A Section 8 tenant is moving out: who owes what for the last month

Do you keep the housing assistance payment for the move-out month?

Yes. Under 24 CFR 982.311(d)(1), if the family moves out, the PHA may not make any payment for any month after the month in which the family moves out, and the owner may keep the housing assistance payment for the month when the family moves out. The rule is about calendar months, not days, so a move on the 3rd and a move on the 28th are treated the same way by this sentence. Check your HAP contract for any wording that adds to it.

Payments are only made during the lease term and while the family is residing in the unit (982.311(a)). Once the family has gone and the lease has ended, the next month's payment does not come.

What must the tenant do before leaving?

Section 982.309(c) places two duties on the family. If it ends the lease with notice to you, it must give the PHA a copy of the notice at the same time, and it must tell both you and the PHA before it moves out. Failing to do either is a breach of the family's obligations under the program. That is the tenant's problem with the authority, not a reason for you to hold them to extra rent, but it tells you what to expect: a copy of the notice should reach the authority.

Tell the authority yourself when you receive the notice and the date you expect the family to leave. It does not hurt, and it helps the authority stop payments on the right date.

The lease and the HAP contract end together. Under 982.309(b)(2), the HAP contract terminates if the lease is terminated by the owner or the tenant. Your state law decides how much notice a tenant must give; see month-to-month vs one-year leases.

How do you handle the last month's rent?

• The authority's payment for the move-out month is yours to keep under 982.311(d)(1).
• The tenant's share for the move-out month is still due under the lease, subject to your state's rules on partial months and notice.
• Nothing is owed by the authority for later months. Do not count on it in your budget.
• Do not ask the tenant to cover the subsidy that stopped. The family is not responsible for the part the HAP contract covers (982.451(b)(4)(iii)).

Example a made-up tenant pays $350 and the authority pays $850 on a $1,200 contract rent. The family moves out on June 12. You keep the authority's $850 for June. The tenant's $350 for June is governed by the lease and state law. The authority pays nothing for July.

What about the security deposit and damage?

The deposit is handled the same way as for any tenant, subject to state law. Under 24 CFR 982.313, you may use it for unpaid rent, damage or other amounts owed under the lease, and you must give the tenant a written list of every item charged and the amount, and promptly refund the unused balance. The full rules are in who pays for damage and the deposit on a Section 8 unit.

What if the tenant is moving to another voucher unit?

A family that moves with continued assistance may start the new lease during the month it leaves the old unit. Section 982.311(d)(2) says the overlap between the last payment for the old unit and the first for the new one is not a duplicate subsidy. That is why you may see the authority paying you for a month in which the family has already started a lease somewhere else.

How DoorKeeping handles it

DoorKeeping keeps the move-out dates, the tenant's notice and the deposit records with the lease, and prepares the deposit itemization for your approval. It does not notify the housing authority; you do that. The authority's final deposit lands in your own bank account and can be matched there; see Recording Section 8 payments in your books.

This is general information, not legal advice. Housing authorities (PHAs) set many details in their own administrative plans, so ask yours before you rely on a number or a deadline.

Sources

1. 24 CFR 982.311, Housing Choice Voucher Program (eCFR), read Oct 31, 2026
2. 24 CFR 982.309, Housing Choice Voucher Program (eCFR), read Oct 31, 2026
3. 24 CFR 982.313, Housing Choice Voucher Program (eCFR), read Oct 31, 2026
4. 24 CFR 982.451, Housing Choice Voucher Program (eCFR), read Oct 31, 2026

Questions

Does the housing authority pay for the whole month a Section 8 tenant moves out?

You may keep the housing assistance payment for the month the family moves out, and none is paid for later months (24 CFR 982.311(d)).

Does a Section 8 tenant have to tell the housing authority they are moving?

Yes. The family must notify the PHA and the owner before moving out and give the PHA a copy of any lease termination notice (24 CFR 982.309(c)).

Can I keep a voucher tenant's deposit?

Only as the lease and your state law allow, for unpaid rent, damage or other amounts owed, with a written itemized list and a prompt refund of the rest (24 CFR 982.313).