For an apartment to be leased by a Metro Housing|Boston Section 8 voucher holder, the apartment must meet the Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Housing Quality Standards (HQS) and the supplemental inspection requirements of the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD). For this reason, it is important to address inspectional issues accordingly as they are occurring and address matters with the tenant first. Units in which are not within HQS may result in termination of payments or termination in the HAP contract.
What is Metro Housing|Boston’s role when it comes to issues with the tenant and their unit?
Metro Housing|Boston’s role is program administration and confirming units meet Housing quality Standards in order to release housing assistance payments. Our role is not property management or lease enforcement, or case work. Our HAP Contract is between our agency and the owner, while the voucher is between the participant/tenant and our agency. The lease which is legally binding contract, is only between the owner and participant/tenant.
What to do about mice/infestations in one of your tenant’s apartment
The first step and owner obligation is to address the issue with your tenant about the infestation. The family must maintain the unit in a clean and sanitary condition as noted in our Model Lease under Tenant Family Obligations section. To remove the issue, you will need a licensed exterminator to perform exterminations which may take several sessions to complete. The report will indicate whether or not the infestation is tenant caused. In those cases please forward the report to our inspections department as the tenant will need to clean the affected areas per their tenant obligations after extermination. Our agency will conduct an inspection within five business days if it is reported and proven the tenant has reported the issue and has not received communication on the removal from the owner or has not heard from the owner/property management office within a reasonable time frame.
Who pays for the extermination?
We do not or will not cover the cost of exterminators. As you would with a market tenant, you will need to discuss that matter with the tenant directly.
Can I just lay down some traps myself?
No. You must have a licensed exterminator correct the issue. Once resolve, discuss cleanliness matters with your tenant.
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