Q: I have a tenant that continually smokes cigarettes and has pets despite the fact that both are violations of the terms of his lease. The tenant is section 8, does that mean I can’t evict him? Fred, Bristol, PA A: It’s in the best interest of a landlord to avoid eviction if possible. The first step I suggest you take (if you haven’t already) is notify the tenant in writing that smoking cigarettes and having a pet is a breach of his lease and grounds for eviction. The Section 8 rental assistance program gives tenants rent vouchers to help them afford housing, however, all tenants regardless of how they pay their rent are required to abide by the terms […]
continue reading Q: I’m a new landlord. I’m preparing to rent out an apartment in my new property. A friend of mine told me to avoid section 8 tenants. Can I refuse to rent to a tenant if he or she gets section 8 assistance? John, New Brunswick, New Jersey A: Hi John. In New Jersey you cannot discriminate based on a person’s source of income, thus refusing to rent your apartment to a tenant because they receive section 8 assistance would certainly violate that rule. Landlord tenant laws vary a great deal from place to place, so always consult the rules in the area where your property is located. As a landlord, it’s best to have a thorough written rental policy […]
continue reading Q: Which rental assistance program is better for landlords, Section 8 or TRA? Lydia, Elizabeth, NJ A: There are rental assistance programs at the municipal, state and federal level that can help needy tenants pay rent. Whether you are a landlord or a tenant considering one of these programs you should familiarize yourself with them before you sign up—find out what the requirements are, what percentage of rent is paid and for what period of time. Based on my experience as a landlord, I prefer the section 8 program to TRA because TRA provides only temporary rental assistance whereas Section 8 typically provides assistance for the life of the tenancy so the risk to the landlord is lower. Thanks for […]
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