Section 8 Rent in ZIP 08527
FY2027 Small Area Fair Market Rent for ZIP 08527 in Ocean County, New Jersey: HUD rent benchmarks by bedroom size, an illustrative percentage range, the housing authorities that administer vouchers here, and whether a landlord can legally decline a voucher in New Jersey.
What does the HUD rent benchmark measure in ZIP 08527?
HUD's Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents for standard-quality units occupied by recent movers. Small Area FMRs provide ZIP-level estimates. These are not arithmetic average asking rents or approved voucher payments. For FY2027, that benchmark is $1,890 for a one-bedroom and $2,340 for a two-bedroom in ZIP 08527. Actual asking rents and adopted agency payment standards can differ. The full HUD benchmark table is above.
What changed from FY2026 to FY2027 in ZIP 08527
HUD's two-bedroom Small Area Fair Market Rent for ZIP 08527 fell from $2,370 in FY2026 to $2,340 in FY2027, a change of -$30 a month (-1.3%). FY2027 figures took effect on October 1, 2026.
| Bedrooms | FY2026 | FY2027 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Efficiency (studio) | $1,710 | $1,710 | $0 (0%) |
| 1-bedroom | $1,920 | $1,890 | -$30 (-1.6%) |
| 2-bedroom | $2,370 | $2,340 | -$30 (-1.3%) |
| 3-bedroom | $3,100 | $3,000 | -$100 (-3.2%) |
| 4-bedroom | $3,430 | $3,320 | -$110 (-3.2%) |
The FMR is not what the voucher pays. Each housing authority sets its own payment standard. The basic range is 90% to 110% of the applicable FMR or SAFMR, with exceptions and Moving to Work policies that may differ. A HUD effective date is not a household rent-change notice. Confirm the adopted schedule and its application to your lease or reexamination with your agency.
Already renting with a voucher in ZIP 08527? Under standard HCV rules, a lower payment standard does not cut your subsidy right away. Moving to Work agencies may use different policies. The housing authority may keep your current payment standard for as long as you stay in the same unit. If it decides to lower it, the reduction cannot start sooner than two years after the decrease takes effect, and only after it sends you the required notice (24 CFR 982.505(c)(3)). Families who are new to the program, or who move to a different unit, get the schedule in effect at that time.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents, FY2026 and FY2027, huduser.gov.
Illustration: 90% to 110% of the HUD benchmark (2 BR)
These percentages illustrate the basic payment-standard range, not a verified agency schedule. ZIP-based policies, approved exceptions and Moving to Work rules can differ.
Gross rent includes the applicable allowance for tenant-paid utilities. Ask your administering agency for the adopted standard and household affordability calculation; neither the HUD benchmark nor this illustration is a lease approval.
ZIP vs county FMR (2 BR)
ZIP 08527 at $2,340 is $57 higher than the Ocean County county-wide 2 BR FMR of $2,283. This is a comparison of HUD benchmarks. It does not establish the agency's adopted standard or the assistance available to a particular household.
Can a landlord refuse Section 8 in ZIP 08527?
No. New Jersey law prohibits landlords from refusing a renter because they pay with a Section 8 voucher. That protection applies in ZIP 08527. If you were turned away for having a voucher, that refusal may be illegal.
NJ Law Against Discrimination §10:5-12.5(g)
New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (§10:5-12.5(g)) prohibits housing discrimination based on source of income including Section 8 vouchers. Statewide protection.
View statute →Informational only, not legal advice. Laws change, so verify current status before acting on a rejection or making a leasing decision.
Housing authorities serving Ocean County
Housing Authority of the Township of Lakewood
Lakewood · PHA code NJ054
1,140 Section 8 unitsLakewood Township Residential Assistance Prog
Lakewood · PHA code NJ214
1,071 Section 8 unitsBrick Housing Authority
Bricktown · PHA code NJ065
427 Section 8 unitsBerkeley Housing Authority
Bayville · PHA code NJ056
99 Section 8 units
These agencies are listed for the county. Confirm jurisdiction for the exact address and, if you already have a voucher, which agency will administer the proposed move.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does Section 8 pay for a 2-bedroom in ZIP 08527?
- For ZIP 08527 in Ocean County, NJ, the FY2027 two-bedroom Small Area Fair Market Rent is $2,340 per month. For illustration, 90% to 110% of this HUD benchmark is roughly $2,105 to $2,575. This modeled range is not the agency's adopted schedule. The agency calculates assistance using its applicable standard, household income and unit details; gross rent includes the allowance for tenant-paid utilities.
- What are the FY2027 HUD rent benchmarks for ZIP 08527?
- HUD's FY2027 Small Area Fair Market Rent for ZIP 08527, by bedroom size: studio $1,710, 1-bedroom $1,890, 2-bedroom $2,340, 3-bedroom $3,000, 4-bedroom $3,320. A ZIP benchmark helps compare locations but does not establish what a voucher pays. The administering agency's adopted schedule, program rules and household calculation determine assistance.
- Which housing authority covers ZIP 08527?
- Agencies listed for Ocean County include Housing Authority of the Township of Lakewood, Lakewood Township Residential Assistance Prog, Brick Housing Authority. This county directory does not establish jurisdiction for every address. Check the agency on your voucher or application and confirm who would administer assistance at the proposed unit.
Find Section 8 apartments in ZIP 08527
VoucherMatch connects voucher holders with landlords who accept Section 8, and it is free for renters. The administering housing authority must approve the actual unit, rent and household assistance calculation.
Landlord and investor tools for Ocean County
RentalCalcsFree calculators and guides from RentalCalcs, built by the VoucherMatch team, for landlords deciding whether to accept vouchers.
- Ocean County rental market dataRents, home prices, cap rates and cash flow estimates for investors.
- Section 8 rent analyzerHUD rent benchmarks and modeled comparisons for New Jersey ZIP codes. Confirm adopted amounts with the agency.
- Compare HUD benchmarks with market rent in New JerseyExplore modeled ZIP comparisons; these do not establish an approved rent or agency payment.
- Average rent in New JerseyMarket rent versus HUD fair market rent by city and bedroom count.
- How Section 8 rent is calculatedFair market rent, payment standards and rent reasonableness, step by step.
- Section 8 landlord math for 2026What the payment standard changes mean for cash flow this year.
SAFMR data published by HUD for FY2027. ZIP 08527 maps to Ocean County, NJ · FIPS 34029. Investors can run these numbers in the RentalCalcs voucher analyzer.