Note from Chief HCV Officer, Cheryl L. Burns

What do you think about Owner News as a monthly e-newsletter? We hope you are enjoying the format and find the information useful as you navigate the ins and outs of the HCV Program. Each issue includes a short how-to, an answer to a common question and a timely program reminder ... plus links to news you may have missed and helpful resources.

How to Report Lease Violations to CHA

HCV participant families must follow CHA's Family Obligations in order to continue their participation in the HCV Program, and abiding by the terms of the lease with their property owner is one of them. If one of your HCV tenants violates the lease, it's important to document the violation and notify CHA as soon as possible using one of the following methods:

Upload all relevant information to the Document Center (under MY ACCOUNT) on the HCV Owner Portal.
Send an email to Owner Services at ownerinfo@thecha.org.
Drop off documentation (include your vendor # and/or the tenant's voucher #) in one of the “no contact” document drop boxes located at each HCV Program Office.

Serious or repeated lease violations include, but are not limited to, non-payment of rent, disturbance of neighbors, destruction of property, living or housekeeping habits that cause damage to the unit or premises, and criminal activity. If a complaint is reported or a violation is escalated, the Program Integrity team will review the case and gather further information. Based on what information is confirmed or found, CHA may: dismiss the case, issue a verbal or written warning to the family/property owner, hold a meeting with the family/property owner to discuss prohibited activities/proper conduct and sign agreements, or move to terminate the voucher assistance or HAP Contract.

Reminder: While CHA will investigate HCV Family Obligations violations, CHA is not a party to the lease between the property owner and the HCV participant family. Therefore, CHA does not mediate landlord-tenant conflicts and has no standing to enforce lease terms.

Reminder: Connect with Owner Outreach

Did you know CHA has an Owner Outreach team that provides 1:1 consultations to new HCV property owners (as well as other housing providers)? They are here to help set you and your colleagues up for success and serve as your guide for HCV Program operations. Connect with the Owner Outreach team at owneroutreach@thecha.org (también ofrecemos estos servicios en español).

Note: If you need HCV account-related assistance, please contact the Owner Services Department at ownerinfo@thecha.org.

FAQ Corner: How to Market Your Property

Property owners often ask ... “What should I include on my property listing? What can I do to help my property stand out?”

Property marketing is a helpful business strategy that allows you to make your property stand out and attract the tenant that is right for you. Follow the tips below to highlight your property.

List Your Property Online — Details are key! Whether you use AffordableHousing.com or another online site, make sure to include the number of rooms, bathrooms and amenities such as heating/air conditioning, onsite laundry or parking. It’s also helpful to include information about the neighborhood on the listing. What are some well-known local businesses? Schools? Is public transportation near the property? These important details will help generate more interest in your unit.

Take Photos — Include as many pictures as possible of both the interior and exterior of the property. Make sure the photos are balanced and well-lit. Include pictures of every room and highlight any special features such as closet space, outdoor space and appliances (e.g., washer, dryer). Consider hiring a professional photographer who can take high-quality photos.

Make Signs — Posting “for rent” signs outside of your property can catch the eye of anyone passing by and is a proactive way to reach a broad audience.

Create Flyers — Similar to the online listing, make sure you include photos and as many details as possible. Your contact information should be easy to find, so any potential tenants will immediately be able to get a hold of you! Flyers can be posted on community bulletin boards, utility poles and/or other public property.

Requirements and Guidelines — Are pets allowed? Are there any fees such as an application fee or move-in fee? What are the lease terms? Make sure this information is included on your property listing.

SAVE THE DATE!

September 23, 2024

More details coming soon!

Lead-Based Paint

Lead from paint, chips and dust can pose serious health hazards, especially for children under the age of six. Children who are exposed to lead-based paint may experience severe learning disabilities, hearing loss, brain and nerve damage and even death. This is why CHA performs a visual paint assessment during the inspection process if a building meets all of the following conditions:

Built before 1978
Has not been gutted and rehabilitated since 1978
Is (or will be) occupied by a child under the age of six for at least three days a week.

Property owners are encouraged to address any significant peeling paint issues as soon as discovered or regularly re-paint to seal surfaces and trap any lead-based paint that may be present.

For more information on lead-based paint, please refer to the Lead-Based Paint Educational Resources section of CHA's Property Owner Guidebook.

Health and Wellness Corner: Stress Management Tips

Feelings of stress (and anxiety) can be overwhelming, but there are many strategies for managing them. Below are just a few tips to help improve your emotional well-being. For more information on how to manage these challenging feelings, visit bit.ly/4bFeu1c to view CHA's HCV Webinar: Stress & Anxiety Management.

Upcoming Events

In-Person Property Owner Networking Event

Thursday, March 21, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. | Register Now

Join fellow property owners in person at the Lincoln Park Branch Library (1150 W. Fullerton Ave.) to share experiences, discuss best practices and learn from each other. CHA staff will be on hand to help facilitate the event, but the evening belongs to you!

Pest Management

Tuesday, April 16, 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. | Register Now

Plagued by pests? Join us for a session on how to safely and effectively prevent and remove invasive bugs, rodents and other pests. We’ll review common pest problems, Integrated Pest Management (IPM), chemical safety, and preventative measures to keep you pest free.

Understanding and Building Credit

Tuesday, May 7, 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. | Register Now

Credit can play a major role in your financial life and having a good credit score may be essential for housing options or applying for loans. Learn simple strategies for building your credit and maintaining a good score as well as credit dispute resolution and how you can protect yourself from identity theft.

New Owner Bootcamp

Thursday, May 16, 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. | Register Now

Join us at the FIC to learn the ins and outs of the HCV Program including how to get started, the rent determination process, HQS inspections and HCV Program enforcement.

Mental Health 101

Tuesday, June 18, 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. | Register Now

Mental health plays a significant role in our everyday lives and impacts how we think, feel and act. Learn about the steps you can take to care for your mental health.

Resources for Property Owners

HCV Webinars are available on-demand!

Dozens of recorded sessions are available for you to watch anytime, including Getting Started with the HCV Program, How to Complete Common CHA Forms and Packets, Energy Efficiency and Utility Assistance and many, many more!

We want to hear from you! Especially if you’ve never attended one of our educational sessions before ... please take a minute to share what you'd like to see from HCV education and events.

TAKE THE SURVEY

Bookmark some of our other favorite online resources

Affordability Calculator (for non-Mobility area units): chahcvportal.org under the MOVES menu.
Check your inspection appointments and results: chainspections.org
Search the interactive Mobility Area Map: thecha.org/mobility and scroll to the bottom.
Add comparable units to CHA's rent reasonableness database: AffordableHousing.com (free account required), log in and click COMPARABLES in the left-hand menu.
View/download HAP Statements or submit a rent increase request: chahcvportal.org under the FINANCE menu.

Thanks for Reading

We appreciate your continued partnership! If you liked this newsletter, or have topic suggestions for newsletter articles or webinars, reply to this email and let us know.

Looking for past editions of Owner News? Find them on the HCV Owner Portal at chahcvportal.org, under RESOURCES.