July 10, 2025

The Landlord Bulletin

July 2025 Landlord Newsletter

Welcome to The Landlord Bulletin

Dear Landlords,

As summer unfolds, I want to take a moment to thank you for your continued partnership and the critical role you play in helping families access safe, stable homes through the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program. Your collaboration is central to our mission at County Housing, and we deeply value the opportunity to work alongside you.

This issue of the Landlord Newsletter is packed with resources, reminders, and updates designed to support your success. Inside, you’ll find a spotlight on NSPIRE and what it means for future inspections, as well as key takeaways from our recent Keys to Success landlord event. We’re also sharing practical tools for screening potential tenants, a timely reminder about our HAP Payment Policy, and a new feature called A Place Called Home, where we highlight stories of impact made possible through your participation.

As always, we encourage you to reach out to our team with any questions or feedback. You’ll find updated contact information at the end of this issue—we’re here to help and eager to hear from you.

Thank you for your dedication, professionalism, and partnership. Together, we’re helping to build stronger, more stable communities.

Sincerely,

Shannon Koenig
Chief Executive Officer
County Housing

Spotlight on NSPIRE:

Streamlined Standards for Property Inspections

At County Housing, we are committed to ensuring that all residents have access to safe, quality housing. That’s why we’re preparing for the transition to NSPIRE—the new federal inspection standard from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

What is NSPIRE?
NSPIRE (National Standards for the Physical Inspection of Real Estate) replaces the current HQS (Housing Quality Standards) inspection model. Designed to improve health and safety outcomes, NSPIRE places greater emphasis on the conditions that directly impact resident well-being—like fire safety, electrical hazards, and sanitation.

What This Means for You
As a landlord or property owner participating in the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program, you’ll start to see changes in how inspections are conducted and what inspectors are looking for. Some key shifts include:

Stronger focus on health & safety: Inspections will prioritize items that directly affect a resident’s quality of life, such as smoke detectors, mold/mildew presence, pest infestations, and secure entryways.
Simplified standards: NSPIRE reduces the number of vague or redundant inspection criteria, offering a more streamlined and understandable system.
Increased accountability: Properties will be assessed using a unified standard—whether public housing, project-based, or HCV—ensuring consistency across the board.

How to Prepare
We know that change can bring questions. That’s why we’re committed to keeping you informed every step of the way. As we move closer to full NSPIRE implementation, we will:

Share checklists and guides to help you prepare for inspections
Offer training opportunities and Q&A sessions for landlords
Provide advance notice of inspection changes and requirements

Our goal is to support you through this transition and ensure your properties continue to meet the evolving standards that protect and support our residents.

Stay tuned for more updates in future newsletters—and as always, reach out to our team if you have any questions or need assistance.

Landlord Engagement Meeting Recap

Keys to Success: Building Stronger Connections

We’re excited to share highlights from our recent in-person Landlord Engagement Meeting—part of County Housing’s new effort to strengthen our partnership with landlords through open communication, timely updates, and helpful resources. These in-person and virtual sessions are designed to provide a space where landlords can ask questions, share feedback, and get direct support on topics that matter most to you. If you missed the latest meeting, here are a few key takeaways:

Review of the Rent Café Landlord Portal
We reviewed the importance of keeping your portal account up to date. A properly set-up portal ensures you receive timely HAP payments, access to inspection updates, and can communicate efficiently with our team. If you need help accessing or updating your account, reach out to us at landlord@countyhousing.org.

Inspections Q&A
At our recent landlord meeting, several important inspection-related questions were raised. Below are some of the key topics and responses for your reference:

Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Carbon monoxide (CO) detectors are required in all units that have a fuel-burning appliance (such as a gas stove, furnace, or water heater) or an attached garage. Detectors must be installed outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home, including the basement. Battery-operated or hardwired CO detectors are acceptable, as long as they are functional at the time of inspection.
Heating & Air Conditioning Systems
During inspections, we verify that heating systems provide adequate warmth and cooling systems (if present) function properly. In colder months, heating must be sufficient to maintain a safe indoor temperature (typically at least 68°F). In summer, if the unit advertises central air or has a supplied A/C unit, it must be in working order. We encourage landlords to proactively check these systems before the seasons change to avoid delays or failed inspections.
Repairs & Responsibility for Maintenance
In general, landlords are responsible for maintaining the unit in a safe, decent, and sanitary condition. This includes covering the cost of repairs for structural components, plumbing (e.g., broken faucets), electrical, heating/cooling systems, and other key elements of the home. Tenants may be held responsible only if damage is determined to be caused by negligence or abuse. Ultimately, the landlord must ensure all necessary repairs are made in a timely manner to comply with inspection standards.

Our Next Keys to Success Meeting

Virtual Training: Rent Café Portal for Landlords

Join us for a live virtual training session designed to help landlords navigate the Rent Café Landlord Portal with confidence and ease. Whether you’re new to the platform or looking for a refresher, this session will walk you through key features and functions to ensure you’re getting the most out of your portal access.

