Storytime: Section 8 Horror Story with Lessons to be Learned!

I found a post in our local Facebook group that I found to be very interesting and full of lessons.

Lesson #1

When an owner receives a move packet and the owner is not familiar with the local housing commissions, it’s a good idea to call the housing commission and ask if the email you were given is their email address.

Lesson #2

Tenants do not port at the beginning of a lease term. Porting means move to another state or county. The tenant has to do at least one year once they are renting a house before Section 8 will allow them to move.

Lesson #3

Caseworkers do not meet landlords at the house. At least not in Detroit ever. Caseworkers do not communicate unless it’s in a formal manner. It seems as though their communication is all cut and paste. They are not personal. They would never say that the keys are on the counter. They may tell you the tenant is porting or the contract is canceled. But they will not add to it that the keys are on the counter.

Lesson #4

A caseworker will never offer legal advice. In this scenario the supposed caseworker advised the owner to dispose of any personal property. Judges and lawyers all have different definitions of what constitutes a vacated property. There seems to be a lot of gray area on this subject. When in doubt, ask your lawyer.

Lesson #5

Never enter your property assuming it’s vacant. Look around before entering to see if it seems someone lives there. Even then, announce yourself as you’re opening the door, “LANDLORD!” Landlord, as in you’re not there with guns for a drug deal or as police.

Lesson #6

If someone has moved into your house without your permission, that is considered trespassing. Even though there is a new squatter law that the police are to remove squatters, for some reason the police were all trained to say, “This is a civil matter.” They will insist you file an eviction, which will take MONTHS for the courts to execute.

Lesson #7

Usually if someone has moved into your house, they did so unwittingly thinking they were renting it from the real landlord. They probably have no money anymore to move. If you don’t want to spend MONTHS evicting them and paying legal fees, offer them enough cash to move. That amount is negotiable. Some people say first month’s rent and security deposit will do it. Other people offer $500 and that’s it.

Lesson #8

Don’t go into renting to Section 8 tenants assuming you know everything. Have the humility to learn.