Renting With a Section 8 Voucher in Vermont Square, Los Angeles: 2026 Guide
Quick answerIn Vermont Square, Los Angeles, as of October 8, 2026, a Section 8 voucher from the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA) is measured against a payment standard set by ZIP code and unit size. Under the schedule effective September 1, 2026, a two-bedroom is $2,277 in ZIP code 90037 and $2,651 in 90062. Active Vermont Square listings on VoucherMatch right now: 2.
Last checked: October 8, 2026, against HACLA's payment standards page, landlord page and Administrative Plan (January 2026), the Los Angeles Housing Department's rent pages, the California Civil Rights Department's source-of-income documents, LA Metro's bus list and E Line timetable, City Planning's South Los Angeles Community Plan page and Census 2020-2024 estimates.
- $2,277HACLA two-bedroom payment standard in ZIP code 90037, effective September 1, 2026
- $2,651HACLA two-bedroom payment standard in 90062
- 180 daysinitial term of a HACLA voucher
- 40%most of adjusted monthly income a family may pay at first lease-up when the rent is over the standard
- 2active listings in Vermont Square on VoucherMatch right now
- 88.3%share of homes in ZIP code 90062 built in 1979 or earlier, 2020-2024
The address and bedroom size change the starting figure
Two things pick your figure: the ZIP code, which sets the tier, and the smaller of your voucher size and the unit's size.
View the data table
| Unit size | 90037 (tier 1) | 90062 (tier 3) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,584 | $1,903 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,793 | $2,123 |
| 2 bedrooms | $2,277 | $2,651 |
| 3 bedrooms | $2,915 | $3,366 |
| 4 bedrooms | $3,212 | $3,740 |
What it means: the two-bedroom standard is $374 higher in 90062 than in 90037, by VoucherMatch's subtraction.
Source: HACLA, Voucher Payment Standards, "SAFMR payment standard schedule by grouped ZIP code", effective September 1, 2026; HACLA has eleven tiers.
HACLA's page says the payment standard for a family is the lower of the standard for the unit size on the voucher and the standard for the unit leased. The federal rule is 24 CFR 982.505.
VoucherMatch's Vermont Square search covers roughly ZIP codes 90037 and 90062. The City names Vermont Square among the neighborhoods of its South Los Angeles Community Plan area, updated in 2017. The Los Angeles County Development Authority (LACDA) is a different agency, serving unincorporated areas and other cities.
Current Vermont Square listing snapshot
The table below is live: it reads VoucherMatch's active listings in Vermont Square when the page loads, and it can show none.
| Vermont Square listings on VoucherMatch | Right now |
|---|---|
| Active listings | 2 |
| Bedroom mix | One is a studio, One is a 5-bedroom |
| Lowest asking rent | $1,900 |
| Median asking rent | $3,050 |
| Highest asking rent | $4,200 |
What it means: these are asking rents, not rents HACLA has approved. Add the utility allowance, then compare the total with the column for that unit's ZIP code.
Source: VoucherMatch listings in Vermont Square.
- Studio listed at $1,900, 1 bath
- 5BR listed at $4,200, 2 bath
Contact details are on the Vermont Square apartment page. The Los Angeles apartment hub covers the rest of the city.
A studio example for a household with a larger voucher
A two-bedroom voucher used for a studio is measured against the studio standard.
| VoucherMatch's example, with made-up income, rent and allowance | Amount |
|---|---|
| Contract rent for a studio in 90037 | $1,600 |
| Utility allowance (hypothetical) | $100 |
| Gross rent | $1,700 |
| Studio standard that applies | $1,584 |
| Total tenant payment, 30% of $1,500 adjusted income | $450 |
| Assistance: $1,584 minus $450 | $1,134 |
| Family share: $1,700 minus $1,134 | $566 |
| 40% limit: 40% of $1,500 | $600 |
What it means: $566 is under $600, so this example passes that one test. The $2,277 two-bedroom figure plays no part.
Source: the arithmetic is VoucherMatch's, following 24 CFR 982.515 on family share and 24 CFR 982.508 on the 40% limit at first lease-up.
HACLA must also find the rent reasonable (24 CFR 982.507); its page says the rent can never be higher than the comparable rents it determines. The Los Angeles payment guide works more examples, and renting a different size than your voucher covers the size rule.
Resolve utilities before comparing two apartments
Ask who pays each utility, because gross rent is the contract rent plus the allowance for what the tenant pays.
- Who pays for heating, cooking and hot water, and is each gas or electric?
- Who pays electricity, water, sewer and trash?
- Who supplies the stove and refrigerator?
- Is the building a house, a duplex or an apartment building?
HACLA posts its utility allowances; how the utility allowance works explains the method. The $100 above is a made-up figure.
Questions for the owner before submitting the packet
Ask for the screening criteria in writing: California law limits how an owner may screen a voucher holder.
- Vouchers are protectedsince January 1, 2020 (SB 329), a housing provider cannot turn an applicant away for using a voucher.
- Income testsa provider may consider only the tenant's portion of the rent when applying an income standard.
- Credit historyas of January 1, 2024 (SB 267), a provider that checks credit must let a subsidy holder offer other verifiable evidence of ability to pay, and must consider it instead.
What it means: an owner may still screen every applicant by lawful criteria. Complaints go to the department through its housing page, in general within one year.
Source: California Civil Rights Department, Source of Income FAQ (January 2024) and fact sheet.
