Obligations of each party

Obligations

Obligations of the participant, the landlord, the County of Volusia Public Housing Agency (PHA), and HUD: Once the PHA approves an eligible family's housing unit, the family and the landlord sign a lease and, at the same time, the landlord and the PHA sign a Housing Assistance Payments (HAP) Contract that runs for the same term as the lease. This means that everyone -- tenant, landlord and PHA -- has obligations and responsibilities under the voucher program.

Participant's obligations

When a family selects a housing unit, and the PHA approves the unit and lease, the family signs a lease with the landlord for at least one year. The participant is responsible for paying the security deposit to the landlord. After the first year ,the landlord may initiate a new lease or allow the family to move.

Once a participant begins to receive housing assistance, the family is expected to comply with the lease and the program requirements, which includes but is not limited to paying its share of rent on time, maintaining the unit in good condition and notifying the PHA of any changes in income or family composition.

Landlord's obligations

The role of the landlord in the voucher program is to provide decent, safe, and sanitary housing to a tenant at a reasonable rent. The dwelling unit must pass the program's Housing Quality Standards (HQS) and be maintained up to those standards as long as the owner receives housing assistance payments. In addition, the landlord is expected to provide the services agreed to as part of the lease signed with the participant and the contract signed with the PHA which includes but is not limited to notifying the PHA.

PHA’s obligations

The PHA administers the voucher program locally. The PHA provides an eligible family with the voucher that enables the family to seek suitable housing. Once the family finds a unit and the unit passed the HQS Inspection, the PHA enters into a contract with the landlord to provide housing assistance payments on behalf of the family. If the landlord fails to meet the owner's obligations under the lease, or the family fails to comply with the family obligations the PHA has the right to terminate housing assistance. The PHA must reexamine the family's income and composition at least once annually and must inspect each unit at least once annually to ensure that it meets HQS.

HUD's obligations

To cover the cost of the program, HUD provides funding to PHAs to make housing assistance payments on behalf of eligible families and additional funding to cover the cost of administering the program. HUD monitors the PHA administration of the program to ensure rules are properly followed.