Landlords in the private market can lease their apartments to families in the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program. The program is federally funded and administered by Boston Housing Authority (BHA). The process of renting to a family in the Section 8 Housing Voucher Choice program is similar to renting to a family in the private market – the landlord screens and selects tenants, collects rent and maintains the property.
Participating in the Housing Choice Voucher Program
When you rent an apartment to a BHA Section 8 Voucher holder you become a BHA landlord.
You may use BHA’s “List an Apartment for Section 8” tool when you have an apartment available for rent. Once you create an account, you can add listings for any apartment you have available for rent within BHA’s service area. BHA will advertise your vacant apartment(s) on this website for up to two months.
How it Works
Eligible families will receive a “Voucher” from BHA. The Voucher will state the amount of rent BHA will pay directly to the landlord. The remaining portion is the responsibility of the tenant. Families must find housing within a certain time frame of receiving a Voucher, usually between 120 and 240 days. You may ask to see the family's Voucher.
Applicant Screening
BHA screens Voucher holders for program eligibility only – to determine how much rent BHA will subsidize and how much rent the tenant will pay on their own. As in the private market, the owner is responsible for screening applicants for suitability as tenants. Selecting tenants, whether Voucher holders or not, is limited only by fair housing requirements and the prohibition of discrimination as established by federal and state law.