The Top 5 Mistakes New Landlords Make with Affordable Housing
Becoming a landlord in the affordable housing space—whether through Section 8, LIHTC, or HOME-funded units—can be a smart move. But without the right systems in place, even experienced property owners can run into costly pitfalls. At TrustUs Property Solutions, we’ve helped dozens of landlords in Worcester and Central Massachusetts avoid these mistakes—and we’re here to help you do the same.
1. Underestimating Compliance Requirements
Affordable housing programs come with strict rules. Whether it's annual income recertifications, unit inspections, or file audits, one missed detail can lead to:
Delayed housing assistance payments (HAP)
Noncompliance findings
Loss of funding or investor confidence
Pro tip: Don’t rely on memory. Set up systems and documentation—or work with a manager who already has them.
2. Delayed File Preparation
New landlords often don’t realize how critical file organization is in affordable housing. Incomplete or incorrect tenant files can trigger audit findings or disqualify a unit from receiving payment.
TrustUs Solution: We handle tenant certifications, re-certifications, and compliance checklists to ensure every file is audit-ready.
3. Using Standard Leases Instead of Program-Compliant Ones
A generic lease might seem fine—but if it doesn’t meet the specific requirements of a LIHTC or Section 8 program, you're exposing yourself to liability.
What’s required: Language for rent calculation, termination clauses, and program-specific policies. We help you stay protected with leases that comply with all regulatory bodies.
4. Poor Communication with Tenants
In affordable housing, tenant communication can make or break your success. Delays in responding to maintenance requests, confusing notices, or failure to assist with program paperwork can all lead to:
High turnover
Tenant grievances
Fair Housing violations
At TrustUs, our multilingual team bridges the gap—speaking English, Spanish, Igbo, Pidgin, and Fanti—to ensure nothing gets lost in translation.
5. Trying to Manage Everything Alone
Many new landlords think they’ll save money by doing it all. But in reality, self-managing an affordable housing unit (or multiple) is time-consuming and legally risky.
Are you tracking inspection deadlines?
Do you know what goes in a LIHTC tenant file?
Are you familiar with reasonable accommodation laws?
If not, it’s time to bring in experts who live and breathe compliance.
Avoid the Learning Curve—Partner with TrustUs
Affordable housing can be a powerful asset—when managed correctly. At TrustUs Property Solutions, we take the pressure off landlords by handling:
Tenant relations
Compliance & file prep
Rent collection & maintenance
Lease-ups and renewals
📩 New to affordable housing or scaling your portfolio?
Call us at (508) -203-1302 or send us a message HERE for expert property management in Worcester and Central MA.
