Section 8 Housing Rules: How Many Bedrooms Will You Get?
Find out Section 8 Housing Rules regarding the number of bedrooms you can get. The most important factor that will determine your unit size is the number of people in your household.
Unit size is an issue every person applying for Section 8 housing wants to know about. We got more than 600 comments on one of our more popular articles “section 8 guidelines for unit size“, primarily asking about how many bedrooms they would qualify for.
Below I will discuss the GENERAL Section 8 Housing Rules, specifically with regard to the number of bedrooms. Remember, each state and county will have different qualifications so be sure to check with your local HA for specific eligibility questions.
Latest Section 8 Housing Rules For Unit Size
Housing authorities are now trying to strictly enforce the “two heartbeats per room” rule. This means you have to have at least 2 people in every bedroom regardless of age or gender. This is a general rule set forth by the US Department of Housing an Urban Development.
However, this rule is not always straightforward. Also, individual housing authorities use many other factors to make a final determination, regarding the number of people that can legally occupy a unit.
Finally, other factors that are used to determine unit size include size of the bedrooms, configuration of the unit, age and number of children, presence of people with disabilities, any requirements of special aids and assistance, etc.
General Section 8 Housing Rules For Unit Size
Here is a reference table used by Housing Authorities across the US to determine how many people can live in a unit. Also, the table has both minimum and maximum guidelines for occupancy, which are set forth to avoid cases of fraud.
Typical PHA Standards Used to Issue Housing Choice Voucher
| Housing Choice Voucher Size | Minimum # of People in Household | Maximum # of People in Household |
|---|---|---|
| 0 BR | 1 | 1 |
| 1 BR | 1 | 2 |
| 2 BR | 2 | 4 |
| 3 BR | 4 | 6 |
| 4 BR | 6 | 8 |
| 5 BR | 8 | 10 |
| 6 BR | 10 | 12 |
Standards Used to Determine Acceptability of Unit Size (HQS Rules)
| Unit Size | Maximum Occupancy ** |
|---|---|
| 0 BR | 1 |
| 1 BR | 4 |
| 2 BR | 6 |
| 3 BR | 8 |
| 4 BR | 10 |
| 5 BR | 12 |
| 6 BR | 14 |
** Maximum Occupancy Assuming a Living Room Is Used as a Living/Sleeping Area
How the Unit Size Determination is Made
When you apply for a Section 8 Housing Voucher, the Housing Authority will use the following factors to determine the number of bedrooms you will be eligible for.
• The subsidy standards must provide for the smallest number of bedrooms necessary to house a
family without overcrowding.
• A child who is temporarily away because he/she is in foster care is considered a member of the family in determining the unit size.
• A family that consists of a pregnant woman only, and (no other persons), is considered a
two-person family.
• Any live-in aide (approved by the PHA to reside in the unit to care for a family member who
is disabled or is at least 50 years of age) will be counted in determining the unit size.
• A maximum of one bedroom per family will be allocated for live-in aides, even if the family has more than one aide.
• Two elderly or disabled household members may be given separate bedrooms.
• Unless a live-in-aide resides with the family, the family unit size for any family consisting of
a single person must be either a zero or one-bedroom unit.
• Persons of different generations, and unrelated adults (except for domestic partners) may have a
separate bedroom, within the limitations of the minimum occupancy standards outlined below.
• Students who attend a school more than 50 miles away from the subsidized unit are not
considered a member of the household. Additionally, full-time students who attend a school within 50 miles of the subsidized unit but live away from the unit more than half the year are not included in
household size.
Other Considerations May Be Used To Determine Unit Size
Also, a particular Housing Authority may also use the following consideration to determine what size unit you would be eligible for.
1. Size of bedrooms
If it will be determined that the size of a bedroom in a unit you are looking at is too small, only 1 person may be allowed to live there. For example, if you have two adults and two children, and the second bedroom is deemed too small, you may not be able to get that unit.
2. Age of children
Some Housing Authorities have additional section 8 housing rules regarding children. Thus, they take the age of children into consideration when determining the number of bedrooms. For example, if you have two adults and an infant child, they may get only 1 bedroom. However, if the child is older, (particularly a teenager) they may get a separate bedroom.
3. Physical limitations of housing
Such factors as the size of the septic tank, sewer and other building systems may be used to determine the maximum number of people allowed in one unit.
Changes In Family Size or Health Status
If your family size or situation changes, you may be eligible to reapply and get a larger unit. These situations may include having another child, or a health condition or disability that requires the presence of an aid 24/7.
Finally, when you reapply, make sure that you have all documents that verify your current situation. In case you will be requesting a room for an aid, you will need to present all supporting medical documents.
It is disproportionate the amount of single moms having babies when they cant afford the ones they have. How are the Guatemalen and Syrian families going to have facilities for their children if we naturalized people dont stop having kids with dead beat partners that are not supporting their families. Widowed parents should get a priority if they lose their bread winner.
