Idaho Code §§ 50-1903, 1904, 1912, 1913, 1915 § 50-1913
RENTALS AND TENANT SELECTION.
Operative Text
In the operation or management of housing projects, an authority shall at all times observe the following duties with respect to rentals and tenant selection: (a) it may rent or lease the dwelling accommodations therein only to persons of low income and at rentals within the financial reach of such persons of low income; (b) it may rent or lease dwelling accommodations consisting of the number of rooms, but no greater number, which it deems necessary to provide safe and sanitary accommodations to the proposed occupants thereof without overcrowding; and (c) it shall not accept any person as a tenant in any housing project, if the person or persons who would occupy the dwelling accommodations have an annual net income in excess of five (5) times, the annual rental of the quarters to be furnished such person or persons, except that in the case of families with three (3) or more minor dependents, such ratio shall not exceed six (6) to one (1). In computing the rental for the purpose of selecting tenants, there shall be included in the rental the average annual cost, as determined by the authority, to occupants of heat, water, electricity, gas, cooking range and other necessary services or facilities, whether or not the charge for such services and facilities is in fact included in the rental. Nothing contained in this or the preceding section shall be construed as limiting the power of authority to vest, in an obligee, the right, in the event of a default by the authority, to take possession, during the period of such default, of a housing project or cause the appointment of a receiver thereof, free from all the restrictions imposed by this or the preceding section.
Idaho Code Title 50, Chapter 19, § 50-1913 establishes the rules that city housing authorities in Idaho must follow when renting units in public housing projects and selecting tenants. Under this provision, dwelling units may only be rented to low-income persons at rents they can afford, and unit sizes are limited to what is necessary for safe, sanitary, and non-overcrowded occupancy. Eligibility is also subject to an income-to-rent ratio cap — generally five times the annual rent, or six times for families with three or more minor dependents — with utility costs factored into the rent calculation for eligibility purposes.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Housing authorities operating public housing projects under § 50-1913 are expected to maintain documented income-verification processes that confirm each prospective tenant's annual net income does not exceed the applicable ratio threshold relative to the unit's annual rent, including averaged utility costs in that rent figure. Compliant operators also match unit size to the number of occupants, avoiding both overcrowding and the assignment of unnecessarily large units. Authorities managing projects subject to bond or financing obligations should note the provision's carve-out allowing obligees certain rights upon default, which operates separately from the tenant-selection restrictions of § 50-1913.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under § 50-1913, tenants in Idaho city housing authority projects have a right to be considered for units sized appropriately for their household and priced within the financial reach of low-income persons. Families with three or more minor dependents benefit from a more favorable income-to-rent ratio (six-to-one rather than five-to-one), which may expand eligibility. Individuals who believe a housing authority has applied these standards incorrectly may wish to contact the relevant city housing authority directly, consult a tenant-rights organization familiar with Idaho public housing law, or seek guidance from the Idaho Legal Aid Services.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 22, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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