Tenants Rights During the Government Shutdown

January 23, 2019 4:09 pm

This is for tenants that live in federally assisted housing (may include locally assisted housing too) or that get a federal subsidy. Affordable housing funding is incredibly difficult to figure out – but hopefully you know if you are in Project-Based Section 8 housing.

If you need help, contact Legal Action of Wisconsin at:
608-256-3304
800-362-3904 (toll free)
855-947-2529 (new caller/intake)
FAX: 608-256-0510

This information is from the National Housing Law Project

Tenants’ Rights During the Government Shutdown

Your rights will be different depending on the type of housing you live in. To figure out the type of
housing you live in: review your lease, ask your landlord/management company, or call legal aid.

Project-Based Section 8
What’s Going on Now? Most PBS8 owners have current contracts with HUD and received a payment for January and expect to receive payments in February. Tenants in these properties shouldn’t have any disruption to their tenancies due to the shutdown.

About 300 PBS8 properties have contracts with HUD that expired in December or will expire in January. The contracts cannot be renewed during the government shutdown so these landlords will not receive payments once their contract ends.

Can my landlord charge more than my share of the rent? If you live in a property with a current contract, you are only responsible for your part of the rent.

Landlords may try to increase rents on tenants living in properties where the contract expired. Tenants should see an attorney immediately because there are legal arguments that can protect you from rent increases.

What should I do? Immediately bring bring any new notices from your landlord and/or management company to an attorney. Also bring your lease (if you have it) and any previous notices from your landlord and/or management company.

Continue to pay your part of the rent.

Section 8 Vouchers
What’s Going on Now? Housing Authorities received funding from HUD for their voucher programs in both December and January. Housing Authorities will likely have sufficient funding from HUD to run their voucher programs through February. Many Housing Authorities will have enough money in reserves to keep paying tenants’ rents through March.

Can my landlord charge more than my share of the rent? Tenants should not receive rent increase, voucher terminations, or eviction notices because of the shutdown.

What should I do? Immediately bring bring any new notices from your landlord or local Housing Authority to an attorney. Also bring your lease (if you have it) and any previous notices from your landlord and/or management company.

Continue paying your part of the rent.

Public Housing
What’s Going on Now? Housing Authorities received funding from HUD for their public housing programs in both December and January. Housing Authorities will likely have sufficient funding from HUD to run their public housing programs through February. Many Housing Authorities will have enough money in reserves to keep operating through March.

Can my landlord charge more than my share of the rent? Tenants should not be receive rent increase or eviction notices due to the shutdown.

What should I do? Immediately bring bring any new notices from the Housing Authority to an attorney.

Continue paying your rent.

IMPORTANT NOTE: This information is current as of January 23, 2019. If the government shutdown lasts
longer, your rights will change! You should contact an attorney for updated information.