Section 8 Voucher Transfer: Moving From One City To Another
Find out how a section 8 voucher transfer works, when you go from one city to another.
If you already have Section 8 and need to move, you can take advantage of the program in a different city.
Learn about the steps involved and the problems you may encounter if you don’t do everything correctly and quickly.
How To Start a Section 8 Voucher Transfer?
One of the biggest challenges that arises when you try to start a section 8 voucher transfer is TIMING. The key to a successful transfer is moving fast, because the entire process may take more than a month. Consequently, you may find yourself without a roof over your head, in case you don’t take timely action.
On the other hand, some section 8 tenants have the opposite problem. They move too fast. As a result, they end up with rent “overlap”. This means that you would move into a new unit before the lease at your old unit has ended. In this situation, you will need to pay for full rent before your Section 8 subsidy kicks in.
To start the transfer, you need to have a plan of where you will be moving do and to some research about HA’s in that area where you would want to live.
It is also a good idea to look at temporary housing option that you can rely on in case your section 8 voucher transfer takes longer than you have expected. Perhaps you can stay with relative or friends. If that is not option, consider looking for a short term lease (in this case you will end up spending extra money, and you need to budget for this).
(Wanna know where to search for available section 8 housing?)
The Process – Porting
The process of your Section 8 Voucher Transfer from one city to another is also known as porting. It may involve the following steps with slight variations, depending on where you currently live and where you will be moving.
Step 1: Contact your Housing Authority
First of all you need to contact your current Section 8 Housing representatives or the Initial Housing Authority to let them know that you are planning to move to another city and want the same Section 8 facilities there too. They will most probably ask you to sign a request for portability document and then issue you a housing choice voucher.
Step 2: Notify Your Landlord
Your transfer packet will contain paperwork to give notice to your landlord. There will be an option to provide either a 30 or a 60 day notice. Both you and your landlord must sign and date this form.
Give your landlord the one copy, keep one for your records and return another copy to your HA along with all other transfer documents.
If your landlord issued you a notice to vacate, attach it to the packet.
If you owe your Housing Authority or your current landlord money, you will not be approved to transfer until you pay everything.
Moreover, if your HA is proposing termination due to program violations, you will also not be able to complete your Section 8 voucher transfer.
Step 3: Send the Info
Then your Initial Housing Authority or your Section 8 Housing representatives will have to mail all the associated documents to the HA of the city you are planning to move to. These documents must include the HUD-52665 and the HUD-50058, birth certificates of all your family members, along with the Social Security numbers and cards, other photo identity proofs, and the proof of your total household income.
You will need to make sure that all the documents reach the destination before you arrive there.
Also, keep in mind that it may take anywhere between 20-35 days for your documents to go through proper processing.
Please note the receiving housing authority MAY require an interview and a new background check for anyone over 18 in the household. After the initial eligibility appointment, the appointment to receive your new Section 8 voucher will be 2-3 later.
Step 4: Confirm Receipt
Once you have arrived, call the housing office to confirm that your portability packet has also arrived. They will instruct you to be present in their office along with all your family members. When you appear for the interview, a representative will give you a housing choice voucher. At this point, you are ready to decide where you would like to rent a place for your family.
(See section 8 guidelines for bedrooms)
Step 5: Home At Last
After you have chosen the new house, you will need to notify the housing department and submit all the attached documents.
At this point, the Housing Authority will inspect the house for minimum health and security standards.
Once the Housing Authority clears the house, you can sign the lease agreement.
As mentioned, to complete the entire process of your section 8 voucher transfer from one city to another may take more than 30 days.
I did a portability for another county I have only days to leave I’m disabled for 4 kids 1 is disabled now I need to switch my portability to another state so we are not homeless.
I live in mooresville NC and i got accepted section 8 in laurinburg NC can i get it moved to mooresville since im living here already or no?
My mother has section 8 and I need to move my mother to Phoenix AZ . Because I am moving there next year. How long will this process take.?
New to section 8. I will be receiving my voucher soon, but the county who issued my voucher is almost 2 hours from my job and kids school. Can I port out as soon as I receive the voucher or do I have to stay for an entire year??
Usually it is a year you must stay when you are new to the program with most Housing Authorities
Hi, in my City you have to live at your first place you choose once you receive the voucher for the first year before you can transfer. But my county limit to the nearest county is 4 hours away so I had a lot of options within the county on where to live.
You will have to stay a year unless you were a resident at the time you did the application and they would need proof such as utility bill school records or etc
You have to reside in one place for 2 years with a new voucher. After 2 years you can move or even port to another city.
Yes you have to stay for one year when you first get your vochure. Unless you have a real true emergency other than that you will have to stay there. Hope this help you
I am currently in process of porting out to Los Angeles I gave notced that my last day will be Nov 30, 2019. Is it better to request Los Angeles City or County Voucher. Which is best and less headache to find a 1 bedroom place. Also what is the Voucher amounts for each one for my situation?
County $1522 mo.
Need information on porting from New Orleans, to Los Angeles California. With a Section 8 vouchers
In my experience it seems that more places have been available under LACity Voucher than LA County. Personally for me LA County has more of the cities I’d choose to live in currently. Research some areas first, unless you’re just trying to hurry & find a place so that you don’t lose it:)
I am currently moving to Sioux Falls, SD. I am relocating there from Idaho Falls for public transit. I am trying to get into an apartment there by October 1st as I have to be out of mine the end of September. I am worried if this is not done fast enough that he could face homelessness. I live 6 miles from work and can’t get there in the winter because public transit folded.
1 HUGE messed up program but helps yet causes poor people, especially if you are porting from 1 place to another, allot of GRIEF!!!
A big screwed up program that only causes a poor person grief. My worker told me she resubmitted my Sec 8 paperwork (faxed) to this other Sec 8 I want to port to (move to) and guess what they say they didn’t receive it. I told my worker to email it instead of fax but she disregarded that email. I’ve written several emails to my worker and this other Sec 8 office (in another city). I’m getting nowhere. My voucher will never get sent.
See if you can pick up paperwork and hand deliver it yourself. Worth a try!! Sorry to hear you’re going through such grief.
True statement.
I am grateful for the assistance. With that said, Iv had countless grievances, work orders, etc, left unattended; Recieved false statements by PHA & HUD; Reasonable modifications/ accomodations ignored and/or denied; etc. Its government and/or gov’t funded programming; so it’s poorly managed by default.
I am 61 , have sec 8, income is Supplemental Security need to port out of Ca.and go to Idaho anywhere within 150.mi.of Boise Do seniors have a better chance of finding a place right away .Do not want to be homeless (again)
If Im porting my housing from one state to another, how long do I have to find a place? How long is my voucher go for?
You have to contact your office where you are now and ask if the sent the paper work over and if so then contact them and let them know that you need a extension once.
If their in the same county…it should be no problem..but if their two different counties…that u prolly have to wait a year or two before u can move/transfer