Section 8 housing lists in Iowa are part of the federal government’s housing voucher program which provides low-income families with affordable housing. For those looking for information regarding Section 8 house listings, the following information will help. Applicants can learn how to search for Section 8 apartment listings near them, as well as whether or not credit checks and background checks will be performed.

Learn How to Find Section 8 Housing Lists in Iowa

Section 8 housing lists in Iowa can be found in the same places you would normally look for other apartment listings: a local grocery store, a coffee shop bulletin or a local library. Even perusing for a Section 8 rental housing list in your newspaper’s classifieds section is a great place to start. However, finding Section 8 apartment listings is most easily done online. An online list of Section 8 rentals will allow you to narrow down your search options to only the needs of you and your family, whether by the number of bedrooms, price or neighborhood. After finding an appropriate, qualified home for Section 8 housing, learn how to apply for the program by downloading our comprehensive guide.

What Qualifies as a Section 8 Home in Iowa?

Section 8 housing lists must all pass quality standard testing through the Public Housing Authority, or PHA. For a home to be included on a list of Section 8 houses, it must pass 13 quality categories, each with their own subcategories in terms of quality. For example, a category of the thermal environment includes the subcategory requirement that the cooling system must safely cool each room within the home. Other criteria for Section 8 house listings state that homes must:

• Have at least one window.
• Have adequate ventilation in the bathroom.
• Not have contaminants or pollution in the air.
• Not have a rodent or vermin infestation.
• Have smoke detectors fully operational at all times.

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

After checking Section 8 housing lists in Iowa, your first question may be in regards to the size of the house you can be eligible for. While the Section 8 apartment listings have options from one bedroom and up, the size home you are eligible for is up to the Public Housing Authority. Prior to browsing the Section 8 house listings, find out the size of the house listed on your voucher. Families who have a three-bedroom house size limit can or cannot choose a house that matches what is listed on the voucher. If that same family finds a two-bedroom home from a list of Section 8 houses that they prefer, they can downsize at their discretion, as long as the housing quality standard and utilities allowances remain the same.

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

The first step before finding Section 8 house listings in Iowa is getting a copy of your credit report. Checking your credit prior to perusing alist of Section 8 rentals allows you peace of mind, knowing what the landlord will find during the application process. Landlords with property on Section 8 housing lists will require a credit check in order to see the type of history you have. Order a free copy of your credit report today and see where you score falls. The following list describes common categories for credit scores:

• 750-850 (Excellent): Credit applicants are very likely to be approved. Rates will be low.
• 700-749 (Good): Credit applicants are likely to be approved. Rates will be favorable.
• 650-699 (Fair): Credit applicants might be approved. Rates will be fair.
• 550-649 (Poor): Credit applicants may not be approved. However, if they are, rates will be unfavorable.
• 300-549 (Very Poor): Credit applicants are not likely to be approved.

Tips for Reading Iowa Section 8 House Listings

Iowa Section 8 apartment listings may use abbreviations that you are unfamiliar with. Rather than become frustrated searching Section 8 housing lists, try to determine some of the most common abbreviations you may find. For instance, a list of Section 8 rentals might use “br” instead of bedroom, or “ba” instead of bathroom. More common abbreviations on alist of Section 8 houses include:

• “ofc” for office.
• “kit” for kitchen.
• “pvt” for private.
• “ac or a/c” for air conditioning.
• “ca or cac” for central air conditioning.
• “aek” for all electric kitchen.

Understanding common abbreviations on alist of Section 8 houses will help you and your family better understand the options available. Website: Local Offices. State: Iowa