From rising maintenance costs to uncertainty around rental income, being a landlord has become increasingly challenging in today’s housing market.
The Housing Choice Voucher Program, administered locally by the Housing Authority of the City of Asheville (HACA), is designed to help address some of those challenges while also expanding access to affordable housing across Buncombe County.
Formerly known as Section 8, the program helps very low-income families, seniors, and individuals with disabilities access housing in the private rental market while providing landlords with consistent rental support and access to a large pool of potential tenants.
Here are five reasons landlords should consider participating in the Housing Choice Voucher Program.
1. Reliable Monthly Payments
Through the Housing Choice Voucher Program, a significant portion of monthly rent is paid directly to landlords by the Housing Authority. For property owners, that means more consistent income and less uncertainty.
“For landlords, consistency matters,” says Marvin Jean Jacques, Chief Operating Officer for HACA. “The Housing Choice Voucher Program helps create more financial stability while also connecting property owners with families who are looking for long-term housing opportunities.”
Additionally, the program can help reduce disruptions caused when a tenant’s income changes suddenly. If a participating tenant loses income, their portion of the rent can typically be adjusted and the Housing Authority’s payment increases accordingly.
2. Strong Demand Means Shorter Vacancies
Affordable housing is always in extremely high demand across Buncombe County. And with the Housing Choice Voucher program, landlords can often fill vacancies extremely fast.
“There are families actively searching for housing every single day,” Jean Jacques says. “For landlords, that can translate into less downtime between tenants and more consistent occupancy.”
Property owners can also create free listings through AffordableHousing.com, where voucher holders search for available rentals.
3. Added Protection for Property Owners
One concern some landlords have when considering the Housing Choice Voucher Program is the potential for property damage. While serious issues are rare, the program includes several layers of support designed to help property owners feel more confident participating.
As part of the voucher eligibility process, HACA reviews applicants according to federal program requirements, including criminal background and sex offender registry screenings. However, landlords still maintain control over their own tenant selection process and can screen prospective tenants using their normal leasing criteria.
In addition, HACA maintains a landlord mitigation fund that may help cover excessive damages in the rare event a tenant causes significant harm to a unit.
“Landlords want to feel confident that their property is being respected and protected,” says Jean Jacques. “The mitigation fund is there to provide an extra layer of reassurance.”
4. The Process Is More Straightforward Than Many Expect
For some landlords, the biggest hesitation is simply not knowing how the program works or assuming the process will be difficult to navigate.
Jean Jacques says HACA staff work directly with landlords throughout the leasing process, providing support with inspections, paperwork, payment setup, and program requirements.
“There’s a lot of confusion around how the program actually works,” says Jean Jacques. “But once landlords go through the process, many realize it’s much more straightforward than they expect.”
5. The Program Helps Local Families Stay Housed
Housing Choice Vouchers help local seniors, veterans, working families, and individuals with disabilities find stable housing at a time when rising costs are putting more pressure on households across Western North Carolina. For many families, access to affordable housing can mean the difference between staying rooted in the community or being forced to leave it behind.
“Behind every voucher is a real person or family just trying to find a safe, stable place to live,” says Jean Jacques. “When landlords participate in the program, they’re helping keep members of our community housed.”
Interested in Learning More?
HACA works with landlords across Buncombe County through the Housing Choice Voucher Program. For more information about becoming an HCVP landlord, contact landlordassistance@haca.org.
