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Lease Up Process

Section 8

Please submit all completed and signed paperwork to the address listed below.

New landlords must complete the Landlord Information Package and return to the address listed below.

Unit must pass inspection and a signed lease and HAP contract need to be provided before a Housing Assistance Payment will be made to landlord.

Lease Up

When a new Section 8 participant is in the process of moving to a new unit they will receive the following:

    • Housing Choice Voucher (with expiration dates and unit size)
    • Resident Certification Form (to be used only for an inconclusive inspection)
    • Request for Tenancy Approval (RFTA)

During this time, the participant will be searching for a perspective unit. It is the responsibility of the Landlord to screen any perspective participant.

Once a unit has been found and the landlord agrees to rent to the Section 8 participant, the Landlord needs to complete the RFTA with signatures from both participant and landlord.

Once this RFTA is provided to the counselor, the counselor will review it to determine if the rent is affordable for the participant ’s income (the participant cannot pay more than 40% of their Monthly Adjusted Income).

Once the rent is affordable, the RFTA is submitted to the inspections department for an inspection.

Once the unit passes inspection, a HAP contract is signed by the landlord and a Lease is provided, the file will be processed for payment. Housing Assistance Payments checks will be issued on the 1st of every month.

No payments will be made until the unit passes inspection. Any participant who is allowed to move in prior to a unit passing inspection will be responsible for the full rent.

The papers can be sent to the following:

ATTN: Section 8
Housing Authority of the City of Elizabeth
688 Maple Ave
Elizabeth, New Jersey 07202

If you have further questions, please contact the Section 8 office 908-965-2400.