How to find a landlord who accepts Section 8

The hardest part of using a housing voucher is not qualifying for it, it is finding a landlord who accepts it before the search deadline runs out. These six steps help you spend your time only on landlords who say yes.

Ready to look for a home? Our Section 8 apartment search brings together city rentals, complexes with published voucher policies, and a checklist to use when you call the leasing office.

1. 1

   Know your voucher details

   Before you search, confirm your voucher type (Section 8, CityFHEPS, FHEPS, HASA, or another), your approved bedroom size, and your payment standard, which is the most rent the program will cover for that size. Your voucher paperwork or your caseworker has these numbers.

2. 2

   Search listings that already accept vouchers

   Instead of cold-calling generic rental sites, use a marketplace where every listing is voucher-friendly. On VoucherMatch, each listing shows exactly which vouchers the landlord accepts, so you never waste time on a landlord who will say no.

3. 3

   Filter by what your voucher covers

   Filter by voucher type, location and bedroom size. Compare rent plus tenant-paid utilities with your agency’s adopted payment standard, then ask your caseworker about your actual limit. The agency must also approve rent reasonableness, affordability and the unit inspection.

4. 4

   Know your rights before you contact a landlord

   Source-of-income laws protect many voucher applicants in New York City and New York State. Coverage and exemptions depend on the property and jurisdiction. Save any refusal and ask the applicable civil-rights agency or legal aid about reporting it.

5. 5

   Apply with your documents ready

   Have your voucher, photo ID, and income verification on hand. On VoucherMatch you upload your documents once and apply to any listing in a few clicks, and the landlord sees your complete application right away.

6. 6

   Follow up and prepare for inspection

   After a landlord agrees to participate, follow your agency’s request-for-tenancy-approval, inspection and rent-approval process. Coordinate the lease start date and assistance contract with your caseworker before committing to a move; a landlord’s acceptance alone is not subsidy approval.

Reviewed October 20, 2026. Check NYC's source-of-income guidance and your housing authority's current voucher paperwork for the rules that apply to your search. New to vouchers? Read Housing voucher programs explained to see how much each program pays.