Landlord Payment Information
A payment standard is WHDA's maximum allowable monthly assistance toward a voucher family's gross rent. The gross rent is the total of the rent charged by the landlord and the utility allowance (for those essential utilities that are the voucher family's responsibility). PHAs determine the amount of rent that is reasonable for a specific unit in comparison to similar units. Follow this link to the payment standards, by submarket and bedroom size, for WHEDA.
Please note the amounts listed are the maximum payments that the PHA may pay the landlord. PHAs determine payments based on an analysis of current rents for comparable units, preferably within the same submarket or within close vicinity of the unit. The landlord may be offered a payment amount that is lower than the payment standard or the landlord can sometimes get a rent amount that is more than the payment standard, if the voucher family can afford to pay the amount above the payment standard.
Maximum Assistance
Payment standards represent the maximum monthly assistance WHDA provides toward a voucher family's gross rent.
Submarket Analysis
PHAs analyze current rents for comparable units within the same submarket or close vicinity.
Flexible Payments
Actual payments may be lower than the standard, or higher if the family can afford the difference.
Important: Payment standards do not limit the rent a landlord may charge. The maximum contract rent a landlord may charge is based on the reasonable rent for the unit and the family's income.
Utility Allowance
A utility allowance is an estimate of the monthly cost for tenant-paid essential utilities, such as electricity, gas, water, sewer, and trash service.
The utility allowance is determined by the Public Housing Authority and is based on typical usage for similar units. It is not a reimbursement and does not represent the tenant's actual utility bill.
When utilities are the responsibility of the tenant, the utility allowance is added to the contract rent to determine the unit's gross rent for Housing Choice Voucher purposes.