MRHA6 inspects your rental home to ensure it meets the agency’s Housing Quality Standards (HQS). HQS are the minimum standards a unit must meet in order to be assisted under the program. There are four types of inspections conducted by MRHA6:
- New Contract Inspection – Conducted when a family submits a request to move to a new unit.
- Regularly Scheduled Inspection – Conducted on units currently covered under a Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) contract.
- Special Inspection – Conducted outside the regularly scheduled inspection.
- Quality Control (QC) Inspection – Type of inspection to verify the original inspection was conducted in accordance with HQS to verify quality control.
For a copy of the HQS checklist please click here
New Contract Inspections
Once a Request for Tenancy Approval (RFTA) packet is received and reviewed, a New Contract Inspection will be scheduled.
- The owner/landlord will be contacted to schedule the inspection.
- The owner/landlord/authorized representative must be present at the inspection.
- The inspector will compare the unit to other comparable units and determine the reasonable rent.
- The inspection report summary will be provided after the inspection.
- If the unit does not pass, the inspection will be rescheduled one time.
- If the unit does not pass after the second inspection, the RFTA packet will be disapproved.
Regularly Scheduled Inspections
Units under a Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) contract will be inspected at least biennially (every two years).
- The owner/landlord and participant will receive written notification of the inspection date and timeframe.
- The participant or authorized representative (18 years or older) must be present at the inspection.
- The inspection results will be mailed to the owner/landlord and the tenant.
- If the unit does not pass due to a non life-threatening deficiency, a self-certification form will be mailed and must be returned within 30 days.
- If the unit does not pass due to a life-threatening deficiency, repairs must be made within 24 hours. A recheck inspection will be scheduled.
Special Inspection and QC Inspection
Special inspections and QC inspections will be scheduled as determined by MRHA6.
- The owner/landlord and participant will receive written or verbal notification of the inspection date and time frame and the reason for the inspection.
The participant or authorized representative (18 years or older) must be present at the inspection.
Participants in MRHA6’s housing assistance programs can transfer their assistance from one rental unit to another. There are three steps to the move process: Intent to Vacate, Receiving the Voucher and Submitting the Request for Tenancy Approval (RFTA) packet.
Intent to Vacate
Prior to moving out of your current unit, you must serve a notice to the owner/landlord and to MRHA6 and the move must be approved by both.
- You must serve a proper 30-day notice to the owner/landlord and provide MRHA6 a copy. A proper notice must:
- Be a written notice addressed to the owner or landlord,
- Include the actual move-out date, and
- Be signed by the tenant.
- Your Housing Specialist will review the notice to confirm your eligibility to move.
- You may not be eligible to move if you are still in a lease term, violated a family obligation, or owe MRHA6 money.
- If you need an extension on your move-out date, you must submit a written request to your Housing Specialist 5 days before the actual move-out date. This request must be signed and dated by both the owner/landlord and participant.
If the family remains in unit after the effective move-out date, the family will be responsible for paying the full contract rent to the owner.
Search GoSection8 and other rental listing websites for available units.
Receiving the Voucher
The voucher is the document which provides verification that you are receiving assistance and are eligible to move.
- If you are eligible to move, you will receive written notification when your voucher is available for pick up.
- The head of household will have to come to the office to sign and pick up the voucher.
- The voucher is issued for 60 days. If necessary, MRHA 6 will extend the voucher another 60 days. If you do not pick up your voucher or if it expires, you may lose your assistance.
If you have not moved recently and want to attend a briefing that explains the move process, please advise your Housing Specialist.
MRHA6 also offers monthly Housing Search Workshops to assist you in finding your next home. At this workshop, you will gain ideas for how to impress prospective landlords and learn about available tools and community resources to assist you in your search process. Click HERE for information with upcoming workshop dates and times.
Submitting the Request for Tenancy Approval Packet
The RFTA packet is the document that advises MRHA6 which unit you would like to rent.
- When you pick up your voucher, you will also receive your RFTA packet.
- Once you find a unit you wish to rent, provide the packet to the owner or landlord of the property.
- The owner/landlord will complete the packet and both the owner/landlord and tenant will sign the packet.
- Once the RFTA packet is complete, it must be submitted to MRHA6.
