Properties must be located in our jurisdiction.
Interested? Contact: Beverly Cournoyer bcournoyer@rihousing.com
The following guidebook provides information on most common areas of interest on being a landlord for a HCV Program tenant.
The Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program, formerly referred to as Section 8, is the federal government’s major program for helping eligible households rent safe, healthy and affordable homes by paying some or all of a tenant’s rent and utility costs. Administered by public housing authorities (PHAs), the program assists low-income individuals and families in being able to afford renting in a privately owned, market rate rental unit. RIHousing serves as a PHA for 19 communities in Rhode Island and administers housing choice vouchers in those municipalities.
It is up to property owners to determine the asking amount of rent for their units. Under program guidelines, the rent must be reasonable when compared to similar units in the area where the unit is located. Reasonable rent is based on a calculation performed by RIHousing’s staff. If a unit’s rent is considered unreasonable, the tenant will be unable to rent it with their voucher. Please note that landlords cannot charge tenants with a voucher more than they would charge a tenant without a voucher.
Renting to a tenant with a voucher can provide peace of mind in knowing that RIHousing’s portion of the rent will always be paid.
If a tenant should lose part or all of their income, RIHousing adjusts how much rent they owe, to ensure the landlord always receives the full amount of rent, and to ensure the tenant is only putting between 30% – 40% of their income towards housing costs. Additionally, you do not have to worry about a unit sitting vacant because you can’t find a tenant. Due to the high cost of housing in Rhode Island, there are many tenants with vouchers looking for housing.
RIHousing also has a landlord mitigation fund that provides protection for landlords who rent to tenants with vouchers. This fund provides monetary reimbursement to landlords who incur certain expenses related to tenant related issues. In certain instances, it reimburses for issues identified during the move-in inspection.
There is nothing a landlord needs to do to pre-qualify or sign up for the program. Once a landlord finds a tenant with a voucher, their rental unit must pass inspection and the landlord has to sign a contract with RIHousing.
Once RIHousing approves a tenant’s rental unit, the family and the landlord sign a lease, and at the same time, the landlord and RIHousing sign a Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) contract that runs for the same term as the lease. This means that everyone – the tenant, landlord and RIHousing – have obligations and responsibilities under the HCV program.
LANDLORDS/OWNERS: The role of the landlord/owner in the voucher program is to provide decent, safe, and sanitary housing to a tenant at a reasonable rent. The unit must pass the program’s inspection and be maintained up to those standards for as long as the owner rents to the tenant with a voucher. The landlord is expected to provide the services agreed to as part of the lease signed with the tenant and the contract signed with RIHousing.
TENANTS: When a family selects a housing unit, RIHousing must approve the unit and lease to ensure that the unit is located in one of the 19 towns RIHousing’s voucher holders can lease in, that the rent is reasonable, and that the unit passes inspection. If approved, the family signs a lease with the landlord for at least one year. The tenant may be required to pay a security deposit to the landlord. After the first year, the landlord may renew the lease or allow the tenant to remain in the unit on a month-to-month lease. Tenants are expected to comply with the lease and the program requirements, pay their share of rent on time, maintain the unit in good condition and notify RIHousing of any changes in income or family composition.
RIHOUSING: RIHousing administers the voucher program, providing families with housing assistance by entering into a contract with the landlord to provide housing assistance payments (HAP). If the tenant or landlord fails to meet obligations under the lease, RIHousing has the right to terminate assistance payments. RIHousing reexamines the tenant’s income and composition at least annually, and conducts inspections every other year.
NSPIRE Inspection Resources
Other Resources
Fair Market Rents (FMRs) are set by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and used to determine the maximum rent a landlord can charge in their specific location.
Was your home built before 1978? If so, you may have lead paint in your home. Our LeadSafe Homes program offers forgivable loans to help reduce the hazards of lead in the home.
Landlords can market their property in this free online housing locator created to help tenants find housing and landlords fill vacancies.
Newly passed legislation in Rhode Island now makes it illegal to discriminate against a potential tenant based on their source of income. This includes discriminating against tenants because they receive a housing choice voucher. This discrimination may include advertisements that say “No Section 8 allowed” or telling a potential tenant a unit is no longer available after learning they have a voucher.
Check whether your current residence is located within an eligible census tract.
Only residents of census tract 405 are eligible for the FirstGenHomeRI pilot program.
The map on the left shows the approximated eligible region.
Unsure if your address is part of the eligible region?
Type in your address below to find out (Include street #, street name, Newport, RI).
Check whether your current residence is located within an eligible census tract for application prioritization.
Applications from residents who live in the census tract listed below are prioritized.
| Central Falls | 44007010900, 44007010800, 44007011100, 44007011000 |
| Pawtucket | 44007016000, 44007015300, 44007015100, 44007015200, 44007015500, 44007016600, 44007016700, 44007017000, 44007017100, 44007016100, 44007016400 |
| Newport | 44005040500, 44005041100 |
| East Providence | 44007010100, 44007010501 |
Type in your address below to learn if you are in the targeted area. (Include street #, street name, city, RI).