Section 8 housing lists in Florida allow low-income applicants to find safe, quality housing as defined by the Department of Housing and Urban Development that fits their budgets. By searching Section 8 apartment listings near them, they can get an idea of what types of properties are available for their families. The best place to start in terms of finding Section 8 apartment listings is understanding what qualifies as a Section 8 home, as well as tips for reading Section 8 house listings.

Learn How to Find Section 8 Housing Lists in Florida

Section 8 housing lists in Florida are more accessible than you may realize. The most popular way to search Section 8 apartment listings is online. Different web resources offer a list of Section 8 houses closest to you, with options to filter your choices by bedroom size, number of bathrooms or even price. Other than online, finding Section 8 house listings in your local grocery store or newspaper is also an option. More often than not, a Section 8 rental housing list can be accessed the same way you would a regular apartment search. Learn how to apply for the Section 8 program from our guide.

What Qualifies as a Section 8 Home in Florida?

Section 8 housing lists contain houses which have been inspected and approved by the Public Housing Agency. A list of Section 8 houses will only have homes that pass inspection in 13 specific areas. These areas include but are not limited to structure and materials, interior air quality, site and neighborhood, and sanitary conditions. FL Section 8 rental housing list criteria also specifies that houses and apartments must:

• Not have excessive noise.
• Have a minimum of two ways to exit the unit.
• Have a smoke detector on all levels of the home, including the basement.
• Not have an abnormal amount of air pollution.
• Not have a rodent or vermin infestation.

How Big of a House Can You be Approved for in Florida?

After seeing the Section 8 house listings in FL which are available, your next question might be “How big of a home am I eligible for ?” While Section 8 apartment listings have different size homes, the decision in terms of what is eligible for a family comes down to the Public Housing Agency. For example, a family of two may be eligible for a two-bedroom apartment, but a family of one will likely not be eligible for the same size apartment. However, a three-bedroom apartment from the list of Section 8 houses can be chosen by a family of five or six, even if they are eligible for a bigger home. As long as the property has the same quality standards and utility allowances issued by the PHA, a family can choose a different-sized dwelling than what they were initially approved for.

Learn About Checking Your Credit Score Before Viewing Section 8 Apartment Listings in Florida

Landlords renting through Section 8 housing lists will check your credit prior to renting. Before finding a home from a list of Section 8 rentals, check your credit score first. By ordering a free copy of your credit report you can prevent any unnecessary delays during the application process. Use the rankings below to determine where your credit will fall:

• 750-850 (Excellent): Credit applicants are likely to receive credit with outstanding terms.
• 700-749 (Good): Credit approval is most likely with more than fair terms and rates.
• 650-699 (Fair): Credit approval is probable, but terms will be modest and rates can be high.
• 550-649 (Poor): Credit approval is not probable, but if so, rates will be very high.
• 300-549 (Very Poor): Credit approval is not likely.

Tips for Reading Florida Section 8 House Listings

Florida Section 8 housing lists usually use a particular set of abbreviations to illustrate the amenities within the rental listing. A list of Section 8 rentals may use abbreviations like “dk” for deck or “hwd” for hardwood floors. Understanding these abbreviations, as well as how to read a list of Section 8 rentals will help you through your search. More phrases to learn before reading a list of Section 8 houses include:

• “kit” for kitchen.
• “lr” for living room.
• “la” for living area.
• “ofc” for office.
• “wic” for walk-in closet.

Before starting your search for Section 8 housing lists, learn the abbreviations in order to make reading each listing much smoother. Website: Local Offices. State: Florida