HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES
SEARCHING FOR A RENTAL HOME
FINDING A RENTAL HOME IS A CHALLENGE! The rental market in and around Los Angeles has become expensive and difficult. The vacancy rate is under 5% and the trend is for rents to keep going up. Below are some helpful tips to assist you in your search for a suitable home for you and your family. STEP 1: DECIDING WHAT YOU NEED Factors to Consider • Type of unit (i.e., apartment complex, duplex, single-family house) • Unit size (i.e., number of bedrooms, as well as bathrooms and other areas) • Unit features (i.e., elevator, laundry, garage, air conditioning) • Location (i.e., access to schools, stores, public transportation, medical facilities, employment) • Neighborhood (character, activity, safety, appearance, community - in the daytime and at night) • Other special requirements your family may need (i.e. wheelchair access) • Utility costs (i.e., electricity, gas, water, trash, and who provides the refrigerator and stove) • Security deposit amount (NOTE: For an unfurnished unit, the security deposit must not be more than two times the monthly rent) STEP 2: CONDUCTING YOUR SEARCH Factors to Consider • Housing Authority list of available units (updated every Friday). You may come to the office to pick one up, or call the Housing Authority. (Please keep in mind that these units have not yet been inspected or approved. This list should not be the only source for your search.) • Word of mouth. Ask friends, family, or neighbors regarding vacant units • Physical search. Driving or walking in areas you are interested in (look for rent signs posted) • Newspapers (local classified section). The Sunday editions provide additional listings. • Community resources. Churches, community centers, etc. • Internet resources. If you don’t have internet access at home, you may access it from your local library, community centers, and through friends.
www.rent.net www.rentline.com www.vacancynet.com www.home.com www.homestore.com www.freelists.com www.places4rent.com www.abracat.com www.hud.gov/renting/index.cfm www.aptsforrent.com www.apartmentworld.com www.aptusa.com www.pennysaverusa.com
STEP 3: MEETING THE LANDLORD The nicer the rental unit, the more applicants a landlord will have from which to choose a new tenant. If you want a nice rental, you have to show that you are the top candidate for the home. When you find a rental that you’d like, how do you convince the landlord that you are the renter that they are looking for? Following these tips may help you to get a step ahead of the game!
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Over the phone • Always introduce yourself and state the reason you’re calling (to inquire about the rental unit) • Ask what the monthly rental amount is (never assume that the advertised amount is correct) • Ask for an appointment to look at the unit as soon as possible. If you are unable to make the appointment, notify the landlord immediately and reschedule. • End the conversation on a positive note. A landlord may lease the unit to someone else, but they may have additional properties available for rent. • If you feel comfortable, explain that you are participating in a voucher subsidy program. You may wish to wait, and discuss your Section 8 assistance in person. In person • Be professional. Dress as if you are going on a job interview. If possible leave children, friends, and pets at home. First impressions are always lasting. • Be on time. It’s better to be 10 minutes early than 1 minute late. • Be positive. Establish a positive conversation, and have a positive attitude. • Ask questions about the area’s schools, neighbors, transportation, stores, churches, parks, etc. • Look around. Take your time when looking through the unit or house – it could be your home! • Be prepared to complete a rental application. Since you will probably be asked to provide details (such as previous addresses and previous landlords’ names, addresses and phone numbers, employment and income information, vehicle information, and names of personal references), prepare a list of all the information you will need beforehand, so that you can easily transfer it onto the application. • Items to bring. Your picture ID, Housing Authority paperwork, your checkbook, and written references from your current and past landlords (if possible). If you like the unit, you should also be prepared to pay for the credit report. STEP 4: FILL OUT THE RENTAL APPLICATION • • • Complete the application honestly and accurately. Don’t turn in an incomplete application. Neatness is important!
STEP 5: SCREENING/CREDIT REVIEW The most important consideration to a landlord who is renting out a unit, is whether you will be able to pay the rent, and how good a tenant you would be. A landlord’s first step in selecting a tenant is screening. All landlords are permitted to screen tenants, as long as the screening relates to the ability to pay their rent and to comply with the lease and house rules. To determine credibility and ability to pay rent, the landlord will check your credit history. Know your credit history before you meet with the landlord so that you can explain any potentially negative items. By California law, the landlord may charge you an application screening fee, not exceeding $33 per adult, to cover their actual out-of-pocket screening costs.
If you have problems with credit, make sure that you have thought about how you will explain the problem in a responsible way. Be ready to point out any progress you have made in clearing up bills.
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STEP 6: INTRODUCING SECTION 8 ASSISTANCE OK, you’ve made the appointment, met the landlord, seen the apartment and you like it. You’ve completely and neatly filled out the application. The landlord has asked you for the application fee to check your credit. So far this is good news. Now what? Now it’s time to let the landlord know that you will be having help to pay the rent. Tell the landlord the estimated amount of subsidy that will be paid by the Housing Authority. While it is OK to show them the sheet in your briefing packet with your subsidy calculation, make sure you keep the form in case you need to find another rental if this one does not work out. You may also want to make copies of the sheet that comes in your briefing packet that shows the Section 8 benefits to the owner. This may help you convince an owner or manager that the Section 8 program works well when the renter is reliable. It’s up to you to show that YOU are reliable! Finding a place to live is hard work for anyone, and it can be even more challenging with Section 8. Some landlords may have heard negative comments about the Section 8 program. That is why it is so important to meet the landlord and make a good impression. If the first thing you say to a potential owner is, “Do you take Section 8?” The owner may simply say, “No.” A better strategy is to give yourself a chance to make a good impression. Ask questions about the rental, make an appointment to see it, and fill out an application – in a professional manner, following the tips above. STEP 7: ARE YOU SELECTED? If you are selected … If you are selected, you should refer to the brochure, Instructions for Voucher Holders, for details on your responsibilities for completing the RTA form and working with the owner and the Housing Authority. If you are not selected … It’s worth it to follow up and find out why you were turned down. If you are told that you do not have enough income, make sure they understand that the housing subsidy should be taken into account when figuring whether you have enough income to afford the rental. If the landlord tells you that you were rejected due to a bad credit history, you can request a free copy of the report from the agency that reports credit. This will help you figure out a long-term strategy to fix the problem, such as paying an amount each month to your creditors, even if the amount you pay isn’t the full payment. If you have bad rental references, it will be harder to find a landlord to rent to you. The best way to take care of this problem is to maintain your rental unit in good condition and pay your rent on time. When you are moving, make sure to leave your current rental in clean condition. Also, make sure that you take care of any rent amounts that are due to the owner.
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