Bucks Landlord To Pay $90K For Renting Section 8 Apt To Relative

BUCKS COUNTY, PA — A Bucks County landlord has been ordered to pay $90,000 to resolve allegations that he illegally claimed subsidies from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development while renting an apartment to his father-in-law, a violation of the department's requirements, the U.S .Attorney's Office Eastern District of Pennsylvania announced last week.

The settlement resolves allegations that between May 2010 and May 2020, Mikhail Geneles rented a subsidized apartment to his relative in violation of the terms of the Housing Choice Voucher Program, commonly known as Section 8 housing.

Federal prosecutors allege that Geneles submitted documents to the Bucks County Housing Authority falsely certifying that the assisted tenant in his rental property was not an immediate relative of the property owner.

“HUD instituted the HCVP program to help low-income residents without other options to obtain decent housing,” Acting U.S. Attorney Williams said in a press release announcing the settlement. “By investigating this case, we put all landlords participating in the Section 8 program on notice that they cannot put relatives in apartments for which they are receiving HCVP funds.” Williams added, “From the time that this matter was brought to his attention, Mr. Geneles committed himself to setting things right. We appreciate his cooperative approach and efforts toward rectifying the problem.”

This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General, and by the Bucks County Housing Authority. For the United States Attorney’s Office, Assistant United States Attorney Colin Cherico handled the investigation and settlement.

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