Landlord Forum

The Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program enables families to obtain decent, safe, and sanitary housing by subsidizing a portion of the tenant’s monthly rent and paying it directly to the property owner. Any type of private rental housing is eligible to participate in Section 8, including single family dwellings, apartments, and townhouses. Paperwork is minimal and the owner retains normal management rights and responsibilities, including tenant selection, rent collection, property maintenance, and lease termination.

Payment Standards/Fair Market Rents

Rents are established periodically by Housing and Urban Development. The Housing Choice Voucher program requires that rent for a dwelling unit (including utility allowance) is not to exceed the current Fair Market Rent. Rent for the Housing Choice Voucher program may exceed the Payment Standard provided the rent is determined reasonable for the area by the Garland Housing Agency (GHA).

You may view the current Payment Standards Chart below:

Landlords are responsible for establishing and collecting security deposits. Landlords may not charge a Housing Choice Voucher participant a higher deposit than a nonparticipating family.

You can also access the current Utility Allowance information below:

Contract/Lease Renewal

Before the voucher contract expires each year, the GHA will re-examine the tenant’s qualifications, arrange to re-inspect the dwelling unit and review the landlord’s status in the program. If the tenant still qualifies and the review process is satisfactory, a new contract may be signed by the landlord, tenant, and GHA.

If you wish to increase your rent, please submit the request in writing 60 days prior to the end of the contract. You can submit the request in any form, or you can use the Rental Increase Request Form (PDF). Requests can be faxed to 972-205-3388, or emailed to the housing office.

Rent Reasonableness

Each requested rental rate will undergo a rent reasonableness test performed by our inspectors. This comparative decision is based on the area in which the unit is located and the size, features, and amenities of the unit. If the rent is not determined reasonable, the landlord is given the opportunity to provide any additional information that may prove helpful in making the final decision.

Available Property Listing Form

The Garland Housing Authority has partnered with AffordableHousing.com, which provides an enhanced program to list rental properties online. Listings are available to potential Housing Choice Voucher tenants seeking apartment units, duplexes, single-family homes or town homes in the private market. Landlords can add rental properties and tenants can view rental listings.

Payment

The GHA provides the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) on a monthly basis via direct deposit. The HAP is processed on the first business day of the month and deposits may show in a bank account between three to four business days after that. To report a change in banking information please contact Keith Gorman at kgorman@garlandtx.gov.

To view a summary of how the Garland Housing Agency operates and the steps involved in the housing choice voucher program, please view the HCV Property Owner/Manager Guide.

Fair Housing

Residents of the United States are entitled by law to safe and decent housing regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, or familial status. Discrimination in the rental of property or the provision of services is prohibited by law. 

To view a short video on "Avoiding Common Mistakes" that will assist you in building Fair Housing knowledge, please register using the following link: Avoiding Common Mistakes  - Registration