Suffolk County landlords must accept Housing Choice Vouchers under New York source-of-income law. The Suffolk County Department of Social Services and the Town of Brookhaven Housing Authority administer the federal program for roughly 4,500 households countywide.
Federal Section 8 vouchers are administered locally by the Suffolk County Department of Social Services, town housing authorities (Babylon, Brookhaven, Huntington, Islip, Riverhead, Southampton), and the Long Island Housing Partnership. Under Executive Law Section 296(2-a), Suffolk landlords with three or more units must accept tenants paying with a voucher. Units must pass Housing Quality Standards inspection within 15 days of leasing, and rents may not exceed the regional Fair Market Rent published annually by HUD. Landlords receive direct deposit of the housing-assistance payment, with the tenant responsible for the remaining portion. Lease terms must mirror the standard HUD tenancy addendum.
Refusing a voucher solely because of program participation violates state human-rights law. Failing HQS inspections without timely repairs can suspend payments and trigger Suffolk Department of Social Services audit.
See how Babylon's section 8 voucher acceptance rules stack up against other locations.
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