The HCV Program Partnership

The Housing Choice Voucher Program is a joint effort among you, your tenant, and Columbia Housing - We each have a set of responsibilities!

LANDLORD RESPONSIBILITIES 

• Perform all management and rental functions for the assisted unit, including screening and selection of tenants.
• Maintain the unit in accordance with Housing Quality Standards (HQS), including performance of maintenance. 
• Comply with equal opportunity/fair housing requirements. 
• Prepare information required under the Housing Assistance Payments contract and furnish the information to Columbia Housing. 
• Collect from the renter: security deposit, tenant portion of the rent, any charges for damages to the unit. 
• Enforce the tenant obligations under the lease.
• Pay for utilities and services agreed upon in the lease. 
• May not collect side payments from HCV renters or charge more than approved by Columbia Housing.

TENANT RESPONSIBILITIES

• Supply information determined necessary by Columbia Housing or HUD to administer the program, including completion of scheduled income reviews. 
• Pay utilities that are not supplied by the landlord.
• Provide and maintain the appliances for which they are responsible.
• Correct damages inflicted on the unit by a family member or guest in the specified time period.
• May not commit serious or repeated violation(s) of the lease.
• Notify Columbia Housing and the owner 30 (no more than 60) days in advance prior to moving or terminating the lease. 

COLUMBIA RESPONSIBILITIES

• Pay the landlord by the fifth day of each month.
• Regularly evaluate family eligibility.
• Inspect units at least once every year.
• Investigate potential fraud or program abuse by tenants or landlords.
• Provide quality customer service to HCV landlords and tenants.
• Notify the landlord of any change in subsidy amount.