The Urban Legend of Why not to rent to someone on Section 8 has become a reality

[judaspriestess]

We've all heard the stories, Section 8 people are dirty (check) Section 8 people destroy your property (check) and a few others

Well for me it has become a reality. Yup my former section 8 renter whom I felt sorry for and gave her a computer, furniture and other things moved out of my rental home and left it DESTROYED. I am so fucking pissed right now. I even let her get away with not paying me rent for the last month to help her out. AND now I can't get my keys from her. I told her son cause she was "asleep" that they better get me my keys are I am reporting her to the police for theft. I'm definitely reporting her to section 8 but do you think they give a shit? NO. I can't believe this woman left my home like a fucking pigsty after all I did for her.

I am so goddamn disappointed. I'm sure not all section 8 renters are like that.

[Swede]

1. I just got stiffed for the rent by a cousin's son.

Live and learn,I guess.

[rug]

2. "Section 8 people"?

[Wcross]

11. "Section 8 people"? That would be people who use section 8.

People who use the section 8 housing program. AKA poor people.

[AlCzervik]

3. my sister and her husband rented their condo out to renters-not section 8 and they trashed

the place. Enjoy that broad brush though, it should make repainting much faster.

[Left Is Write]

4. One of my employees lives in subsidized housing.

She's as hard-working and honest as they come.

[LostinVA]

18. I hope she has cement floors and walls and no appliances over $100

Because, we all know how those poor people are, don't we?

UGH.

[Gormy Cuss]

5. Complain to the Section 8 office in writing.

At least you can have the satisfaction of telling them what a bad tenant she was (include details about the damage and filth) and why you're dropping out of the program. The reality of it is that there are many other tenants on the Section 8 list who would be excellent tenants just because they're so happy to be able to afford a nice place to live.

It's tough finding and keeping good tenants, with or without the subsidy especially if you don't live next door. I wish you better luck with the next ones.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

6. And pictures!

[pitohui]

8. have you ever had even one good tenant who was section 8? be honest

people are section 8 because they have significant issues, at BEST they are alcoholics and most often they are crackheads

i know crack is passe but not in new orleans!

it is politically correct to pretend that maybe some section 8ers are OK, reality in my experience is that no, if they're OK, by the time they've waited years (the waiting list is LONG) those who are not completely useless substance abusers have long since made alternate plans for housing

people in section 8 have such serious problems that their own relatives won't put them up

[rug]

9. And the SSD people keep falling down the stairs.

Where have all the good people gone?

[Gormy Cuss]

13. Yes, many.

I've know some bad ones too, but the majority are no better or worse than any other low income tenants. The housing authority for the city of New Orleans doesn't have a good history in terms of managing subsidized housing and that quite frankly means the mix there may include more bad apples than in some other places.

People in Section 8 cover a broad spectrum of life situations with the only commonality being that they can't afford decent housing without a subsidy.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

21. Stereotype alert!

The only person I know who was on Section 8 was a friend of my grandmother, a sweet elderly widow who most emphatically did not have drug or alcohol or mental health issues.

[pitohui]

7. yes they are

why does everyone have to learn the hard way?

[Roon]

10. My parents are always willing to rent to section 8 people

They get burned sometimes....but what they like is getting that monthly check from the government.

[Wcross]

12. The taxpayers send them the check.

The government does not pay for anything. They just mismanage the funds we send them.

[Roon]

16. No doubt eom

[Tian Zhuangzhuang]

14. Concrete walls cement floors and no appliances over $100

I know enough landlords and they all have section 8 horror stories. More significantly they all dropped out of the program despite the steady guaranteed checks from Uncle Sam.

I'm sure you are disappointed but reality sucks.

I don't want to make broad brush statements because I'll only anger advocates on this board. But the truth is I personally wouldn't rent to or live next door to a section 8 residence. I speak simply from endless experience.


As for poverty advocates who would claim this is unfair and we need more lower income housing not less. People who can't take care of themselves tend to be unable to take tare of other peoples things. It is simple human nature. And if you bet against human nature (ie sexual abstinence programs) you'll find the house always wins.

[LostinVA]

17. You did make a broad brush statement, a very not-nice

Poor people=trash.

Everyone on this board should be a "poverty advocate. EVERYONE.

[Tian Zhuangzhuang]

20. I didn't claim poor people were trash.

And for that matter we aren't talking about poor people in general but a particular subset of individuals that participate in the section 8 housing program.

Cement walls and a tile or cement floor with used appliances is just common sense for most rentals that have a transient population. This isn't an insult. Ever stayed in a cheap motel that wires the remote to the dresser? There is a reason they go to that kind of trouble.

Having been both poor and broke (there is a difference by the way) and having even been homeless I assure you I am sympathetic and an advocate for the poor. However being an advocate doesn't mean ignoring reality.

Most section 8 residents in my neck of the woods (Florida)have serious problems with substance abuse, mental issues and constant incarceration. Your neck of the woods may differ. They tend to be a transient population. Their issues go way beyond affordable housing. Simply warehousing them in one rental after another doesn't solve their problems.

The question the OP was dealing with is if you own rental property do you want to get involved with these issues. many landlords would prefer to charge less money and get more stable tenants who lets face it are also poor.

[Whoa_Nelly]

15. Change the locks

Right away!

Did you take pics of the place after she left?

Do you have pics of before and/or the things you gave her to use as part of the rental?

Do you have insurance on the property? Are you going to report it to that company?


And, yes, report her to the Section 8 people.

Being a landlord can be tricky. So sorry things went so wrong :hug:

[CC]

19. I have a friend that only rents to Section 8 people

if he can help it. He does have a strict lease and enforces it. Part of why he prefers Section 8 is that if any damage is done he gets reimbursed for it. You need to find out how and what you need to do to be reimbursed.