Rental Specialist

Prince George's County, MD Government • Full-time • Largo, MD, US • $45.29k - $75.26k / year • 2m ago

Nature and Variety of Work

Come join our team!

Prince George’s County Government provides a dynamic and inclusive workplace where employees can thrive, learn, and grow across its 30 diverse agencies, all dedicated to serving the County's residents with essential resources and services. Nestled just minutes away from Washington, DC, Prince George's County combines urban vibrancy with serene surroundings, offering an ideal setting to live, work, and enjoy life.

The Prince George's County Housing Authority is currently seeking qualified applicants to fill Rental Specialist (Community Development Assistant 3A) grade A17 positions, in the Housing Choice Voucher Division.

About the Position

The Rental Specialist position is an essential para-professional role within the Housing Choice Voucher Division. The individual in this role plays a crucial part in ensuring that families have access to affordable housing. Responsibilities include determining program eligibility by carefully assessing applicants, collecting necessary verifications, and calculating rent subsidies to support clients in need. The Rental Specialist also conducts thorough annual and interim recertifications to keep client records up to date.

About the Agency

The Housing Authority of Prince George’s County, Maryland (HAPGC) provides Prince George’s County residents with low-to-moderate incomes with safe, decent, and affordable housing. The HAPGC receives federal funds directly from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to administer the Housing Choice Voucher program (HCV) and Public Housing Programs. Most of the affordable housing assistance is in the form of rental units that must meet rigorous housing quality standards. The HAPGC also provides its participant families with programs that encourage them to become self-sufficient which may potentially lead to homeownership opportunities. The Housing Assistance Division (HAD) and Housing Choice Voucher Division (HCVD) administer and implement the federal rental assistance and public housing programs for the County.

Examples of Work

CERTIFICATION AND RE-CERTIFICATION OF ELIGIBILITY

Schedules interviews for certification, re-certifications, and the interim re-certification process.
Conducts interviews with participants to assess their eligibility by analyzing income verifications and family composition.
Examines and evaluates all documents to ensure they are authentic.
Calculates income, deductions, and exclusions to determine tenant rent and housing assistance payments.
Assesses bedroom size requirements and issues vouchers to meet participants' needs.
Documents and maintains accurate and up-to-date case files, including notes and records of communications and housing assistance payment determinations.
Ensures compliance with federal, state, and local regulations, as well as adherence to the policies outlined in the Administrative Plan.

LANDLORD & TENANT RELATIONS

Conducts applicant and landlord briefings consistently, covering all relevant information for the programs administered by HAPGC.
Responds to inquiries from applicants, participants, landlords, and other stakeholders.
Assesses the housing needs of participants and provide appropriate dwelling unit listings.
Advises participants about applicable laws, including Fair Housing and Landlord-Tenant laws.
Coordinates information and referrals to the appropriate agencies.
Informs landlords and participants about program regulations, policies, and procedures.
Recommends strategies for achieving effective results and coordinate lease-up activities.
Counsels on potential program violations and impartially resolve disputes between landlords and participants.
Assists landlords in understanding their role in the program and encourage their participation.

LEASING & PORTABILITY REQUIREMENTS AND DOCUMENTS

Facilitates the leasing process and provides guidance to new participants and voucher holders who are looking to relocate.
Issues vouchers, determines affordability, and processes Requests for Tenancy Approval (RFTA) promptly and in accordance with federal regulations.
Reviews proposed leases and handles leasing actions that generate Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) contracts.
Conducts meetings with landlords to educate them about the HAP Contract and obtain their signatures.
Offers clear guidance to both tenants and landlords regarding leasing requirements, program rules, and their respective responsibilities.
Manages the portability process for participants moving into or out of the Public Housing Authority (PHA) jurisdiction.
Coordinates with receiving and initials PHAs to exchange the necessary documentation.
Processes actions to ensure accurate portability billing and maintain precise records of all portability transactions.
Ensures that all leasing and portability activities comply with HUD regulations and PHA policies.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

Candidates must meet all minimum qualifications listed below to be eligible for additional consideration:

Graduation from high school, supplemented by college level work in business, psychology or sociology
One (1) year of progressively responsible experience in community development field such as housing and leasing

Any equivalent combination of relevant training, education and experience may also be considered.