Rent stabilization and just cause in Los Angeles
The City's Rent Stabilization Ordinance (RSO) covers older rentals, and its Just Cause ordinance covers most others.
| City rule | Covers, per the Los Angeles Housing Department | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Rent Stabilization Ordinance | Generally, rentals first built on or before October 1, 1978 | Rent may rise once every 12 months by the allowable percentage |
| Just Cause For Eviction Ordinance | Most residential properties not regulated by the RSO, once the tenant has lived there six months or the first lease has expired | No termination without just cause; relocation assistance for no-fault evictions |
What it means: in ZIP code 90037, 71.9% of homes were built in 1979 or earlier, and in 90062, 88.3% (Census, table B25034, 2020-2024), so ask whether the unit is under the RSO.
Source: Los Angeles Housing Department, What Falls Under RSO and Just Cause For Eviction Ordinance.
Evaluate the actual building and track the next step
Start with the bus line on the nearest avenue, then follow HACLA's steps in order.
| LA Metro service | Route, as Metro lists it |
|---|---|
| Lines 204 and 754 | Athens to Hollywood via Vermont Av |
| Line 206 | Athens to Hollywood via Normandie Av |
| Line 207 | Athens to Hollywood via Western Av |
| Line 105 | Vernon to West Hollywood via La Cienega Bl and Vernon Av |
| Line 108 | Marina Del Rey to Pico Rivera via Slauson Av |
| E Line (rail) | Expo/Vermont is the station the timetable names for Vermont Av |
What it means: lines are listed by the streets Metro names; VoucherMatch did not map stops, and no rail station was matched inside Vermont Square.
Source: LA Metro, bus schedule list and E Line timetable effective December 14, 2025. The Los Angeles Public Library places its Vermont Square Branch at 1201 W. 48th Street.
In ZIP code 90037, 77.3% of occupied homes are rented; in 90062, 54.7% (table B25003, 2020-2024).
- 1Check your clockthe initial term is 180 days. HACLA may give a single 30-day extension for documented hardship, on a written request.
- 2Submit one RFTAa Request for Tenancy Approval, one at a time. HACLA stops the clock when it receives it; if it is cancelled you get the remaining days back.
- 3Owner uses Rent CaféHACLA's landlord portal lets owners submit and track tenancy approvals and manage inspections.
- 4Rent checkcomparable rents must support the rent.
- 5Inspectiona passed initial inspection is valid for at most 60 calendar days, and the lease must start inside that period.
- 6LeaseHACLA allows only a one-year initial lease in the tenant-based program.
What it means: if the manager offers a different unit, that is a new RFTA with its own ZIP code, size and utilities. The owner can prepare with the pre-inspection checklist.
Source: HACLA Section 8 Administrative Plan, January 2026, sections 10.1 to 10.7, 11.5.4 and 11.12.1, and its landlord page.
Nearby neighborhoods and their HACLA tiers
Four city neighborhoods adjoin Vermont Square in VoucherMatch's map.
| Listings | HACLA tier for its main ZIP code | Two-bedroom standard |
|---|---|---|
| Exposition Park | Tier 1 (90037) | $2,277 |
| South Park | Tier 2 (90011) | $2,475 |
| Vermont-Slauson | Tier 2 (90044) | $2,475 |
| Chesterfield Square | Tier 3 (90062) | $2,651 |
The Eastside has its own guide: Section 8 in Boyle Heights.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use my two-bedroom voucher amount for a studio?
No. HACLA uses the lower of the standard for your voucher size and the standard for the unit leased, so a studio in 90037 is measured against $1,584.
Are the 90037 and 90062 standards the same?
No. HACLA puts 90037 in tier 1 and 90062 in tier 3. For two bedrooms that is $2,277 and $2,651, effective September 1, 2026.
Is advertised rent below the standard automatically affordable?
No. Tenant-paid utilities are added to the rent first, HACLA must find the rent reasonable, and the unit must pass inspection.
What should I do if the manager changes the apartment offered?
Treat it as a new proposal. HACLA accepts one RFTA at a time, and the new unit's ZIP code, size and utilities can each change the figure.
How long does a HACLA voucher last?
The initial term is 180 days under HACLA's January 2026 plan. The extension request letter samples show how to ask for more time.
Next step: note the ZIP code and bedroom count of each unit, find its figure above, and open the Vermont Square listings. HACLA's page says its waiting list is closed; without a voucher, start with the Los Angeles Section 8 guide.
Sources for this article (19)
- Voucher Payment Standards (hacla.org)
- 24 CFR 982.505 (ecfr.gov)
- South Los Angeles Community Plan (planning.lacity.gov)
- 24 CFR 982.515 (ecfr.gov)
- 24 CFR 982.508 (ecfr.gov)
- 24 CFR 982.507 (ecfr.gov)
- utility allowances (hacla.org)
- Source of Income FAQ (calcivilrights.ca.gov)
- fact sheet (calcivilrights.ca.gov)
- housing page (calcivilrights.ca.gov)
- What Falls Under RSO (housing.lacity.gov)
- Just Cause For Eviction Ordinance (housing.lacity.gov)
- table B25034 (data.census.gov)
- bus schedule list (metro.net)
- E Line timetable (cdn.beta.metro.net)
- Vermont Square Branch (lapl.org)
- table B25003 (data.census.gov)
- Section 8 Administrative Plan (hacla.org)
- landlord page (hacla.org)
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