What Is Head of Household
The head of household is the adult family member designated as the primary lease holder and legally responsible person on a Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher. This individual signs the lease with the landlord, represents the household in all dealings with the Public Housing Authority (PHA), and bears responsibility for lease compliance and rent obligations.
Program Requirements and Designation
HUD requires that every voucher-assisted household have one clearly identified head of household. The head must be at least 18 years old and meet income and citizenship requirements established by your PHA. The designation appears on the HAP (Housing Assistance Payment) contract and all official correspondence between the PHA and the household.
In most cases, the head of household is the person who applied for the voucher. However, households can request a change of head if circumstances change, provided the new head meets program eligibility criteria. This requires PHA approval and typically involves updated income verification and background checks.
Legal and Financial Responsibilities
- Lease authority: Only the head of household can sign the lease. The landlord must have the head's name on the lease to receive HAP payments.
- Rent obligations: The head is liable for the tenant portion of rent if household income changes or if lease violations occur.
- PHA communication: All official notices, requests for reasonable accommodations, and income recertifications go to the head of household.
- HQS inspections: The head (or authorized household member) must provide access to the unit for initial and annual NSPIRE inspections.
- Lease violations: Violations attributed to any household member can result in lease termination, with the head bearing the consequence.
Impact on Inspections and Compliance
During NSPIRE inspections, the head of household is responsible for ensuring the unit meets Housing Quality Standards (HQS). This includes maintaining the property in safe, sanitary condition and allowing the inspector access. Repeated inspection failures can result in lease termination, even if the head was not directly responsible for the deficiency.
If a unit fails inspection, the head receives notice and must coordinate repairs within the timeframe specified by the PHA (typically 30 days for standard deficiencies). Failure to remediate can result in voucher termination.
Common Questions
- Can the head of household change? Yes. If the current head moves out, dies, or becomes incapacitated, the household can request to designate a new head. The new head must meet all eligibility requirements, and the PHA will conduct income and background verification.
- What if the head of household is not home during an NSPIRE inspection? The head must arrange access or authorize another household member to let the inspector in. Failure to provide access results in an automatic inspection failure and can lead to voucher termination.
- Does the head of household have to be the person with the highest income? No. The PHA does not require the head to be the highest earner. However, all household members' income is counted for eligibility and rent calculations regardless of who holds the head designation.