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.
How many bedrooms would i be eligible for it’s me my husband my 12 year old daughter , 6 year old son in a 2 bedroom right now but where trying for another baby my son sleeps in my room right now because my daughter it’s basically a teenager now?
Why would you try for another child if you need section 8 to survive
Why is it your business why would you voice your ignorance why are people evil …those are valid questions. Jerk
I hold a 2 bedroom Sec8 voucher.If I’m disabled and I have an 18 year old son and a 13 year old daughter can I qualify for a three bedroom.i really don’t feel as if an 18 yr old boy should be able to share a bedroom with a 13 yr old girl and she also shouldn’t be sharing a bedroom with me(mother)..as I have disabilities and also need my privacy..
Exactly what I have a question about. Section 9 can do better with these rules . What are they doing trying save a government buck I don’t get it. I’m 46 my daughter is 12 . You would think she would want her own room where ever she go. A adult wants their privacy. She wants to decorate her own room. Where we are now my voucher is for one but covers the two I do have a two but it makes you feel limited where to live. My place is nice already but I found brand new apartments that is excepting section 8. I got approved for the place but the voucher amount 1 bedroom mess me up . Why did they come up with such rules jeez. A one should be for one person 2 for 2 or 3 considering children age and so and so forth.
Hi where did you find brand new apartments accepting section 8? I’m 52 and my daughter is disabled 29 years old but PTSD disabled not physically, and she’s pregnant while her husband is still out of the country on army deployment we can’t find apartments that accept section 8.
If my voucher is for $2,100 and I find one apartment that accepted my section 8 for $1,750 BUT is a 3 bedroom apartment would the housing authority deny my choice to move forward with accepting that apartment? My daughter is only 2 months pregnant anything can happen at this point God forbid but honestly its cheaper than the required per person 2 bedroom anyway would they go for it honestly im all out of ideas and options i don’t even know whom to ask about this I barely know how this works and the housing agency representatives have all told me different things about how my situation would be handled they are extremely unprofessional unpleasant and incredibly inconsiderate to tje fact that my daughter was deployed fighting for our freedom to live as we do. She can barely get a job because who wants to hire someone who has PTSD even undergoing all types of out of pocket treatment because she doesn’t even qualify for public free Healthcare coverage. They all deny our applications which we’ve spent well over $1,300 combined in fees. I believed pregnant women couldn’t get denied housing in New York according to the Gov. Website however we apply to equal housing opportunities listings or section 8 accepted listing and still gotten denied. Currently we live in a 2 bedroom but she’s going through some bullying and we have to leave before she gets jumped by these gang girls again. Its a terrible position and i really need help finding or knowing where to search for section 8 accepting apartments. If you could be so kind any info website app anything u could tell me so i can find what u did id be so appreciative for. Id even love to send u a thank you hallmark card for giving me minutes of your time when no one else couldn’t care any less to
Btw im Melinda if you could email me the links to hausofmane@gmail.com or just post them here I swear ill cry from the joy and gratitude. Anyone else who can help me and provide answers to help me understand how to go about my situation is gladly appreciated and in my prayers
Thank you all so much
I live in New York. My grandmother has lived in the same three bedroom apartment for more than 40 years. Within the last 3 years, we managed to get a section 8 voucher to help us pay the rent. At the time only my name and my grandmothers name was on the voucher, and section 8 did warn us that we were underoccupying a 3 bedroom apartment.
My grandmother recently passed away, so now it’s just me in the apartment and my mother comes to stay with me sometimes. I don’t want to move, but I know that I’m definitely underoccupying the space now. I have yet to report my grandmother’s death to them because I’m very scared that they are going to force me to move. She only passed within the last month, but can section 8 force me to move?
If I have a 2 bedroom apartment, one is for my 2 girls, then me in the other with my son on the couch. Can I have my boyfriend move in if I add him to the lease?
I have a blind husband and need a three bedroom, will I be able to get one. I live in Terre Haute Indiana, but his family lives in ILLINOIS’S, he wants to move back , he’s 75 ,.
I live in Los Angeles and have a 2 bedroom voucher and I have 5 people on my voucher what size voucher would I get if I moved to Vegas
hi i moved into a 3 bdr a year ago with me my 17 yr old son 12 yr old son and 7 yr old daughter the boys shared a room I had my own room my daughter had her own room. the 17 yr old is now 18 and has moved out and is no longer on my section 8 it’s just my 13 yr old son and my 8 yr old daughter now my voucher for a 3 her was $2,296 the worker I had did my recert and said my share is $444 . A month after she did my recert they assigned a new worker to my case and that worker did a recert all over again and said I’m only eligible for a 2br voucher so now my share is $689 cause I’m still in that 3bdr it’s myself 13 yr old son and 8 year old daughter .The worker said my kids can share a room if I move into a 2 bdr apt and my share of rent will decrease then. why do they make a teenager share a room with there lil sister. I’m in Westchester new york
What do I do I have section 8 my voucher is for 1256 but they told me deduct like 260 to 290 for utilities from that i have 6 kids and have to get a 4 bedroom how on earth do i find a four bedroom for that amount 9 something
Exactly what I have a question about. Section 9 can do better with these rules . What are they doing trying save a government buck I don’t get it. I’m 46 my daughter is 12 . You would think she would want her own room where ever she go. A adult wants their privacy. She wants to decorate her own room. Where we are now my voucher is for one but covers the two I do have a two but it makes you feel limited where to live. My place is nice already but I found brand new apartments that is excepting section 8. I got approved for the place but the voucher amount 1 bedroom mess me up . Why did they come up with such rules jeez. A one should be for one person 2 for 2 or 3 considering children age and so and so forth.
Where did you go to find section 8 accepting applicants? Also, is your voucher specifically for 1 person meaning you’re the only one listed on there? The 2bedrooms you pick should be under the amount alotted per voucher. Like if they give u the opportunity to rent but limit is $2,300 per month then thats the cost of the apartment you should look for new or not. Im stuck too. I hate my neighborhood even though my home is nice bc ive paid out of pocket for renovations that my super/landlord denies such as basic city mandatory painting every few years and proper working light fixtures on the ceiling. They refused to fix my living room.ceiling light and before doing some research they had me using lamps n no lights in that room until i stopped paying and they sent an inspector who showed me all the fixing i did wasnt supposed to be my doing but the managements. There were damaged things that were health hazards and i let them convince me that bc of my section 8 tenant status i didn’t have same advantages as other tenants. Men will see a single female and try n take her for all she’s got any which way possible. Im telling u i apply and meet requirements for new buildings and still get denied or told they no longer accept section 8. I understand the gentrification process nowadays but trust me my daughter and I even standout like we don’t belong living in the neighborhood we’re currently in. So they pocketing all the social services funding and letting landlords segregate us all while robbing us and being choosy charging some for the same square footage than they charge others especially single women occupying apartments we get judged as if we’re going to have extra income for not following society’s standards of living married with a man. I hope you find a wonderful place and your daughter gets to decorate as she desires whenever she pleases. Best of luck to you and I really hope u can share that information with me regarding the new buildings accepting vouchers. God bless and thank you for reading my long a** reply lol
I’m looking for a 3-bedroom 2-bath I have section 8 in the Concord Cabarrus County area can you please help me
I have to kids 3 year old and 12 year old and my 12 year old is ADHD and my caseworker said no they can be in the same room now is that.went 12 year old is bigger than the baby and need his own room