good Place to Live” provided by HUD. This publication gives detailed information about the inspection and responsibilities of the owner. Topics covered at the briefing include:

• Owner-Housing Authority-Tenant responsibilities.
• Payments to owners.
• Proper owner screening, lease enforcement, criminal activity, evictions, and other owner problems.
• Inspection processes
• Rent increases
• Lead based paint
• Fair Housing/Equal Opportunity issues
• Program Compliance

English (PDF) and Spanish (PDF) versions of Lead Based Paint forms.
Unit Availability Form (PDF)

Owners have rated these workshops outstanding in content and presentation. A schedule is posted for your review. You may make a reservations for owner briefing dates by calling (301) 883-5501.