Moving With Assistance
Are you planning on moving?
The following steps are required to move to a new unit with Section 8 HCV assistance:
Streamlined Inspection Process
In response to concerns of Minneapolis Rental Property Owners and in an ongoing effort to promote participation in the MPHA Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program, we have streamlined the process and the turn-around time to request the initial (move-in) Housing Quality Standards (HQS) Inspection.
Effective July 1, 2017 MPHA will no longer require an appointment for the submission of the Request for Tenancy Approval (RFTA).
- Participants can now “walk in” to HCV Offices and meet with Inspection Administrative Staff to submit the completed and signed RFTA moving packet.
- Participants or Property Owners can now submit the completed and signed RFTA Moving Packet via fax at 612-335-4427 or by email to owners@mplspha.org.
Upon RFTA submission, Inspection Administrative Staff will review the RFTA (moving) packet for accuracy and completeness, including checking to see if the requested address is within our jurisdiction and a current, valid rental license is verified. The packet will be reviewed to determine whether the contract rent is within the market and meets HUD’s Rent Reasonableness criteria and that the rent is within the participant’s affordability limit. Property Owner (vendor) and unit records are created within our system, as necessary.
MPHA is confident that the one line of contact and the elimination of scheduling appointments to return the paperwork and schedule the inspection will result in a timely more efficient process.
Minneapolis Rental Property Owners – you spoke and MPHA listened!
Effective June 1, 2017 the rental subsidy start date can be effective the date the unit passes HQS Inspection, the participant has possession of the unit and the participant has fulfilled their previous lease agreement.
Moving out of Minneapolis? .. Portability
- If you choose to port out of Minneapolis, we cannot guarantee uninterrupted assistance. Gaps in assistance are more likely if you move to another Housing Authority’s jurisdiction. Be prepared to pay your first month’s full rent.
- Other housing authorities have different policies from MPHA. The other housing authority may change your voucher size, which means you may be eligible for either more or fewer bedrooms than you would be in Minneapolis.
- Affordability will be determined by the payment standard of the housing authority you are moving to, and the unit must be affordable before paperwork can be forwarded. Please be aware that if the voucher size is changed, the unit may not be affordable once it is reviewed by the new housing authority.
- An inspection will be done by the housing authority where your unit is located. Housing assistance payments will not be effective until the unit has passed inspection.
You will need to contact the new housing authority after MPHA has sent them the necessary paperwork.