Payment Standards, Income Limits, and Utility Allowance
Tenants are not required to pay more than 40 percent of the income as rent. The maximum rent shown below is set by payment standards. We understand your participation in the Section 8 Program is a business endeavor, and your rents need to keep pace with current market conditions. The rent must be reasonable – comparable to rents for similar unassisted unites. If the rent approved for a unit equals the Payment Standard, the family will not receive an allowance for any tenant paid utilities. If the rent demanded is greater than the Payment Standard for the unit size, you will become subject to registration and payment of registration fees to the Rent Board and the unit will also be covered by many provisions of the Berkeley Rent Control Ordinance. In addition, the rent you will be able to collect will most likely be the most recent Payment Standard plus Rent Control increases and NOT the market rent you are seeking.
Payment Standards, Effective January 1, 2020 for ALL contracts:
| SRO |
0 Bedrooms
|
1 Bedroom
|
2 Bedrooms
|
3 Bedrooms
|
4 Bedrooms
|
| $1,227 |
$1,636
|
$1,988
|
$2,462
|
$3,346
|
$4,092
|
Payment Standards, Effective July 1, 2019 for all new contracts:
| SRO |
0 Bedrooms
|
1 Bedroom
|
2 Bedrooms
|
3 Bedrooms
|
4 Bedrooms
|
| $1,161 |
$1,549
|
$1,876
|
$2,338
|
$3,217
|
$3,945
|
Payment Standards, Effective November 1, 2017 for all existing contracts:
| SRO |
0 Bedrooms
|
1 Bedroom
|
2 Bedrooms
|
3 Bedrooms
|
4 Bedrooms
|
| $1,183 |
$1,578
|
$1,895
|
$2,390
|
$3,318
|
$3,824
|
HUD Income Guidelines, Effective April 1, 2020
Families admitted to the Section 8 program must be extremely low income (30% of area median income), or very low income (50% of area median income). If a family was participating in any other 1937 Housing Act program at the time they were issued a voucher, they may qualify with income up through the low income category (up to 80% of area median income).
Household
Size
|
30% of Median
Extremely Low
|
50% of Median
Very Low
|
80% of Median
Low
|
1
|
$27,450
|
$45,700
|
$73,100
|
2
|
31,350
|
52,200
|
83,550
|
3
|
35,250
|
58,750
|
94,000
|
4
|
39,150
|
65,250
|
104,400
|
5
|
42,300
|
70,500
|
112,800
|
6
|
45,450
|
75,700
|
121,150
|
7
|
48,550
|
80,950
|
129,500
|
8
|
51,700
|
86,150
|
137,850
|
2020 Utility Allowances
Utility Allowance, Effective July 1, 2020 for Row House/Townhouse & Semi-Detached/Duplex, Triplex, Fourplex
Utility Allowance (pdf)
Utility Allowance, Effective July 1, 2020 for Detached House (Single Family Residence)
Utility Allowance (pdf)
Utility Allowance, Effective July 1, 2020 for Apartments (5 or more units)
Utility Allowance (pdf)
2019 Utility Allowances
Utility Allowance, Effective July 1, 2019 for Row House/Townhouse & Semi-Detached/Duplex, Triplex, Fourplex
Utility Allowance (pdf)
Utility Allowance, Effective July 1, 2019 for Detached House (Single Family Residence)
Utility Allowance (pdf)
Utility Allowance, Effective July 1, 2019 for Apartments (5 or more units)
Utility Allowance (pdf)
2018 Utility Allowances
Utility Allowance, Effective July 1, 2018 for Row House/Townhouse & Semi-Detached/Duplex, Triplex, Fourplex
Utility Allowance (pdf)
Utility Allowance, Effective July 1, 2018 for Detached House (Single Family Residence)
Utility Allowance (pdf)
Utility Allowance, Effective July 1, 2018 for Apartments (5 or more units)
Utility Allowance (pdf)
2017 Utility Allowances
Utility Allowance, Effective July 1, 2017 for Row House/Townhouse & Semi-Detached/Duplex, Triplex, Fourplex
Utility Allowance (pdf)
Utility Allowance, Effective July 1, 2017 for Detached House (Single Family Residence)
Utility Allowance (pdf)
Utility Allowance, Effective July 1, 2017 for Apartments (5 or more units)
Utility Allowance (pdf)
2016 Utility Allowances
Utility Allowance, Effective July 1, 2016 for Row House/Townhouse & Semi-Detached/Duplex, Triplex, Fourplex
Utility Allowance (pdf)
Utility Allowance, Effective July 1, 2016 for Detached House (Single Family Residence)
Utility Allowance (pdf)
Utility Allowance, Effective July 1, 2016 for Apartments (5 or more units)
Utility Allowance (pdf)