Housing Choice Voucher Program (HCV) is a HUD-funded program that provides the property owner with direct monthly payments on behalf of the participating family to cover a portion of the rent.

About the Housing Choice Voucher Program:

Over 300 rental property owners and managers participate in the Fort Collins Housing Authority (FCHA) Housing Choice Voucher Program. These landlords receive over 5.5 million dollars of rent subsidy each year from the FCHA.

There are currently 844 families receiving HCV program housing assistance. An average of 20 families are in the process of looking for a new rental unit every month.

Rental property owners participating in HCV Program have the same rights and responsibilities as any landlord. They screen and select tenants, use their own lease, collect a security deposit before move in, collect rent from the tenant, maintain their property and perform lease enforcement. The FCHA requires that the landlords inform the FCHA about all notices to their tenant and that they conduct their rental business in compliance with federal, state and local housing discrimination, civil rights and landlord-tenant laws.

Receiving HCV subsidy for a tenant requires a Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) contract between the property owner/manager and the FCHA and a lease addendum containing program requirements between the landlord and the tenant. The HAP contract requires that the unit being subsidized pass an inspection before the tenant moves in and at least once a year thereafter as long as the tenant lives in the unit.

A landlord can list vacant units with the FCHA for referral to tenants with vouchers. Listing a unit is not a commitment to rent the unit to a tenant with housing assistance. To list a unit, call the FCHA at 970 416-2910.

Becoming a Participating Landlord:

Participation in the HCV program is voluntary; however, many families in your community rely on landlords who are willing to participate. An advantage of participating in the program is that a landlord will have a contracted monthly rental assistance payment, which helps promote stable tenancy.

The process from start to finish:

• The HCV family finds a rental unit that they like. The landlord screens and selects the family as they normally would. 
• The tenant provides the initial lease paperwork from the Housing Authority called the "Request for Tenancy Approval" to be completed by the landlord and tenant. 
• The tenant submits the completed paperwork to the Housing Authority and the Housing Authority contacts the landlord to set up a time to inspect the unit. 
• After the unit passes inspection, the tenant signs the landlord's lease and submits a copy to the Housing Authority. 
• The landlord reviews and signs the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) contract, which as been provided by the Housing Authority. 
• The first check is mailed to the landlord.

Please note that this initial process can take as little as 1-2 weeks. The Housing Authority understands that a quick turn-around is important to you and we work hard to expedite this process.

Questions and Answers:

Q: If I take one tenant on HCV, am I required to take more?
A: Taking additional participants is not required.

Q: Who is responsible for paying the security deposit?
A: The tenant is responsible for paying the security deposit.

Q: How do I request a rent increase?
A: After the first year of the lease, the landlord may request a rent increase with a 60-day notice to the tenant and the Housing Authority. The proposed increase must be reasonable and cannot exceed any rent increase on similar unassisted units.

Q: Can I evict a problem tenant?
A: The landlord may evict a HCV tenant by, as with any other tenant, following the state and local laws for eviction.

Q: When will I receive the rent?
A: Upon the initial start of the lease there may be a 15-30 day delay before receiving the first rental assistance check. After the initial check, the landlord will receive a check on the first of each month. The tenant will pay their portion of the rent as stated in the landlord's lease agreement.

Q: Who do I call if I have a question or problem?
A: Call the Fort Collins Housing Authority at 416-2910 and ask to speak to your HCV Coordinator. If you are unsure who to ask for, simply provide the first and last name of your tenant and you will be directed to the appropriate coordinator.