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. Failure to supply all required documentation could result in your application being denied.
I’m a single mom to 4 boys one of them are in school already, my twins will be in school in two years an I just had a baby a year ago.. do you think section will allow me to have a 3 or 4 bd.. I’m in Pennsylvania
Thank you for the help in advance
I currently have a 4 bdrm voucher but my oldest child is due to turn 18 in July and my redetermination is in October. Not sure if they will make me move out of my 4bedroom when he turns 18 or at redetermination if I’m already living there.
I am new to this, so please help. I can’t figure out what “adjusted income” is and I don’t have an amount on my voucher (as most seem to). I am currently living in a building that only has 2 bedroom apartments, but the price is still cheaper than one bedrooms in the same area. I really do not want to move. How do I approach this with my county housing authority?
Hi i have a 15 boy 13 yr old girl 11 yr old girl and myself they just changes my bedroom size to 2 bedroom because of the 2 heart rule can i fight it
I have always had a two bedroom whine in sec 8 .i. Now moving to a differant county and found a two bedroom there . I am disabled and have 3 service dogs two for mobility one for PTSD. I am now being told I can only qualify for a one bedroom which would be way to small for me and my service dogs. Why would my being eligable for a two bedroom change just cause I’m changing counties not state?
I live in low income housing in Sherwood Oregon and interestingly enough the management allows a single older gentleman to live in a 2 bedroom apartment alone and use his space to have his movie and cd collections that he sells on ebay as a reason not to have him move into a 1 bedroom unit. Plus if he was required to move to a 1 bedroom with no one living over him, he would stop complaining and getting families with children living upstairs evicted for noise. Talk about extra crappy deal. He’s proud of the fact that anyone living above him that doesn’t make him 100% happy will get multiple complaints of noise until evicted. Talk about giving someone a bit of ultimate power in low income housing. I blame the management company as much as him for not moving him and letting a family that really needs a 2 bedroom unit for more than movie and music storage.
I’m trying to move to Contra Costa County and I need to know what they amount for a 3-bedroom I’m moving from San Joaquin County and they only give me $680 and that’s nothing I need somebody to tell me how much they allowed in Contra Costa County for a 3-bedroom voucher
You can pull up the payment standard on their website but I believe it’s about $1800 or higher. I used to live in San Joaquin County as well and they do not pay much and then I moved to Stanislaus county. Those smaller counties’ vouchers are small due to the cost of living. Anywhere near the Bay area or anywhere where the cost of living is high, the voucher will be two to 3 times higher.
I qualify for a 1 bedroom apartment the problem is I cannot find a 1 bedroom, in Mississippi where I live only have 2 bedrooms .Can I move into a 2 bedroom.
You most certainly can get an extra bedroom. Best practice, as long as the rent doesn’t exceed your rent to owner amount or your voucher, you can get extra room. I’m not sure if all states have a RENT TO OWNER amount listed on their sheet. I have a 6 bedroom with a 4 bedroom voucher. The rent didn’t exceed my voucher or rent to owner amount.
WOW What and the worker said no one can get a 2 bedroom house!!!!
I live in Alabama and I am on shelter care plus. In need of a disability accomidation. I have two ESA service animals. The apartment complex has turned off the water to everyone. they lost $1400 check sent by the housing authority and sent me an eviction letter until I explained I was on the program. I have fallen twice with a broken ankle from surgery, I asked for bottom level apartment they have none. My lease is ending on December 3. I found a 2 bedroom townhouse with a yard. My question remains can 1 person get a 2 bedroom home on shelter care plus. I am agoraphobic and the people and noise has increased my anxiety and medication. One guy said he would shot people coming out of their apartment and shoot my dog if they pee. Management did remove him though. Is their a request for accommodation?
HI! GOOD MORNING. I was thinking about buying a couch that turns into a bed in the living room.
If I work from home and live with my mom can I request a 3 bedroom
If my voucher is only for a 3 br and I found a 4 br but same price range as the 3 br. Will they accept it or fail the inspection?
Hi the amount won’t visibly be written on the voucher you have to contact your worker for that . Adjustable income is what you gross it is the taxable income