The Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Rental Assistance Program is federally-funded and administered by the Carlsbad Housing Agency. Advantages to an owner/property manager are:

• Timely rental payments via Direct Deposit directly from the City of Carlsbad;
• The agency provides a biennial Housing Quality Inspection of the unit;
• Staff assistance in finding tenants for vacant units;
• Pre-screening by the agency for sex offender registration (Megan's Law) and drug-related or violent criminal activity.

Getting started as an owner/agent/property manager:

• Let the agency know you have an open unit by emailing housing@carlsbadca.gov or submit the Notice of Vacancy Form;
• The monthly rent must be comparable to other unassisted rentals in the area;
• Landlords may charge an application fee as long as HCV participants are charged the same fee as non-HCV prospective tenants;
• When an owner/agent has agreed to rent a unit to a HCV participant, the tenant will provide the landlord with a Request for Tenancy Approval (RFTA) to complete;
• Upon our receipt of the RFTA, a Housing Quality Standards (HQS) inspection will be scheduled;
• Enter into a lease/rental agreement with the tenant and a Housing Assistance Payments (HAP) Contract with the Housing Agency. The lease/rental agreement and HAP contract are effective the day the unit passes the HQS inspection and the tenant takes possession of the unit.
• A security deposit is not allowed to exceed comparable private market practice or other unassisted units (the agency does not assist with the deposit);
• Complete the PaymentWorks registration for direct rental payments;
• Register for the RentCafe vendor portal to directly access your payment account information.

Rental owner/agent/management responsibilities:

• Maintain the property in good condition and complete repairs within a reasonable time upon request by the Carlsbad Housing Agency or the tenant;
• Do not enter the unit without proper notice and the tenant’s permission except in an emergency;
• Comply with Equal Opportunity and Fair Housing Requirements;
• Enforce the provisions of the rental agreement;
• Comply with the terms and conditions of the rental agreement and HAP contract;
• Collect from the tenant any security deposit required under the rental agreement, the tenant’s portion of rent and charges for any damages caused by the tenant;
• Pay for utilities and services as obligated;
• Do not collect excess rent from the tenant except their share/predetermined portion;
• Make reasonable modifications for persons with disabilities;
• Report suspected fraud to the Housing Agency (confidential & anonymous).