Landlord Requirements
The Providence Housing Authority (PHA) has over 1,300 landlord partners across the City of Providence. There are many benefits to leasing a unit to a PHA voucher holder (monthly direct deposit rental payments from the PHA, consistent payments, and mediation/support as needed). Read on to learn more about becoming a PHA Landlord partner.
Listing Your Property
The PHA recommends that voucher holders go to HousingSearchRI.org to find available units. Listings are free for landlords and signing up for an account is a fairly quick process. We cannot refer participants to certain owners or properties but we can post listings within our offices.
Finding and Screening a Tenant
Once you have listed your property, you may receive inquiries regarding the unit. All voucher holders have been screened for drug and violent criminal activity as well as income eligibility but ultimately, property owners are responsible for conducting their own tenant screening process. The PHA can provide the voucher holder’s current address and last landlord’s contact information for referrals; to receive this information, call our Leased Housing Department at 401-709-1600. Landlords are encouraged to screen participants as they would any other prospective tenants.
If you decide the tenant is suitable for your unit, you should let them know. It is the voucher holder’s responsibility to notify the PHA. From there, a PHA Program Representative will contact you for additional information and to begin the leasing process.
Lead Poisoning
RI Law requires that owners of properties built before 1978 disclose information about known and potential lead hazards before the lease of a residential property. To comply with the law, landlords should keep copies of all lead inspection reports and certifications, include a lead disclosure statement in your lease, and provide tenants with copies of the EPA’s Protect Your Family from Lead booklet and document that it has been received and reviewed. Because of this law, the PHA requires a valid Lead Conformance Certificate for any property built before 1978 (unless the property is owner-occupied). Once received, your PHA Representative will schedule a unit inspection.
More information about lead hazards for landlords can be found at the Department of Health.
Unit Inspections
All units participating in the Housing Choice Voucher program must be inspected prior to occupancy using Housing Quality Standards (HQS). To review a list of basic standards for an acceptable unit, please click here.
The unit should be ready to move in when the inspector arrives. He/she will cite any repairs needed in accordance with federal regulations. Once the repairs have been made, the landlord should contact the inspector for a re-inspection. The unit must pass inspection prior to the lease date.
Once the unit passes inspection, a PHA Representative will contact you and the prospective tenant to come to the office (100 Broad Street in Providence) to sign the lease and the Housing Choice Voucher (“Section 8” or “HCV”) contract.
Out of State Landlord Requirements
Landlords residing out of the State of Rhode Island are required by law to file paperwork with the Secretary of State’s office to designate a local agent to act on your behalf. Paperwork can be filed in the municipality in which the unit is located.
More Information
For more information about becoming a landlord to a PHA voucher holder, please contact the Office of Leased Housing at 401-709-1600.