EACH APPLICATION MUST INCLUDE INFORMATION THAT CLEARLY DEMONSTRATES THE ABOVE QUALIFICATIONS FOR THIS POSITION.

Additional Information

Salary Range Transparency: The salary range listed in this announcement reflects the offer range for this position. Offers made within this range are based on qualifications, experience, and internal equity.

Tentative Interview Dates: April 27, 2026 & April 28. 2026. Please note that interview dates are subject to change and only selected candidates will receive confirmation and additional details.

Job Location: 9200 Basil Court, Upper Marlboro, MD 20774

Conditions of Employment: Upon selection, the candidate must (where applicable):

Pass Housing Choice Voucher ("HCV') Certification within one (1) year of hire; Complete additional certifications as required in the normal operations of your position.
Meet all training and performance standards and demonstrate proficiency as required by the agency.
Wear and use agency protective apparel and equipment in the performance of their assigned duties.
Successfully pass preemployment checks which may include reference checks, background investigations, and drug screenings.
Be willing and able to serve as an essential employee. Essential employees are expected to report during standard or non-standard hours as operations necessitate, or during emergencies. Essential employees are expected to report or remain at work when other County employees are granted Administrative Leave.

ONLY ONLINE APPLICATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED

Eligibility to Work:Under the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, an employer is required to hire only U.S. citizens and lawfully authorized alien workers. Applicants who are selected for employment will be required to provide and verify authorization to work in the United States without sponsorship.

This employer participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S., only after an offer has been accepted and the Form I-9 is completed. For information on E-Verify, or if you believe the County has violated its E-Verify responsibilities, please contact the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) at 888-897-7781 or visit their website at dhs.gov/E-Verify.

INTERNAL APPLICANTS: If you are a current Prince George's County Government employee and seeking a promotion, in accordance with Section 16-200 of the Personnel Law, you have the right to appeal a rejection rating within five (5) working days of receiving a rejection notice. Union employees should refer to their respective collective bargaining agreement and/or union representative for their grievance procedure.

Prince George's County Government is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action EmployerCommitted to Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace

General Plan Information:

The Prince George’s County benefits plan year is from January 1 to December 31.

A spouse (to include a same sex spouse) can be added to the health benefit plans. A marriage certificate and social security number is required to add a spouse.

Children under the age of 26 are eligible for coverage under the health benefit plans. This includes stepchildren and children of the same-sex spouse. A birth certificate(s) and social security number(s) is required to add a child(ren). If you are only adding the stepchildren or child(ren) of a same-sex spouse, you will need to submit a marriage certificate. You will also need to submit the birth certificate of the child(ren) and your spouse must be listed as a parent.

The premiums for health benefits are deducted on a pre-tax basis with the exception of Long-Term Disability, Extra Life Insurance and Voluntary Benefits (Short-Term Disability, Whole Life Insurance, Critical Illness, Accident Insurance, Cancer Indemnity, Hospital Indemnity Protection, Accident Indemnity Plan, Supplemental Dental and Group Legal Services).

New employees must enroll in the County’s health benefit plans within thirty (30) days of the hire date.

The effective date of the health benefits coverage is the beginning of the month following a waiting period of forty-five (45) days from the date of hire.

After enrolling in the County’s benefit plans, employees may only make changes to the plans either during the open enrollment period, which occurs annually (usually each October), and/or during the year, due to a family status change (i.e., marriage, births, divorce and adoption).

Employee Benefits

Prince George’s County is proud to offer employees an attractive and comprehensive benefits program, including the following:

Medical/Prescription/Dental/Vision Insurance Coverage (part time employees are eligible for medical insurance if they work 15 + hours, per week)
Group Term Life Insurance
Long & Short-Term Disability
Flexible Spending Accounts
- Dependent Care Assistance Program
- Health Care Flexible Spending Account
Paid Leave (Annual, Personal, & Sick)
13 Paid Holidays
Retirement Benefits
- Defined Benefit Pension Plan
  - Employer Contribution Rate-11.71%
- Supplemental Pension Plan
  - Employee Contribution Rate (Pre-Tax)-3.48%
- 457(b)
- 403(b)
Employee Discounts
Employee Assistance Program
Voluntary Benefits
- Critical Illness
- Whole Life Insurance
- Accident Insurance
- Legal Services