Information For
Landlords
- Guaranteed Monthly Housing Assistance Payments. The portion of rent paid by Ashland Assisted Housing is paid to the landlord timely each month. Direct deposit is available.
- Free advertisement. Landlords are welcome to list available units through agency.
- Landlords select their own tenants. Landlords are encouraged to screen tenants.
- Property Inspections. The Housing Authority conducts an initial property inspection, annual inspections and special inspections upon the request of the landlord or tenant. Along with the landlord’s periodic checks, these inspections help insure the property is well maintained.
- Reduced amount of paperwork. Ashland Assisted Housing Authority prepares all Housing Assistance Program (HAP) contracts. Landlords complete the Request for Tenancy Approval forms and provide executed lease. Most of the required paperwork is prepared by the agency.
Many types of housing may be rented-apartments, houses, duplexes, row houses, etc-as long as the unit is located in Boyd County, Kentucky. The unit must meet HUD Housing Quality Standards, qualify as an eligible housing type and the rent is reasonable for the size, type, and location of the unit.
- List your property with Ashland Assisted Housing Authority.
- The landlord interviews, screens and selects tenant.
- Once the landlord approves the tenant, the landlord and tenant complete Request for Tenancy Approval form. All required paperwork is returned to the Housing Authority by both the family and landlord. At that time, the Housing Specialist will determine if the family is eligible for the unit.
- If the family is qualified for the unit, an inspection will be scheduled.
- The tenant should not move into the unit until it passes initial inspection and all required paperwork is signed and approved, as the Ashland Assisted Housing Authority will not pay for a unit until the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) contract is signed by all parties.
- In addition to the Housing Quality Standards (HQS) inspection, the housing authority will also conduct a rent reasonableness survey to determine if the requested rent amount is reasonable to comparable unassisted units in the same geographical area. Ashland Assisted Housing Authority will not approve a rental amount that exceeds market rates.
- Once the unit passes the HQS inspection, the rent is deemed “reasonable” and the move in date is established the landlord and tenant sign the lease and provide a copy to the housing authority.
- The Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) contract will be prepared by the Housing Authority. Please note a payment will not be made until after the housing authority and landlord sign the HAP contract.
The landlord must screen the prospective tenant carefully to insure that you are making a good selection. Ashland Assisted Housing does not screen families for suitability or behavior. We only screen families for income eligibility and criminal background. Therefore, Ashland Assisted Housing cannot provide a reference as to their expected behavior as tenants. You may use any or all of the following screening procedures to approve a tenant:
- Credit check
- Criminal Background Check
- Landlord References
- Employment
Ashland Assisted Housing strongly encourages landlords to screen prospective tenants and to use all or any of the above screening methods as long as they do not discriminate. Discrimination includes any tenant selection based solely on race, color, religion, sex, familial status, national origin or disability.
Your satisfaction as a landlord will be directly proportionate to how well you screen potential renters. Screening and selection are completely landlord responsibilities.
Ashland Assisted Housing has established payment standards by bedroom size that are the general guidelines for determining the maximum subsidy we can pay for a family. This payment is generally a gauge of the current rental market. Each units rent must be reasonable and comparable to unassisted private rental market units of similar size, location, amenities, quality, unit type, maintenance, utilities and services.
Yes, unless the landlord includes the utilities in the rent.
After the lease and the HAP contract have been executed, the contract is processed for payment. Generally, the first payment will take 30 days to 45 days to process. Direct deposit is available.
The initial lease is for one year. After the initial term, the lease continues on a month-to-month basis indefinitely as long as there are available funds and the unit, family and landlord are in compliance with program requirements, including family income.
No. Only the Housing Authority can cancel the Housing Assistance Payment Contract. A landlord is free to terminate a lease agreement pursuant to state and local laws. Once the lease agreement ends, the HAP contract terminates automatically.