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Does my unit have to be pre-approved?
The unit does not have to be inspected prior to screening a tenant. The
unit must be inspected and passing prior to the tenant taking possession or
subsidy beginning.
Who pays the security deposit?
The tenant is responsible for the entire security deposit.
How long does it take for my unit to be approved?
Once the move in packet is completed and received by the Housing Authority,
an inspector will call to schedule an inspection between one and 10 business
days.
If my rent is more than the HRHA can approve, can the
tenant pay the difference?
No. Rents may be above the payment standards but must be approved by
the HRHA inspector. A tenant must not pay any additional monies out of pocket to the
landlord without HRHA approval.
If the tenant violates the lease agreement, is it
possible to evict a Section 8 tenant?
If a tenant
violates a lease agreement, the landlord must treat that tenant as they
would any non-subsidized tenant. The only difference in the eviction process
is that the landlord must send copies of all legal notices to HRHA.
Who pays if there are any damages?
The tenant is responsible for all damages.
Note: additional answers to frequently asked
questions are available on our FAQ page.
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Attend a landlord briefing to get
information about the S8 program.
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Screen the perspective tenant just as you
would a non-assisted tenant, keeping in mind the
Fair Housing laws.
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Check the clients voucher for 2 things;
the expiration date and the number of bedrooms the family qualifies for.
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Fill out the RFTA (request for tenancy
approval) packet carefully and completely. Return to the
technician.
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The housing technician will process the
request determining if the rent is reasonable (fair market) and
affordable for the client.
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The inspection request is forwarded to
the inspection department and you will be contacted to schedule an
inspection.
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Make sure all of the
utilities are on and all appliances in place prior to inspection.
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Do not allow the client to move into the
unit prior to it passing inspection. HRHA cannot pay on a unit
that has not passed inspection.
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The inspector will note any deficiencies
(and give them to you in writing), make the final determination on a
reasonable rent, and return for a re-inspection if necessary.
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When the unit passes inspection,
contact the technician before allowing the tenant to move in.
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Sign the lease, and collect the security
deposit from your new tenant. Sign the contract with the Housing
Authority.
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Accept our thanks for your participation
in HRHA's S8 program!
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We
now offer Direct Deposit for our landlords.
Please download, fill out, and mail the form with a voided check attached
to enroll. |
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W-9: Taxpayer Identification Number.
For landlords already on the program. Please download, fill out,
and either fax or mail to us if you have a change of address or payee
status. You will need Adobe Acrobat Installed on our your PC.
We also have instructions
available for this form. |
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Use
this online form to sign up for an
emailed statement or to update your email address with HRHA.
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Use
this online form to update your
email address on file with HRHA.
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Need the Adobe PDF reader? They will also offer to
include a photo album tool and a download utility. It is not necessary or
recommended that you download these additional components.

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A
class for new landlords is held once per month at the office located at
811 West Pembroke Ave. Class times are from 2:00 -
3:00 pm. Please contact our Inspection Assistant at 757-727-1521
extension 301 to register.
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The HRHA Housing Quality
Standards (HQS) are composed of the stricter of the
HUD HQS and The International Property
Maintenance Code, as adopted by the City of Hampton. In most cases the
property maintenance code prevails.
Listed below is a general checklist of the most common reasons a unit may
fail inspection. This listing is not a complete listing of the above codes.
Please contact Jerry Hoffman, Chief Inspector at 757-727-1521 extension 303
if you have questions.
Exterior Site and Property Requirements
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All exterior
property - Shall be maintained in clean, safe & sanitary condition.
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Sidewalks &
driveways - Shall be kept in a proper state of repair.
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Accessory structures
- (sheds, garages, fences) - Shall be structurally sound and in good
repair. No deteriorated paint (see lead-based paint)
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Inoperable vehicles
without valid inspection or plates shall be removed.
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Grading - Premises
shall not allow the accumulation of surface or stagnant water
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Weeds Premises
shall be free of noxious weeds & plant growth over 10 inches.
Exterior Structure
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Premises
Identification Address numbers shall be visible from the street.
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Foundation walls
Shall be structurally sound, plumb, free from cracks, holes, prevent
the entry of rodents & pests. No standing water in basement or crawl
spaces. |
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Roofs Shall be
free from defects that admit rain; no missing or loose shingles.
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Gutters & downspouts
- shall be in good repair & discharge water away from unit.
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Exterior walls,
cornices, soffit & trim Shall be structurally sound, free from
holes, breaks, loose or rotting material, weatherproof and properly
surface coated by painting or other protective coating. All
deteriorated paint must be repaired. (see lead-based paint)
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Stairways, decks,
porches & balconies Shall be in good repair, properly anchored,
capable of supporting all imposed loads, handrails are required for
four (4) or more steps (landing is counted as a step), Guardrails
are required for any step, deck, porch or balcony that is thirty
(30) or more above grade. Installations must be in accordance with
the International Residential Code.
