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Where to begin

Before you start looking...

1. Know your rights: First, you should know about your fair housing rights . Federal law prohibits housing discrimination based on your race, color, national origin, religion, sex, family status, or disability. If you have been trying to rent a home or apartment and you believe your rights have been violated, you can file a fair housing complaint .
   
   Then, you should know about your rights as a prospective tenant. Here are some good resources:

   	Ten tips every tenant should know
   	Landlord and tenant law: an overview

   
   
2. Figure out how much you can afford: some experts recommend that you budget 25-30% of your income on housing. Here's more information about budgeting for your rent:

   	Budgeting for your first apartment
   	How much rent is too much rent?

   
   
3. Figure out what you need: It's a good idea to think through what you need in an apartment BEFORE you begin shopping. How many bedrooms do you need? Do you need to be close to schools? Do you need parking? Make a list before you begin...that will help you narrow down your search.

Need help with this? Contact MHA. They can help you sort through your options.

did you know? Did you know that you can put your name on the waiting list of more than one public housing authority? If you're willing to move, you might be able to find a housing authority who can offer you housing right away - or, at least, you might be able to find a shorter waiting list. So check around.

Financial assistance

If your income is low, you may be qualified for financial assistance.

	Federal assistance HUD funds several rental assistance programs   Public housing: low-income using, See your local housing authority     To apply: contact your housing authority     Section 8 vouchers allow you to find your own place to rent, using the voucher to pay for all or part of the rent To apply: contact your housing authority   Privately owned subsidized housing: the government provides subsidies directly to the owner who then applies those subsidies to the rents he/she charges low-income tenants. There are privately owned subsidized housing units for senior citizens and people with disabilities, as well as for families and individuals.
	Eligibility: To be eligible for most programs, your income must be at or below the maximum income limit established for your area. The HOME program has its own income limits.
	Waiting lists: Each housing authority has its own system for accepting applications for the rental programs they administer. In some cases, there are waiting lists; and sometimes those waiting lists can be very long. But contact the housing authority to find out. The sooner you apply, the sooner you can get help.

Apartment shopping

	RentNet
	Apartments.com
	Accessible Apartment Clearinghouse
	ApartmentWorld.com
	Places4Rent

Renter's insurance

	General information
	Renter's insurance

Tenant rights and responsibilities

	Landlord and tenant rental housing law
	Rights of displaced tenants
	Rights and responsibilities of residents of federally assisted housing

Programs/services in federal rental housing

	Neighborhood networks help residents acquire computer and job-seeking skills
	Step Up is an apprenticeship program for public housing residents and other people with low incomes

Rent your home