Colorado Section 8 listings can help you find an affordable place to rent that also accepts housing choice vouchers. You may receive a Section 8 housing list from the local public housing agency (PHA) that issued your voucher. If not, there are countless other resources available for helping you find a place to live. For example, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) provides tools you can use to aid your search.

While there are a variety of low income apartments for rent in Colorado, not all of them will be rented by a landlord willing to take Section 8. Furthermore, not all units will meet a local PHA’s requirements. Below, learn more about using housing lists and discover what requirements an apartment must meet before you can rent it.

What is an approved Section 8 housing list in Colorado?

In some cases, you will receive a list of low income apartments for rent when your PHA gives you a voucher. The list may include properties owned by the PHA itself or owned by private landlords.

Keep in mind that many PHA-owned properties will be public housing projects. As such, you are not required to use a housing choice voucher to rent a unit in a project.

Instead, you are free to choose any acceptable unit on the open market. The only beneficiaries who need to use their rental assistance in public housing units are people who have been granted a project-based voucher rather than a tenant-based voucher such as Section 8.

Certain PHAs do not have the resources to maintain their own Section 8 rental listings. In such cases, the housing agency may direct you to use a third-party app or website that it approves.

Instead of a Section 8 housing list with available units, a PHA may also give you a list of landlords or property owners who regularly rent to Section 8 participants. In this situation, you must check with landlords to learn about active listings.

Moreover, you may use HUD homes for rent listings to locate an affordable place to live. These listings typically include various homes for rent that accept Section 8, including:

• Single-family houses
• Duplexes
• Townhomes
• Units in multi-family complexes
• Public housing units

HUD listings might include housing with specific eligibility criteria. For instance, some units may require occupants to be seniors or have a disability. Therefore, it is important to check with a landlord to learn about any requirements that may exist in the community.

Other Ways to Find Section 8 Listings in Colorado

When looking for apartments for rent that accept Section 8, there are many different resources to use in addition to those provided by local PHAs or the HUD. For example, most apartment for rent apps will allow you to search for affordable housing.

When using these apps, the terminology for Section 8 listings may vary. For example, a property may be described as an income-restricted unit. This may mean that the landlord is willing to take housing choice vouchers.

Some apps and websites are created just for low-income listings. For example, GoSection8 active listings typically include properties that take vouchers.

Keep in mind that these websites can still include properties that do not require you to have a voucher. As a result, there may be a wider variety of other applicants interested in the same unit.

Be mindful that certain landlords will use several different platforms to advertise Section 8 rental listings in Colorado, while others will not. As such, you can broaden your search by including newspaper advertisements, online classifieds and other resources to find more options. Learn more about finding Section 8 listings by reading our guide here.

Quality Standards for Section 8 Approved Housing in Colorado

When browsing through a Section 8 housing list, make sure that the unit you choose is rented out by a landlord who is willing to accept a housing choice voucher. That is because not all landlords and property owners will participate in this program.

As you browse through Section 8 rental listings, it is also important to be aware of the standard health and safety rules outlined by the HUD. Overall, your local PHA will perform an inspection to make sure that your unit meets these requirements before you can sign a lease or move in. During the inspection, the housing agency will look for:

• Broken windows, doors and locks.
• Faulty wiring, outlets or light fixtures.
• Evidence of pests and rodents.
• Damage to the floors, walls and ceilings.
• Other issues that present a concern.

It is important to note that, just because you find an apartment in a Section 8 housing list, it does not necessarily mean that it will meet the proper requirements. As such, even Section 8 approved housing for rent will need to be inspected. Furthermore, if you choose to stay in the same unit for more than one year, note that the PHA will perform subsequent annual inspections.

Tips to Help You Find Low Income Apartments for Rent in Colorado

Finding apartments for rent that accept Section 8 in Colorado can be a challenge. However, it is important that you act quickly to avoid missing any deadlines that may exist for your voucher.

In some cases, you will have no more than 60 days to use your voucher before it expires. Alternatively, certain PHAs will give you more time or allow you to apply for an extension.

It is also helpful to know where you are allowed to use your voucher. If you currently live in the service area of the PHA that issued your voucher, you are usually free to move somewhere else right away.

On the other hand, you typically need to live within the PHA’s jurisdiction for the first 12 months if you currently live somewhere else. After the first year, you can usually move elsewhere.

You can find Section 8 listings in many different areas around the country. If you plan on moving outside your PHA’s service area, keep in mind that you usually need to move to an area that is served by a different PHA.

Note: You may find that your current landlord is willing to work with the Section 8 program. If you do not wish to move, you may consider asking your landlord about this possibility.