Landlords

• Once a landlord and participant agree to lease, the landlord contacts the housing authority and provides a copy of the proposed lease and signs additional required paperwork.
• Landlords provide their own lease. FHA provides the required HUD tenancy addendum for signature (plus other required forms).

• The RFTA is the form used to give the PHA the unit and rent details needed to determine eligibility. It includes items like:
• PHA name
• Unit address
• Requested lease start date
• Bedrooms / year constructed
• Proposed rent and security deposit
• Utilities/appliances paid by owner vs. tenant

FHA’s HCV page explains that the “Request for Tenancy Approval” is a packet of forms completed and signed by the owner and participant, and the completed packet should be returned to FHA so the lease-up can begin.

FHA’s landlord resources list a Rent Reasonable Form for voucher programs.

FHA uses the GoSection8 Rent Reasonable Form, which requires at minimum:

• Tenant First Name and Last Name
• Housing Authority Name (enter: Falmouth Housing Authority; FHA will complete the subsidy type internally)
• Unit address and required fields

The form itself instructs that it be emailed to GoSection8 (RROD@…).

Landlord-page wording suggestion: “Complete the Rent Reasonable Form and submit it to FHA with your RFTA packet. FHA may also direct you to email the same form to GoSection8 as part of the rent reasonableness process.” (This keeps your public instruction aligned with both your “submit to FHA” workflow and the form’s routing language.)

At lease-up, FHA reviews (at minimum) the items HUD requires the PHA to confirm before approving tenancy, including:

• Rent reasonableness (see Step 6)
• Lease term and basic leasing requirements (see Step 9)

FHA’s Admin Plan (Ch. 8) explains that the PHA must determine and document that the rent to owner is reasonable compared to unassisted comparable units, considering the factors in 24 CFR 982.507(b).

It also explains that FHA uses market data and updates it as needed to make rent reasonableness determinations.

HUD PIH guidance also addresses how PHAs should apply rent reasonableness and comparable unit standards (including what counts as “assisted” units when selecting comparables). (HUD)

FHA’s HCV page states the program requires an initial (prior to lease-up) inspection and an annual inspection. Upon receipt of the RFTA, the inspection vendor will arrange the inspection, and the landlord will be informed of the date/time.

• FHA’s Admin Plan (Ch. 8) specifies key inspection procedures, including that inspections are conducted during standard weekday hours and that the PHA provides notice.

FHA’s Ch. 8 policies include how failed items are handled and how reinspections are scheduled after repairs are reported.

FHA’s HCV page states tenant screening is the landlord’s responsibility (the PHA screens for program eligibility, not suitability).

• FHA also states: “All initial lease ups must be for at least one year.”

Landlords sign the HAP Contract with FHA.
Landlords also provide a copy of the signed lease to FHA for review (FHA is not a party to the lease but must receive/review it).

• FHA holds a briefing meeting for the landlord and participant to finalize documentation and answer questions (can be separate or together).