Housing Choice Voucher Program, Any advice?

I'm new on the Section 8 Choice Voucher Program. I want to stay where I'm already living, and the property manager had told me, 2 months ago, that would be fine. But now he is not cooperating with me very much on getting paperwork done that he has to submit to the Housing Authority.

I doubt my apartment would pass the HUD inspection without a fair bit of work being done, like repainting the bathroom. This all takes time. The manager is dragging his feet on being ready. If I don't have an apartment ready for inspection within about a month, I will lose the voucher. It says that it is only good for 60 days.

Does anyone know if Housing Authorities are willing to provide a some extra time, if a tenant is having problems being ready on time?

I will try again tomorrow to contact them, but I'm getting very nervous that this manager told me I could stay, but now won't get done what is needed so that I can. I'm a good tenant, and I don't know why he is making this difficult for me.

I'm so petrified of that 60 day interval running out before my apartment is gotten ready.

Can you try contacting the Housing Authority? Maybe they can give you some helpful advice. Sorry I don't have any!

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I can't think of anything helpful at the moment but I'd second gloamingone's suggestion.

You can ask for a 30 day extension. Also, the inspector doesn't care about cleanliness or paint. They look for a certain list of criteria to be met. Example, certain amount of windows, electrical outlets, etc. Do stairs have rails on both sides? That sort of thing. Hope this helps!

Thank you, Kara. That is very useful information. I did read somewhere that all the windows have to have screens. I had taken some off just to make the view clearer on windows that I don't normally open.

The property manager actually called today and will have the paperwork ready for me to pick up tomorrow. So I'm a lot less nervous.

The anxiety I had over this got to be awful, but is easing up.

Gloaming and George, I did call housing as you suggested, and they called back today to say that the manager had contacted them and gotten all his questions answered.

I'm glad things are moving forward. I know sec 8 has made a huge difference in my life. Kara is right it's not the surface details they look at, fire alarms, exits, working tolets, etc. I know someone who had an old house sec 8 said no one could sleep in one of the bedrooms because the windows were too small, it's just technical safty stuff. The house was approved as long as the room was not used as a bedroom. I'm pretty sure your place will pass, but I understand the nervousness.

I'm nervous about the 90 days I have to find a new apartment in MN, it's one of the many things that make me indecisive about moving. Rochester, where I would move, has a lack of affordable housing. I worry I wouldn't find anything and lose my voucher.

That's understandable a huge worry, stepper. So would they give you 90 days because you would be moving out of state? My voucher paperwork says I had 60 days to use it.

Thanks for the reassurance that they might not be as picky as I feared. On the safety front, I think my place is quite good.

Yup, moving out of state gets you 30 more days. Gee that sounds bad when I put it like that!

For all their rules and burocraticy everyone I met in HUD was very nice. I always impressed the heck out of my case worker when I showed up for the yearly renewals. Had a thick binding with every paper they might ask for. The year I showed up without it after missing two of my meetings she pretty much knew I was manic and disorganized so she straightedge it out and just had me sign the paperwork. HUD has simplified the renewal process a lot from those days. They just verify online the sorces and have you come in and state you haven't broken the rules, haven't committed any crimes or haven't not paid your bill and rent.

Thanks so much, stepper. I'm very glad to know that.

Im glad I could help, Rose. Anxiety is a big bear to tackle. I'm glad things are moving forward for you! (: