Can someone explain Section 8, kinda confused?

Landlord Tenant Forum
1

So my landlord mentioned Section 8, and I’m not totally clear on what it means. Like, I know it’s something to do with rental assistance, but what are the rules about it? Especially around landlords checking credit or income?

2

Hey! So Section 8 is basically a program that helps cover part of the rent for low-income renters. Landlords can’t discriminate against people just 'cause they’re using it. You know, like they can’t use your full rent cost to decide if you can pay.

3

@RossetteMartins
Ohhh got it! So they look at the part of rent I pay, not the total?

4

Winter said:
@RossetteMartins
Ohhh got it! So they look at the part of rent I pay, not the total?

Exactly! They only consider what you pay yourself, not what’s covered by the voucher.

5

Another thing—landlords can’t just reject you if you don’t have perfect credit. If you’re using a voucher, they have to let you show other proof you can pay.

6

Kaius said:
Another thing—landlords can’t just reject you if you don’t have perfect credit. If you’re using a voucher, they have to let you show other proof you can pay.

Wait, what do you mean by ‘other proof’? Like what kind?

7

@Milo
Stuff like bank statements or pay stubs, even if your credit isn’t great.

8

Also, in California, they actually have laws that make it illegal for landlords to discriminate against voucher holders. It’s all about making sure people aren’t treated unfairly.

9

Dakota said:
Also, in California, they actually have laws that make it illegal for landlords to discriminate against voucher holders. It’s all about making sure people aren’t treated unfairly.

Nice, didn’t know that. Makes sense, though. So no turning people away just because they have a voucher?

10

@Remy
Yep, landlords gotta be fair and give everyone a shot as long as they can cover their portion of the rent.

11

Yeah, I heard they have to look at stuff like pay stubs or benefits, not just the credit score. Helps people who might not have a perfect history but can still pay their rent.

12

Lee said:
Yeah, I heard they have to look at stuff like pay stubs or benefits, not just the credit score. Helps people who might not have a perfect history but can still pay their rent.

Thanks for clearing that up! Super helpful. Didn’t know it was so specific.

13

Oh, and there’s something called FEHA in California, which is the Fair Employment and Housing Act. It’s why they can’t just reject Section 8 applicants for no reason.

14

Swift said:
Oh, and there’s something called FEHA in California, which is the Fair Employment and Housing Act. It’s why they can’t just reject Section 8 applicants for no reason.

Right, FEHA is the law behind all this stuff. Protects people from unfair treatment.