Frequently Asked Questions - Renters

Please contact the agency serving your county on our Renters page: http://www.housingnm.org/rental-and-utility-assistance.

Please contact MFA directly at (505) 843-6880 (or 1-800-444-6880); or HUD at (505) 346-6463. More detailed information is needed to answer this question, as local public housing authorities each have a specific administrative plan covering their occupancy guidelines.

11/18/2010

HUD allows local public housing authorities to set their own occupancy standards, which may include minimum requirements for number of bedrooms or number of sleeping rooms for the number of people per unit.

7/27/2010

Perspective Renters and Landlords can view and post housing from our site at the following location. http://www.housingnm.org/property-listings

Well this is a very good question and one that does not come up very often.  Typically, when you complete an application and the property staff verifies the information that you provided and they determine that you are qualified to move in, nothing will change before you actually occupy the unit.  In your case this is not how things occured.  You obtained a new job that makes your income higher than the applicable limit and therefore you no longer qualify to live at this particular property.  

Unfortuately, you must be qualified at move in even if you were qualified when you completed the application.  Any changes that occur from the point of your initial qualification until the day you move in should be reported to the property staff so they can re-examine your application and verify that you are still eligible to move in.  Always work with the leasing professionals to navigate the many regulations that govern affordable housing programs.  They should be able to assist you with this process and ensure that you are ready when moving day arrives.  

I hope this answers your question and helps clarify your concern.   

Well, this is an interesting question and one that we get quite often.  The properties that we are contract administrators for are Project Based S/8.  The owners of these properties signed Housing Assistance Payment Contracts 30 to 40 years ago when HUD was first implementing this program.  The S/8 is actually assigned and tied to the unit rather than to an individual.  If that tenant moves out the S/8 will remain for the next qualified applicant that moves in.  They are no longer funding or establishing new properties at this time so the Project Based S/8 program is not available for you to apply for. 

However, there are also Tenant Based S/8 vouchers that are administered by Public Housing Authorities throughout the State.  Those that qualify and recieve a Tenant Based S/8 voucher can then take that voucher and use it at any property that meets the affordable restrictions outlined by the PHA.  If the tenant moves out they take the S/8 voucher with them and can use it somewhere else.  If you would like to market your property you should contact the local PHA in your area and let them know that you have units available to those with S/8 vouchers.  The PHA can explain to you what you need to do for a Tenant Based S/8 voucher holder to move into your community.  

So these are similar yet very different S/8 programs.  Please contact your nearest PHA and ask for information regarding their Tenant Based S/8 program and how you can become involved with it as an owner or agent of a property.  I hope this helps explain the S/8 program and answers your question.  Thank you.  

You can access the application via MFA's web site by going to the Lender/Realtor tab then choose Program Manual and Forms.  Scroll down and look on the left of the screen under other lender resources; you will choose become an approved lender. 

Complete the Application and the Reps and Warranties forms and send to MFA's Homeownership Department for approval.