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Section 8 Participant Responsibilities

Section 8 participants have certain responsibilities they must meet in order to be successful in the Housing Choice Voucher Program.

Ask for clarification if you are unsure or do not understand any of these requirements.

  • Section 8 participants are required to complete personal declaration forms and any and all other forms necessary for determining a family's continued eligibility.
  • Section 8 participants are required to provide all requested documents necessary for determining a family's continued eligibility.
  • Section 8 participants are required to obtain, in their name, all utilities (electric, gas, and water not provided by the landlord) necessary to maintain a healthy living environment. Utilities MUST be kept operational during the tenancy.
  • Members of the household who are 18 years or older must attend certification and recertification appointments and must sign all documents.
  • All members of Section 8 assisted units must refrain from activity involving drugs and violence. You are responsible for the conduct and activity of your guests and family members, even if you are absent from the unit.
  • All members of Section 8 assisted units must refrain from threatening, abusive, or violent behavior in any form toward Housing Authority personnel. You are responsible for the conduct and activity of your guests and family members, even if you are absent from the unit.
  • The Housing Authority may provide information to your prospective landlord about your previous rental history, including your address and/or prior landlords.
  • Landlords may charge a security deposit equal to one month's rent. You are responsible for your security deposit.
  • Do not sign or renew a lease until the rent has been approved by the Housing Authority.
  • Dependents listed as living with you MUST be claimed on your income taxes unless a legal document is provided showing another entity as being able to claim them.
  • Failure to abide by the terms of your lease is grounds for termination from the Section 8 Program. If you are evicted, you must give the Housing Authority a copy of the eviction notice, and you are considered terminated from Section 8.
  • You must supply any information or certification requested by the Housing Authority to verify that the family is living in the unit. The family must promptly notify the Housing Authority of absences from the unit and the purposes of family absences when the absence will exceed two weeks or more.
  • You must provide written notice to the landlord and Housing Authority BEFORE you move. You must leave in good standing. If it is determined you owe your landlord, your assistance will be terminated, and your voucher will not be honored.
  • Section 8 participants are required to report to Beaufort Housing Authority ALL changes to income within ten (10) days from the date of the change.
  • Visitors are NOT permitted to stay more than fourteen (14) days in any 365-day period.
  • Assistance will be terminated for any family who does not allow the inspector to access the unit. You are responsible for all repairs that are a result of Tenant damages that cause your unit to fail inspection. You will need to contact your landlord to get permission to make the repairs or to pay the landlord for the repairs. This includes broken window panes, screens, doors, holes in walls, doors, or ceilings, missing knobs on stoves or ovens, broken switch plate covers, and any other item that needs repairs as a result of damage, neglect, or abuse by you, your family, or visitors. You will have thirty (30) days from the date you receive a written notice from us to correct all HQS items. Failure to correct these items will result in termination from the Section 8 Program. 
  • Section 8 participants must cooperate with PHA in allowing scheduled appointments to be completed. Your recertification process will start sixty (60) days in advance, with completion being required no later than thirty (30) days prior to your anniversary date.