Property Owners: Working with Rental Subsidies

Rental Subsidies help low-income households and urban development (HUD) and Minnesota Housing.

Lutheran Social Service of MN (LSS) is a subsidy administrator of state federal rental assistance. LSS pays rental assistance directly to the rental property owners on behalf of eligible households receiving LSS supportive housing program services.

Eligibility

Rental property owners in the Twin Cities (Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott and Washington countries) Brainerd (Crow Wing, Morrison and Todd counties) or St. Cloud (Benton, Sherburne, Stearns and Wright counties) who have a rental license, if required by local housing codes, and agree to complete the necessary paperwork are eligible to receive rental assistance payments through LSS. 

Getting approved to receive rental assistance

Benefits of rental assistance

For property owners:

You receive monthly payments on behalf of a low-income household from LSS, the subsidy administers of the rental assistance.

For renters:

Low-income households can find affordable rental housing in the community of their choice.

How the rental assistance process works

The success of LSS' rental assistance program is due to the three-way partnership between LSS, property owners and tenants. As a property owner, you are part of a collaboration in which each participant has roles and responsibilities.

Property Owner agrees to…

• Screen prospective tenants and show available units.
• Approve/deny prospective tenant application.
• Complete required rental subsidy paperwork for LSS (Rental assistance documents, rental license, copy of lease, Owner Handbook acknowledgement).
• Sign and return copy of lease to LSS.
• Comply and maintain property to Housing Quality Standards (HQS) to ensure decent, safe and sanitary rental housing.
• Comply with rental assistance requirements.
• Comply with Minnesota tenant/landlord laws.
• Enforce terms of the lease.

Program Participant/Tenant agrees to…

• Complete required rental assistance documents and only sign a lease approved by the administrator of the rental assistance.
• Comply with lease terms and program policies.
• Be responsible for connection and payment of utilities based on lease agreement.
• Take care of the unit, including cleaning and proper trash removal.
• Report any maintenance issues to owner immediately.
• Conduct him/herself in a way that is respectful to neighbors and their community.

Lutheran Social Service Housing Specialist (Subsidy Administrator) agrees to….

• Determine household’s eligibility and issues rental assistance to the family.
• Approve/deny a unit for rental assistance.
• Approve lease, rent amounts and determines start date of rental assistance.
• Perform Housing Quality Standards (HQS) inspections.
• Administer rental assistance payments to property owners.
• Provide tenant and owner education on their rights and responsibilities.
• Act as a liaison between owner and tenant.
• Mediate concerns that may arise between the landlord and tenant.