House & Apartment

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Section 8 voucher termination hearings - tenants' rights

If your Section 8 voucher is being taken away, you have a right to a fair hearing . But you must ask for one by the deadline in your housing authority's rules.

This means that you have the right:

  • To look at and copy any documents, including records and regulations that the Housing Authority will use in the hearing;
  • To an impartial hearing officer or hearing panel. This means that the hearing panel cannot include anyone involved in the decision to take away a Section 8 voucher, or an employee of that person. If the hearing officer was involved in the termination decision, you should bring this up in writing at the hearing and ask for a new hearing officer;
  • To have someone represent you at the hearing. This can be a lawyer or someone else;
  • To make arguments in your favor (called "defenses");
  • To bring up evidence , including letters, records, payment receipts, objects, or photographs;
  • To bring witnesses; and
  • To question any witnesses the Housing Authority presents.
Last full review by a subject matter expert
October 30, 2019
Last revised by staff
May 24, 2020

Worried about doing this on your own?  You may be able to get free legal help.