In this session, we’ll cover:

How to register and log into your account
Viewing and tracking Housing Assistance Payments (HAP)
Uploading documents and communicating with staff
Managing unit and tenant information
Tips for troubleshooting common issues

You’ll also have the opportunity to ask questions and get real-time support from our team.

Who should attend:
All landlords and property managers who currently participate in or are interested in the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program.

Date & Time: Aug. 7, 2025, at 10 a.m.

Location: Virtual/Microsoft Teams
Join the meeting
Meeting ID: 256 583 559 797
Passcode: Ni2EQ3Zg

Dial in by phone:
+1 816-298-9831,,749013611# United States, Parkville
Find a local number
Phone conference ID: 749 013 611#

Don’t miss this chance to enhance your experience and strengthen your partnership with County Housing!

Look for the next Keys to Success Meeting:

Ready for NSPIRE? A Live Briefing for Landlords

Date & Time: Sept. 8, 2025 from 10-11:30 a.m.

In-Person Location:
County Housing Headquarters
8865 Natural Bridge Road
St. Louis, MO 63121

Virtual: Microsoft Teams
Join the meeting
Meeting ID: 215 618 118 933 0
Passcode: NB2Zd62d

Dial in by phone
+1 816-298-9831,,905152763# United States, Parkville
Find a local number
Phone conference ID: 905 152 763#

A Place Called Home

Partnering to Build Stronger Communities

At County Housing, we believe a home is more than four walls and a roof—it’s the foundation for stability, opportunity, and growth. As a valued landlord in the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program, you are a critical part of that foundation.

When you rent to an HCV participant, you’re doing more than filling a vacancy, you’re helping a family put down roots. Your property becomes the setting for milestones like a child’s first day at school, family dinners, and the comfort of knowing there’s a safe place to return to each night. That’s the power of home.

We understand that being a landlord involves real challenges, and we’re here to support you every step of the way. Our Landlord Liaison team is available to assist with questions, inspections, leasing, and more. If you need guidance or support, don’t hesitate to reach out at landlord@countyhousing.org.

Together, we’re creating stronger neighborhoods and brighter futures. Thank you for your continued partnership—and for making a lasting difference, one home at a time.

Resource Highlight:

What to Look for in a Tenant — Tips for Successful Screening

Finding the right tenant is one of the most important decisions a landlord can make. A strong tenant-landlord relationship can lead to fewer issues, more stable tenancies, and well-maintained properties. To support your success, here are key tips and best practices to consider when screening prospective tenants, especially those participating in the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program.

1. Establish Clear Rental Criteria
Before accepting applications, define your rental criteria in writing. Common factors include:

Rental history
Income and employment verification
Credit report
Background check
References from previous landlords

This helps ensure a fair and consistent process for all applicants.

2. Verify Rental History
Contact previous landlords to learn about the applicant’s payment habits, lease violations (if any), and whether the property was kept in good condition. A stable rental history is often a strong indicator of future behavior.

3. Check for Consistent Income
While HCV tenants have a portion of rent paid by County Housing, it’s still important to verify their portion can be reliably paid. Ask for recent pay stubs, benefit award letters, or other documentation showing income consistency.

4. Communicate Clearly
Ask questions and give the tenant space to do the same. Clear expectations—regarding rules, maintenance, and communication—set the foundation for a respectful and successful tenancy.

5. Use a Standard Application
Whether you develop your own or use a service, a standardized application form helps you collect and compare the same information from every applicant, promoting fairness and consistency.

Need more Guidance?

County Housing is here to support you. If you’d like a sample application form or guidance on best practices for screening HCV tenants, feel free to reach out to our team.

Screening well is the first step in building a positive landlord-tenant relationship—and a stronger, more stable community.

Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) Schedule Policy

County Housing is committed to ensuring timely and reliable Housing Assistance Payments (HAP) to our valued property owners and managers. To support your planning and maintain clear communication, we follow this payment schedule:

Payment Schedule:

Payments are typically processed on the 1st and 15th day of each month.
If the scheduled payment date falls on a weekend or holiday, payments will be processed on the following business day.
While payments are processed on schedule, actual deposit dates may vary based on bank processing times.

Important Notes:

Property owners and managers should account for standard banking timelines when anticipating their payment.

We greatly value your partnership and your dedication to providing safe, quality housing for our community.

Did you know?
The rent increase request form must be submitted between 120 and 60 days prior to the lease end date of the HAP contract. This can be done once annually.

County Housing 2025 Holiday Office Closures

Please be aware that County Housing will be closed on the following holidays in 2025:

Labor Day – Monday, September 1
Veterans Day – Tuesday, November 11
Thanksgiving Day – Thursday, November 27
Day After Thanksgiving – Friday, November 28

Additionally, County Housing will be closed for the holiday season from Thursday, December 25, 2025 through Thursday, January 1, 2026, and will reopen on Friday, January 2, 2026.