Incentive Programs

To improve landlord participation and increase voucher utilization, Lewiston Housing has adopted the following voucher incentive programs. The programs will remain in effect as long as funding remains available. For more information, contact us.

If you are a landlord and would like to list your apartment for rent to voucher holders, please complete the Vacancy Form.

Landlord Signing Bonus

To encourage landlords to rent to voucher holders, the following singing bonuses will be offered to newly leased apartments:

  • $750 signing bonus for every apartment leased to a Lewiston Housing voucher participant.
  • $250 additional bonus if voucher holder was experiencing homelessness prior to moving into an apartment.

To Qualify:

  • Rental rates must fall within Lewiston Housing’s Payment Standards.
  • The rental unit must pass a Housing Quality Standards (HQS) inspection.
  • Landlords must engage in a one-year lease with a new tenant and sign a HAP contract.
  • The landlord must not have any open housing discrimination cases.
  • Landlords receive the bonus at or around the time of the first monthly payment.

Landlord Repair Grant Program

To help make apartments ready for voucher holders to move in, this program helps landlords fix certain failed items found during the initial Housing Quality Standards (HQS) inspection. Funds may be used to repair items that fail an initial HQS inspection subject to the following:

  • Only failed initial inspection items qualify.
  • Qualifying failed items include but are not limited to the following:
    • Bedroom windows the do not meet egress
    • Deteriorated paint
    • Installation of hard-wired smoke detectors
    • Installation of sprinkler system
    • Roofing
    • Tie downs
  • The landlord pays the first $250 toward the repair.
  • Lewiston Housing’s reimbursement to the landlord will not exceed $5,000 a year.
  • The unit is required to pass HQS inspection before payment can be made.
  • A one-year lease and Housing Assistance Payment Contract will need to be executed before payment is disbursed.
  • A Landlord Repair Grant Agreement signed by Lewiston Housing and landlord.

Security Deposit Assistance Program

To help voucher holders lease an apartment, this fund will help provide assistance to voucher holders who do not have other funds to pay a landlord a security deposit. Lewiston Housing may pay the security deposit for first-time voucher applicants who are searching for a new unit within the Lewiston Housing’s jurisdiction subject to the following:

  • The tenant requests assistance in writing or verbally with an explanation of the need.
  • Lewiston Housing will pay the security deposit the landlord lists on the Request for Tenancy Approval (RFTA).
  • The landlord should complete and sign the Request and Acknowledgement of Security Deposit form to request the funds, and a signed HAP contract and VAWA addendum.
    • The landlord certifies the following: Upon receipt from Lewiston Housing, the security deposit funds will be held following Maine State Statute, Title 14, Chapter 710-A, Sections 6031-6039.
  • The Security Deposit funds are paid directly to the landlord with the first month’s rent paid.
  • Families are not required to repay the funds to Lewiston Housing, and if they move out of a unit with no payment owed, the landlord is required by Maine law to return the security deposit within a reasonable time.

Damage Reimbursement Grant Program

The goal of the Damage Reimbursement Grant Program is to increase the availability of units by assisting landlords financially to complete repairs to damaged units. Reimbursements to a landlord will not exceed $6,000 per calendar year (if submitting more than one damage reimbursement request)

  • The landlord may request up to $1500 from this fund if there is physical damage to the unit that is:
    • Above and beyond normal wear and tear as defined by Maine State Law §6031; AND
    • The cost to fix the damages is greater than the security deposit collected.
  • Landlords must supply the following to access the grant funds: