Landlord Information

Adult placing a set of house keys in another person's palm.

DeKalb County Housing AUthority Landlord Information: Housing Choice Voucher

Landlord Participation

Landlord participation is an important component of the Housing Choice Voucher Program. Landlords help the Housing Authority of the County of DeKalb achieve our mission of compassionately delivering healthy, affordable, safe, quality housing options without discrimination and with exceptional customer service while meeting high performance standards. See below for more DeKalb County Housing Authority landlord information.

If you are an existing landlord or are considering participating as a program landlord, watch this short video for a complete understanding of the program.

Steps to Renting to a HCV Holder

These are the steps involved in renting to a Housing Choice Voucher tenant:

  • A family with a current Housing Choice Voucher views your apartment and wants to rent it.
  • You screen the tenants to make sure they are suitable.
  • You agree to lease to the tenants.
  • HACD checks to make sure the family can afford the rent and that the rent is reasonable compared to other rents in the community and the lease is acceptable (See HUD Fair Market Rents).
  • A Housing Quality Standards (HQS) inspector will call you to schedule an appointment to check your rental unit to ensure it meets program standards.
  • After the apartment passes inspection, HACD will send you a contract to sign.
  • You sign the HUD Tenant Lease Addendum and sign the lease with your tenants, and the family moves in.
  • The family pays its portion of the rent directly to you and HACD pays the remainder of the rent directly to you through direct deposit. These are the HCV Payment Standards Effective December 1, 2018 used by HACD.

Landlord Information: Helpful Hints

  • The landlord should treat Housing Choice Voucher renters the same as non-subsidized renters.
  • The lease is between the landlord and the tenant(s).
  • The landlord can collect a security deposit that is reasonable for the DeKalb County area.
  • The landlord should always enforce the Lease for tenants that are non-compliant.
  • If an eviction is required, it is performed in accordance with state and local laws.
  • Landlords are recommended to conduct periodic inspections of their units/properties to ensure it is property maintained. See attachment for a list of some of the inspection items. – HQS Self-Inspection Checklist
  • Any issues of damages to a unit is between the landlord and the tenant(s) and may charge the tenant for tenant caused damages.
  • The landlord is also responsible for maintaining the unit in compliance with Housing Quality Standards (acceptable living condition).
  • The landlord must be current on their property taxes in order for a unit to be approved.

Apartment for Rent

Do you have an apartment you would like to advertise at the Housing Authority?

Use this form: New Property Listing.

Housing Assistance Payment Information

Current Landlords can receive current and 15 month housing assistance payment information online – 24 hours a day – 7 days a week.

To learn more about this feature click here: PAL Landlord Letter DCHA or go to the website www.hmsforweb.com/pal.