I am getting married and have no kids living with us. Would we still be considered for a two bedroom? Also it’s very hard to find places that take section 8 and we want up relocate. How would we look up what state and transfer the voucher?
Can u stay in a 3 bedroom under a 1 bedroom voucher if it’s in the price range.? Been here 12 years now and the landlord don’t want us to leave..
It was me my 2 daughters 27 and 18 and 3 grandsons living on a 2bedroom voucher which we had a 3 bedroom house. My 26 year old daughters and grandson moved out and now it’s me and 18yr old. Pha downgraded me to a 1 bedroom voucher but where we are living is below the 1 bedroom voucher price. Can we stay here if the landlord allow us to..?
I have a 2 br voucher and my daught is 14 and son is 12
can i apply for a 3 br?
people are asking questions, yet no one responds?
My mom wants to move in to my housing but I’m in a two bedroom , myself boyfriend and one kid. Would she be given an extra room or would she have to share with my son?
Im a grand mother with gardship of to boys 3 and 10 their mother is moving out i had a 3 bedroom before she had the 3 year old can i keep my 3 bedroom
You are approved based on family size (the two heartbeat per room rule). With your daughter and grand baby and yourself – you would qualify for a 2 bedroom. Now that she has another baby but is moving out herself – you would still qualify for a 2 bedroom. You probably have a 3 bdrm now because although you qualify for a 2 bdrm, you found a 3 bdrm that is in the income range of the voucher size for a two. So, as long as the 3 bdrm is in the range of the size of the voucher and price – you should be ok to stay in your 3 bdrm. The rules vary in every state though.
Hi I live in Hawaii (Don’t know if the rules differ from state to state) and I currently have Section 8. I’m in a 2 bedroom town home.. My household consists of 2 adults (mother & son who recently turned 18) and 1 child (17 yrs. old). If my son moves out, will I still qualify for a two bedroom or would I have to move to a one bedroom? Please in need of an answer! This is very sstressful situation..
Even if they qualify you for a 1 bedroom – you may still find a 2 bdrm as long as it is in the price range the voucher allows.
If i am already living in a place that accepts sec 8 and my number just came up. Im in a 3 bdrm but i only have one child, would i have to move to a 2 bdrm in VA
I’m pretty sure because it’s one heart beat per room, you’ll either get a one or a two bedroom. Probly just a one. I had to get a one bedroom when I only had one kid.
my granddaughter wants to live with me her mother lives about 10miles away can she stay with me and still be with her mother at her new address and still go to school in the area where I live.
Can only one person with a voucher stay living in a two bedrooms after wife and daughter leaves .
I’m in the same boat. My son might be moving and I’m being told I have to downgrade from my 2 bd. 2 bath to a 1 bd. 1 bath.
At what age is a child considered and adult on section 8. And does this qualify for and additional room is they are opposite sex.
I have a voucher from D.c. I ported into sc 10 yrs ago. I like to port to Va now. Do I have to port back to Dc first..or can I port straight to va.
I feel section 8 and hud both suck cause they will take your house if they ferl u dont need that much space but only cause im black i cant get house i found they wouldn’t have ownership if i aint tell them bout it so one they bought it from bank they tell me i cant have put me out and took my house just cause it was five bedrooms but again section 8 wouldn’t have the house if it wasn’t for me i found that house on my own not them
Hi. My name is Trickia. I’m on section 8 me and my three, one teenager and two younger ones. Questions, My oldest daughter 19 years old wants to move back with me. Can I add her back onto my voucher? And Also would my voucher increase or stay the same?
Hello I live in Pgh and I’m currently on section 8! So I have 2 boys 9,4 and a girl 5 and I’m pregnant with my 4th. If it’s a girl can I stay where I’m at and the two girls can share or do I have to get a 4 bedroom regardless? Thx in advance!
Your voucher will still be for a 3 bedroom be cause you have a household of 5 no matter if you have a boy or a girl
3kids with 1 on the way. Maybe you should keep your legs together and quit expecting the tax payers from supporting you. Get a frickin job Oh where’s daddy
THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE POST TAKE YOUR NEGATIVE ENERGY ELSE WHERE SOUNDS LIKE YOUR MAD BECAUSE YOU CANT GET IT# NEGATIVE NANCYS URKS MY NERVES
DOROTHY MCELROY IS OVER THE AGE OF 62 YEARS OLD AND NEED SECTION 8 HOUSING AS WELL AS PUBLIC HOUSING. DOROTHY MCELROY HAVE ALREADY SIGNED UP FOR SECTION 8 HOUSING IN NEW ORLEANS AND JEFFERSON PARISH LOUISIANA. I AM NOT GETTING OLDER AND I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU.