As a landlord or property manager in the Iowa City area, do you have to accept Housing Choice Vouchers? Well, that does depend on where your property is located.
If your rental unit is in North Liberty or Coralville, no you do not have to accept Housing Choice Vouchers. It is perfectly legal to say no to Section 8.
Iowa City, however, you may not discriminate against a person who has a Housing Choice Voucher. On June 1, 2016, Iowa City implemented an amendment to the city’s Human Rights Ordinance and
As a landlord or property manager in the Iowa City area, do you have to accept Housing Choice Vouchers? Well, that does depend on where your property is located.
If your rental unit is in North Liberty or Coralville, no you do not have to accept Housing Choice Vouchers. It is perfectly legal to say no to Section 8.
Iowa City, however, you may not discriminate against a person who has a Housing Choice Voucher. On June 1, 2016, Iowa City implemented an amendment to the city’s Human Rights Ordinance and made it unlawful for landlords to advertise they do not accept applicants who participate in the Housing Choice Voucher Program. This ordinance also prohibited policies that allow a landlord to reject applicants based solely on their use of housing vouchers or other rental subsidies.
Iowa City, Des Moines and Marion are the only cities in Iowa who have ordinances requiring landlords to accept Housing Choice Vouchers. The City of Ames is discussing a similar ordinance.
According to a recent article in the Des Moines Register earlier this year (before the pandemic took over), “House Study Bill 690 and Senate Study Bill 3178 would prohibit Iowa counties and cities from adopting or enforcing ordinances or regulations that prohibit landlords from refusing to lease or rent units to people based on the source of income they use to pay their rent, including a federal housing choice voucher.”
Since things came to a complete halt in Des Moines in February, it will be interesting to see if this issue will be picked back up when Session convenes this week.
But the bigger question is there really a difference between “Housing” tenants and those without housing? Similar issues arise with both when it comes to housekeeping and rent payments; however, as long as the tenant is in good standing with the Housing Voucher program, money for rent comes in regularly.
An issues does come up if a tenant holds a housing voucher and is able to be turned away because of that – “backdoor” discrimination.
According to the February 17th, 2020 Des Moines Register article, “Sen. Herman Quirmbach, D-Ames, who opposes the bill, said the bill could allow landlords to use housing assistance as a front to discriminate against people on other protected grounds. Federal housing law bars discrimination based on such factors as race, religion, sex and disability.
That opens the back door and creates an excuse for discrimination on the basis of other characteristics (that are) otherwise prohibited,” he said.”
made it unlawful for landlords to advertise they do not accept applicants who participate in the Housing Choice Voucher Program. This ordinance also prohibited policies that allow a landlord to reject applicants based solely on their use of housing vouchers or other rental subsidies.
Iowa City, Des Moines and Marion are the only cities in Iowa who have ordinances requiring landlords to accept Housing Choice Vouchers. The City of Ames is discussing a similar ordinance.
According to a recent article in the Des Moines Register earlier this year (before the pandemic took over), “House Study Bill 690 and Senate Study Bill 3178 would prohibit Iowa counties and cities from adopting or enforcing ordinances or regulations that prohibit landlords from refusing to lease or rent units to people based on the source of income they use to pay their rent, including a federal housing choice voucher.”
Since things came to a complete halt in Des Moines in February, it will be interesting to see if this issue will be picked back up when Session convenes this week.
But the bigger question is there really a difference between “Housing” tenants and those without housing? Similar issues arise with both when it comes to housekeeping and rent payments; however, as long as the tenant is in good standing with the Housing Voucher program, money for rent comes in regularly.
An issues does come up if a tenant holds a housing voucher and is able to be turned away because of that – “backdoor” discrimination.
According to the February 17th, 2020 Des Moines Register article, “Sen. Herman Quirmbach, D-Ames, who opposes the bill, said the bill could allow landlords to use housing assistance as a front to discriminate against people on other protected grounds. Federal housing law bars discrimination based on such factors as race, religion, sex and disability.
That opens the back door and creates an excuse for discrimination on the basis of other characteristics (that are) otherwise prohibited,” he said.”