When you are requesting a transfer, you will often hear the term, "Request for Tenancy Approval", or RFTA. What the HA is referring to is the paperwork that needs to be completed and given to the HA to "transfer" your Housing Choice Voucher Assistance from your old unit to a new unit.

Once you have been cleared to transfer, you will be issued a Housing Choice Voucher and the Request for Tenancy Approval (RFTA).

Voucher Issuance:

The voucher will be made effective the day after the vacate notice expires. For example, if your vacate notice expires January 31st, the voucher will be made effective February 1st.

The voucher will be issued initially for 60-days. For example, if the voucher is made effective February 1st, the voucher will expire on April 2nd.

The Voucher will identify the following information:

• The voucher size issued to the family,
• The date the voucher was issued,
• The date the voucher will expire,
• The name and signature of the family representative,
• The name of the issuing housing authority,
• The name and signature of the housing authority official who issued the voucher.

• That the family listed on the voucher has been determined eligible to participate in the Housing Choice Voucher Program, and
• Obligations of the Family.

After the family is issued the Voucher and RFTA, they may search for a unit anywhere within the Fresno Housing Authority's jurisdiction. The RFTA Must be returned to the Housing Authority prior to the expiration date. Exception: If the Expiration Date falls on a weekend, flex Friday, or holiday, the RFTA will be accepted the following business day.

• The RFTA will identify the same family information as the Voucher.
• It is the family's responsibility to contact the Housing Choice Department's Information Service Center at (559) 445-8960 to start the transfer process.
• It is the family's responsibility to locate a qualified unit that meets Housing Quality Standards (See Related Documents section below) with an owner who is willing to enter into a Housing Choice Voucher Contract with the HA.
• The family Must have the prospective owner complete the RFTA.
• It is the family's responsibility to collect the RFTA from the owner and return it to the HA before the expiration date.
• It is the family's responsibility to return the RFTA to the HA before the expiration date. If the family fails to do so, their assistance will be cancelled.
• The family must find a unit where the Rent to Owner does not cause the family's portion of rent plus utilities to exceed 40% of their annual adjusted monthly income.
  • Once the HA has received the RFTA, a tenant affordability test will be applied.
  • If the rent amount requested by the owner exceeds the family's ability to pay an affordable rent, the HA will notify the owner and the family that the unit is not affordable.
  • The owner may opt to adjust the requested rent amount.
• The family cannot rent from the parent, child, grandparent, grandchild, sister or brother of any member of the family, unless the PHA has determined (and has notified the owner and family of such determination) that approving rental of the unit would provide reasonable accommodation for a family member who is a person with disabilities.
• If the RFTA is not complete, the family and the owner will be notified as to why the RFTA is disapproved.
• If the RFTA is returned prior to the Expiration Date and the RFTA is disapproved, the remaining unused time on the Voucher will be determined by the HA and the family will be given another RFTA indicating the new Expiration Date.

The owner must use the same lease as used with unassisted units.

• A Rental Agreement or Lease MUST be given to the Housing Authority before the HA can enter into a contract with the owner and begin the Housing Assistance Payment on behalf of the family.
• Effective August 2, 2004, RFTA's must be returned to our Central Office located at 1331 Fulton Mall.

  You can return your RFTA Monday thru Thursday and alternate Fridays from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. You may either be asked to drop off your RFTA or may be required to see a Housing Authority Representative before you leave.

• Lease approval inspections will be scheduled within 7 - 10 days from the date the HA receives the RFTA provided the RFTA is complete, the tenant meets the affordability test and the unit is ready for inspection.
• If the RFTA is complete, the HA will mail the owner and the family a letter with the lease approval inspection date and time.
• It is the family's responsibility to:
  • provide an address where the appointment letter should be mailed,
  • and a phone number where the family can be contacted should the HA be able to schedule the appointment immediately.
  • This information MUST be filled out on the RFTA.
• The RFTA will be disapproved after three attempts to schedule.
• Failed Inspection Results - If the unit fails inspection, the HA will mail the family and the owner a summary of repairs that MUST be completed within 30 days.
  • In order to have a re-inspection scheduled the owner MUST notify the HA when the repairs have been completed. The owner can the Information Service Center at (559) 445-8960 or Owner Services Line at (559) 443-8437 Monday through Thursday from 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon and 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m and every other Friday during the same hours.
  • The RFTA will be disapproved if the HA is not contacted within 30 days.
  • The RFTA will be disapproved if the re-inspection fails.

• The owner and the family's head of household or spouse MUST be present for the inspection to sign documents and negotiate a reasonable Contract Rent.
• The Housing Program Coordinator/Inspector will conduct the inspection according to Housing Quality Standards.
• All utilities MUST be turned on at the time of inspection.
• All appliances provided by the owner MUST be present at the time of inspection.
• All dogs MUST be restrained.

Effective Monday, August 16, 2004, ALL Contracts and Leases will be made effective the 1st of the month following the date the unit passes inspection. The resident will be responsible to pay full market rent until the date the contract and lease are made effective. This change is critical to the welfare and vitality of the housing choice Voucher Program and has been implemented due to the 2004 HUD funding shortfall.

Rent Reasonableness

• The HA will make a determination as to the reasonableness of the owner's proposed rent based on 1) comparable units available for lease on the private, unassisted market and 2) the rent charged by the owner for a comparable assisted or unassisted unit in the building or premises.

• Allow four to six weeks from the date the unit passes the lease approval inspection to receive your first check.

If you are a person with disabilities or are caring for a person with disabilities, we may be able to provide you with additional assistance so that you can take full advantage of the Housing Choice Voucher Program. If you need assistance, please contact us at:

(559) 445-8960 - Information Service Center

(559) 443-8437 - Owner Services

(559) 445-8980 - Fax