- Once the RFTA packet is received by MRHA6, a Housing Specialist will review the information.
- Upon approval of the RFTA packet, the New Contract Inspection of the unit will be scheduled.
- Rent reasonableness will be determined and the owner/landlord will be contacted if necessary.
You may only have one RFTA packet at a time.
All changes in household composition must be reported to MRHA6 in writing within 10 business days of the occurrence. For the Change of Household Composition form for additions, click here. For deletions, click here.
To view MRHA6’s policy on changes in family composition, see page 10-3 of MRHA6’s Administrative Plan
Additions to the Household
If you want to add someone to your household, you must get approval from MRHA6. If the new member is an adult, you must receive written permission from the owner or landlord prior to submitting your request to MRHA6.
- Submit your request in writing to your Housing Specialist, advising who you would like to add.
- Provide vital documents for the person(s) you are requesting to add. These can include: birth certificates and custody documents (for minors), Social Security cards and photo identification.
- You will be notified in writing if additional information is needed.
- You may be required to attend an office appointment.
- You will be notified in writing of the decision as well as any changes to your voucher size or rent portion.
Allowing someone to move in without MRHA6 permission may be grounds for termination from the program.
Deletions from the Household
If you need to remove someone from your household, you must notify MRHA6 within 10 business days of the occurrence.
- Submit your request in writing to your Housing Specialist, advising who you would like to remove.
- Provide verification of a lease agreement, utility bill or death certificate for the person you are wishing to remove.
- You will be notified in writing if additional information is needed.
- You will be notified in writing as to any changes to your voucher size or rent portion.
Participants in MRHA6 housing assistance programs must report, in writing, changes in income within 10 business days of the occurrence.
For the Change of Income form for both increases and decreases, click here.
Increases in Income
If your income has increased, you must notify MRHA6.
Submit in writing your change of income to your Housing Specialist, advising of the type of income that has increased.
- Provide verification of the income that has increased, which can include: paystubs, offer of employment, revised child support documentation, or Social Security award letters.
- You will be notified in writing if additional information is needed.
- You will be notified in writing if there are any changes to your rent portion including the effective date of the change.
Decreases in Income
If your income has decreased, you must notify MRHA6. Decreases will be reviewed by your Housing Specialist.
- Submit in writing your change of income to your Housing Specialist, advising of the income that has decreased.
- Provide verification of the income that has decreased, which can include: paystubs, notification of termination of employment, revised child support documentation, or Social Security award letters.
- You will be notified in writing if additional information is needed.
- You will be notified in writing if there are any changes to your rent portion including the effective date of the change.
The re-examination process is a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requirement that allows MRHA VI to review participant income and household composition and to adjust the household’s level of assistance accordingly. Regular re-examinations must be performed at least annually
Regular Re-examination Process
The effective date of a regular re-examination is determined when participants are first admitted to the program. Generally, the month of your review does not change.
- Prior to the effective date, you will be mailed a re-examination packet. Normally, the process starts around 4 months in advance.
- If you are an elderly or disabled household, you will be scheduled for a mail-in re-examination; if you are not an elderly or disabled household, you will be scheduled for an in-office appointment.
- If you have been scheduled for an in-office appointment, all household members 18 or older must attend this appointment.
- You must complete all documents in the packet and return them by the due date or bring them to the office appointment.
- You will be notified, in writing, if additional information is needed.
- After all required documents are received, your Housing Specialist will review and will follow up with one or more of the HUD-approved methods for obtaining verification of income.
- You will be notified in writing of your rent portion including the effective date of the change.
Failure to return paperwork or to show for your appointment may result in the termination of your assistance.
Methods for Obtaining Verification of Income
MRHA6 must use the HUD-provided verification guidance to verify all information that is used to calculate housing assistance. The highest level of verification must be used when available. These methods are listed below in order of importance.
- Enterprise Income Verification (EIV), Up-front Income Verification (UIV) – HUD-approved, computer-based sources of income verification.
- Third-party written verification – an original or authentic document generated by a third-party source.
- Third-party verbal verification – the process of directly contacting the income source by phone.
- Certification/self-declaration – written statement of fact by applicant or participant family.