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Windows Shall be
in good repair, weather tight, have locks, easily openable and
capable of being held in position by window hardware; must have
properly fitted screen. No deteriorated paint (see lead-based
paint). |
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Doors - Exterior
doors, jamb and hardware shall be in good repair, weather tight,
have deadbolt locks & shall be easily openable from the egress side
without the use of a key or special knowledge (manual knob required
on the interior). |
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Lead-based paint
(exterior) All deteriorated paint surfaces must be repaired. This
includes windows, window sills, exterior walls, porches, floors,
railings, doors decks, stairs, play areas, garages, fences or other
areas on the premises. If the unit is built prior to 1978 and a
child under six (6) years of age will occupy the unit, the following
will apply: Deteriorated paint surfaces more than 20 square feet on
exterior must be stabilized (corrected) in accordance with CFR 24,
Part 35 (all safe work practice requirements). This includes
clearance testing from a certified person, licensed in Virginia. If
the painted surface is less than 20 square feet, only stabilization
is required. Stabilization means the removal of deteriorated paint,
repair of the substrate, and application of two (2) new protective
coatings or paint. A lead-based paint Owners Certification is
required following stabilization activities.
Interior Structure
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General The
interior structure shall be in good repair. All structural members
shall be sound and capable of supporting all imposed loads, all
areas shall be clean, safe and sanitary. All rooms shall have a
minimum ceiling height of seven feet (7) (exceptions for bedrooms
with sloped ceilings & basement rooms with beams), All habitable
rooms shall have two separate and remote electrical receptacle
outlets. |
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Interior surfaces
All surfaces shall be clean, safe & sanitary including floors,
windows, doors, walls, kitchen and bathroom fixtures & appliances,
No deteriorated paint or plaster. (see lead-based paint below)
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Handrails &
guardrails Required as stated in stairways above.
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Infestation All
structures shall be kept free from rodent and insect infestation.
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Bathrooms - Shall
have a window or exhaust fan for ventilation; shall contain at least
one electrical receptacle (new installation must be GFCI), floors &
walls shall be a nonabsorbent surface impervious to water.
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Bedrooms - Shall
contain at least seventy (70) square feet of floor area, more than
one occupant requires 50 square feet for each person, (2 persons =
100 sq. ft.), have a minimum width of seven (7) feet, have an
openable window, have two separate & remote electrical receptacle
outlets. |
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Kitchens Must be
provided with stoves, ovens refrigerators, freezers (supplied by
tenant or landlord) that are properly installed & maintained,
cabinets countertops & drawers in sufficient quantity & condition
that occupants can store, prepare & serve foods in a sanitary
manner. |
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Laundry or Utility
rooms - Shall contain at least one grounded-type receptacle, clothes
dryers shall be vented to the outside.
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Lighting fixtures
Every public hall, interior stairway, kitchen, bathroom, laundry
room, boiler room, and furnace room shall contain at least one
electric lighting fixture. |
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Electrical
Electrical service to the unit shall be adequately sized to avoid
overloading, All electrical fixtures, wiring, receptacles, panel
boxes, fuses, breakers, splices, grounds, appliances and equipment
shall be properly installed and maintained in a safe and approved
manner. |
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Smoke detectors
Shall be installed as follows: on the ceiling or wall outside of
each separate sleeping area, in each bedroom, in each story within a
dwelling unit including basements, shall be equipped with a battery
backup. |
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Plumbing All
plumbing fixtures shall be properly installed, free from leaks,
defects, deterioration, must not have low pressure, inadequate
venting, cross connections, all sinks and toilets must have shut off
valves, backflow prevention assemblies where applicable.
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Water Heaters
Shall be capable of providing an adequate amount of water at every
required plumbing fixture at a temperature not less than 110
degrees, Shall have a temperature & pressure relief valve and
discharge pipe extending to within six (6) inches of the floor, gas
water heaters shall not be located in any room normally kept closed
unless adequate combustion air is provided, exposed gas water
heaters in living areas shall have safety dividers or shields.
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Heating Facilities
Heating systems shall be properly installed, maintained & capable of
maintaining a room temperature of 65 degrees from October 15th
through May 1st in all habitable rooms & bathrooms (measured 3 feet
above the floor), No portable unvented fuel burning space heaters
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Chimney & vents
Must be capable of creating sufficient draft to properly vent the
appliances served, shall be free of leaks, deterioration, loose
bricks, creosote deposits, have adequate clearance from combustible
materials. |
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Lead-based paint
(Interior) All deteriorated paint surfaces must be repaired. This
includes building components within the unit : walls, floors,
ceilings cabinets, baseboards, doors, door frames and any part of
the window system. Deteriorated paint includes any surface that is
peeling, chipping, chalking, damaged or otherwise separated from the
substrate. If the unit was built prior to 1978 and a child under six
(6) years of age will occupy the unit, the following will apply: All
deteriorated paint surfaces more than 2 square feet in any one
interior room or space, or more than 10% of the total surface area
of an interior type component (window sill, baseboard or trim) must
be stabilized (corrected) in accordance with CFR 24, Part 35 (all
safe work practice requirements). This includes clearance testing
from a certified person, licensed in Virginia. If the deteriorated
paint surface is less than 2 square feet or less than 10%, only
stabilization is required. Stabilization means the removal of
deteriorated paint, repair of the substrate, and application of two
(2) new protective coatings or paint. A lead-based paint Owners
Certification is required following stabilization activities.
Remember
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Some repairs require building permits, such as structural
repairs, renovation of existing space involving plumbing, electrical, or
mechanical installations.
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HUD's page for Landlords
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