HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER LANDLORD QUARTERLY NEWS

Transcription

1 vember 2018 HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER LANDLORD QUARTERLY NEWS WHAT S NEW FOR LANDLORDS AT HACP? QUARTERLY INFORMATIONAL WORKSHOPS The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh (HACP) would like to thank all of our landlords for your patience in matters concerning communications. Your response to the Landlord Outreach Survey has provided us with a much clearer picture of where we need to go in the future as a Housing Authority to continue to serve you to the best of our ability. Your collective responses show that better clarity on inspections is your number one request. Follow us on Twitter In response to your concerns, we have planned a series of workshops, the first of which was held on September 25, The topic was inspections. A wide variety of information was covered during the presentation; specifically: the different types of inspections, the inspection process, and what is required for a unit to pass a Housing Quality Standard (HQS) inspection. The video and handouts that were used during the workshop will be available soon on the HACP website: Thank you once again! The HACP hears your voice and your feedback remains of the upmost importance to us.

2 From the data the HCV department is now conducting landlord trainings based on the categories referenced in this survey. SURVEY RESULTS Question 1. Based on your experiences working with the HACP, how would you rate us on the following property owner/landlord support services? Poor Fair Good Excellent answer In Writing Verbally (Over the phone or in person Explaining the Housing Choice Voucher Program Processing information or rent increase requests Keeping you up to date on changing program requirements or regulations responding to your concerns Providing Training Opportunities Quality of Resources we Provide Your overall experience working with the HACP Answer Poor Fair Good Excellent In Writing 8% 22% 42% 15% 8% Verbally (Over the phone or in person 22% 23% 33% 11% 7% Explaining the Housing Choice Voucher Program 8% 23% 45% 14% 9% Processing information or rent increase requests 18% 22% 36% 11% 9% Keeping you up to date on changing program requirements or regulations 15% 26% 36% 11% 7% responding to your concerns 20% 27% 31% 11% 19% Providing Training Opportunities 13% 27% 29% 6% 19% Quality of Resources we Provide 9% 30% 38% 8% 10% Your overall experience working with the HACP 10% 27% 40% 13% 5% Question 2. If you were to attend HACP owner/landlord training sessions, which topics would you be interested in learning more about? (Please check all that apply) HQS Inspections HQS Inspections 40% 56% The Magistrate Process The Magistrate Process 36% 60% Screening Tenants Screening Tenants 40% 55% Fair Housing/Act of Discrimination Fair Housing/Act of Discrimination 13% 83% HACP/Tenant/Landlord Responsibilites HACP/Tenant/Landlord Responsibilites 41% 54% HAP and Payment Standards HAP and Payment Standards 35% 60% New Contract/HAP Process New Contract/HAP Process 33% 63% Question 3. On Average, how much money worth of damages have you experienced with your HCV unit? 1000 or less or less 37% 7% % 0% % 0% 5000 or more or more 10% 0%

3 RENT INCREASE RULE CHANGE The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh implemented a rent increase rule change in January Requests for rent increases must be received by HACP no later than 120 days prior to the anniversary date. The anniversary date is also known as the Lease Start Date or HAP Contract Effective Date. EXAMPLE: Effective Date of Lease: March 1, 2019 Rent Increase Request Due Date: vember 1, 2018 Rent increase requests will be processed as follows: Processing the request will begin the week following submission; HACP will verify three unassisted comparable properties located within a one mile radius of the requested property. NOTE: The comparable properties must consist of the same structure type and bedroom size indicated on the tenant voucher RENT INCREASE GUIDE Rent Increase Request Submission Deadline Anniversary Month vember 2018 March 1, 2019 December 2018 April 1, 2019 January 2019 May 1, 2019 February 2019 June 1, 2019 March 2019 July 1, 2019 April 2019 August 1, 2019 May 2019 September 1, 2019 June 2019 October 1, 2019 July 2019 vember 1, 2019 August 2019 December 1, 2019 September 2019 January 1, 2020 October 2019 February 1, 2020

4 HACP ALTERNATIVE PAYMENT STANDARDS Landlords may recall that in January 2018 a ruling was issued by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development informing the HACP that we would have to switch over to Small Area Fair Market Rent (SAFMR) in order to determine the payment standard. When HACP brought this information to you, the overwhelming majority of responsive landlords voiced the concern of how this change would actually remove units from the program instead of adding them. HACP heard you and in the months following we began to develop our own alternative payment standards. Some of you have contributed ideas that we have taken into account and incorporated into our new policies. We hope these alternative payment standards will bring even more landlords to our Housing Choice Voucher Program. Alternative Payment Standards Timeline April May June July September - Research, data analysis and presentation - HUD waiver requested - Stakeholder engagement - Final methodology confirmed - Post draft for public comment - Board approval and HUD submission

5 MEET OUR LANDLORD ADVISORY COUNCIL (LAC) The LAC is a group which meets with HACP to discuss policies and procedures affecting landlords. The LAC meets every other month at our 200 Ross Street location. Sean Walters CEO/President of W Group Rebekah Siegel, Esquire Private Landlord Shanon Saks Regional Manager of Crafton Holdings LP Phyllis Allen Go Realty Property Manager Deborah Parker Wood Street Commons Property Manager Robert J. Bucci Buccci Plumbing Latoya Carter Action Housing Property Manager Bruce Winterhalter Private Landlord Jim Waldron Stonegate Investments LLC Amy Scarnati Daisy Lou Properties John rman Ex Properties Mark Cook Private Landlord HEAR WHAT OUR NEWEST MEMBERS HAVE TO SAY Sean Walters, CEO/President WGroup I am the owner and founder of a real estate investment firm based in Pittsburgh that focuses on residential use properties. Started out by purchasing several small apartment buildings approximately 20 years ago and currently have a diverse portfolio of approximately 200 properties ranging from mid to larger multi family, single family and luxury vacation properties. I am also blessed with an amazing team in our office that has a combined 100+ years of experience in the residential investment and rental business. Included in our portfolio mix are approximately 130 units/properties that we rent out to amazing families with Section 8 housing vouchers. We have been working with the Section 8 voucher program since the beginning of the business and plan to expand this part of our portfolio going forward. Many of the tenant families we have through the Section 8 voucher program have been tenants of ours for 10 to 15 years. I am honored to be a landlord representative on the LAC and looking forward to making meaningful contributions during my term. Rebekah E. Diegel, Esquire It is always great meeting like-minded individuals with common goals. My first Landlord Advisory Council meeting was extremely informative, both in terms of learning about current HCVP policies and procedures, as well identifying potential areas of focus and improvement. It is clear that we can utilize our wide array of different experiences and viewpoints in order to help the program achieve its goals on a macro level, as well as to enhance the way we run our businesses via our properties in the program. I look forward to working with all of you as we contribute collectively to the efficiency and efficacy of the Housing Choice Voucher Program.