Voucher Discrimination

About Voucher Discrimination

It is illegal to refuse to rent to someone because they receive Section 8 housing assistance.

For Example:

Your landlord is not allowed to say:
- “Sorry, this isn’t a Section 8 unit.”
- “Sorry, we can’t take vouchers at this time.”
- “It isn’t a voucher-approved unit.”
Your landlord cannot use policies to exclude voucher holders:
- Requiring that income is 3x the rent or first and last month's rent upfront.

It is illegal to refuse to rent to someone because they receive some form of public assistance.

For Example:

It is illegal to discriminate against someone because of the requirements of subsidy programs.

For Example:

Your landlord is not allowed to say:
- “The apartment wouldn’t pass inspection.”
- “We don’t like to work with that housing authority.”
- “Section 8 takes too long; I’ll lose rent if I leave the unit vacant for the time it takes to get inspected.”

Discrimination against voucher holders can happen even after they sign a lease.

For Example:

Housing provider refuses to make repairs to apartment or takes steps to evict tenant after failing a Section 8 inspection
At lease renewal, housing provider increases voucher holder's rent more than other tenants without vouchers
Housing provider refuses to allow tenant with a disability to have an assistance animal.

Additional resources voucher holders may be entitled to:

1. Extra time for their housing search.

If a voucher holder experiences discrimination in their housing search they may be entitled to extra time.
If a voucher holder is unable to lease up for disability-related reasons they may be entitled to extra time.

2. Exceptions to voucher payment standards:

Housing authorities can allow a higher payment standard for an apartment as a reasonable accommodation of a disability.
HUD approval may be required for an increase to the payment standard of more than 120 percent.

3. Additional bedrooms in a unit based on disability-related need