Learn About Section 8 Housing Lists in Pennsylvania
Section housing lists in Pennsylvania provide living space options that are safe and affordable to low-income families. A PA list of Section 8 rentals displays homes throughout the state that qualify by the standards set forth by the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Learn How to Find Section 8 Housing Lists in Pennsylvania
To start learning about Section 8 rental housing lists in PA, applicants can find information through several means. The quickest way to get details from a list of Section 8 rentals, like home size, type and more, is online. If Internet access is a problem, Section 8 rental housing lists are typically located in local newspapers. Section 8 housing list details can also be found in public spaces like grocery stores, libraries or government buildings. Learn more about the Section 8 application process from our guide.What Qualifies as a Section 8 Home in Pennsylvania?
Homes on a PA Section 8 housing list are living spaces which qualify for the program based on a range of guidelines known as the Housing Quality Standards (HQS). A property on a Section 8 house listing must meet all HQS as identified by yearly inspections conducted by the local Public Housing Agency (PHA). The emphasis of HQS for spaces on a list of Section 8 houses is to provide a place that is safe and sanitary. Section 8 rental housing lists will meet such standards by providing functioning sanitary facilities in a room that allows for privacy. Other requirements include but are not limited to:- The house must be structurally safe, weather-proof, insulated and show no serious defects, such as leaning or cracking.
- The dwelling is connected to a functioning water system from a contamination-free water supply.
- No vermin or bugs are present in the home.
- Every floor of the home must have functioning smoke detectors, whether battery or wall-powered.
- The space must have proper air circulation, including windows in every bedroom.
How Big of a House Can You be Approved for in Pennsylvania?
Every list of Section 8 rentals in Pennsylvania puts forth houses and apartments of different sizes. Since the rules governing Section 8 house listings fall under local PHAs, which range from area to area, there is no definitive way for applicants to know what size home they qualify for. However, in general, larger families will qualify for homes with two, three or more bedrooms while smaller families or individuals might only qualify for a one-bedroom house. All homes on a list of Section 8 houses come with a kitchen and bathroom to comply with housing quality standards. Note Section 8 housing lists are coupled with vouchers provided by the PHA, which are determined based on the size of the family. Beneficiates can choose a home from a list of Section 8 rentals that is larger or smaller than the size stated on the voucher.Learn About Checking Your Credit Score Before Viewing Section 8 Apartment Listings in Pennsylvania
All properties on a list of Section 8 houses in Pennsylvania have landlords who seek credit checks during the application process. Landlords will decide whether or not a tenant will move into a home on a Section 8 housing list. Residents will want to get a free credit report before finding a Section 8 home.Credit Score Rankings:
- Excellent (750 – 850): This ranking includes the best terms and rates with guaranteed credit.
- Good (700 – 749): This ranking usually grants credit and comes with favorable terms.
- Fair (650 – 699): This ranking may grant credit with moderate terms.
- Poor (550 – 649): This ranking may or may not grant credit and the terms will be unfavorable.
- Very Poor (300 – 549): This ranking imposes the most unfavorable terms and rates, if credit is granted, which is unlikely.
Tips for Reading Pennsylvania Section 8 House Listings
As part of the real estate industry, Section 8 housing lists in Pennsylvania use many of the same abbreviations common to other housing lists. For instance, browsing a list of Section 8 houses uses short-hand terms such as KIT for kitchen or LA for the living area. Below are more abbreviations used through many PA Section 8 housing lists:- Central Heating and Air Condition is CH/A
- A home’s age is represented as YO for Years Old
- Closets (C) or Walk-In Closets (WIC)
- Air Conditioning is A/C
- The number of bedrooms and bathrooms is shown as 1/1, 2/1, etc.