Housing Search What It Can Mean to You

Do you need to move or find an apartment Why do you want or need to move? Here’s some things to think about?

Wish List 1. Where would you like to live? What does your ideal neighborhood look like? Schools Transportation Access to shopping Near to friends & family Near to work Trees and parks Safety Other considerations

Wish List 2. Imagine your new home What does it look like? Apartment Single family Duplex What do you need? # of Rooms # Bedrooms # Bathrooms Large rooms Kitchen Parking/garage Storage areas Other considerations

Wish List 3. Other considerations: Accessibility/handicap issues Lead paint: Does someone under six live in your household? Pets Do you need a yard? On/near a bus route Washer/dryer hook-ups Near a real grocery store? Other considerations

Visit the neighborhood Walk around – at different times of day Weekends can also be busier Ask the people who live there what they think of it Is there convenient shopping? Are the buildings/streets well maintained? Look for trash, filth in streets/parks, signs of criminal activity

The Real World 1. Can you afford it? Take a close look at your rent and monthly expenses What’s a realistic rent Factoring in heat and utilities Creating a working budget Financial Management Workshop

The Real World 2. Your rental history What’s your relationship with your present landlord? Previous landlords and rental history? Were you ever evicted? Credit and credit reports CORI reports Other considerations What’s your side of the story?

Budgeting and stretching your money Have a budget Have a plan!

Getting your references in shape Your present landlord Old landlords Your credit report: What are your rights? “Pulling” your credit report Fixing your credit report CORI reports: What are your rights? Work references Personal references Bad References – How to handle them

Where To Look for an Apartment Internet – Craig’s list, etc. www.gosection8.com Newspapers Housing authority lists MassAccess Housing Registry http://www.massaccesshousingregistry.org/ Community bulletin boards

The need for a search strategy “The most important thing is to start; to lay down a plan, and then follow it step by step no matter how small or large each one by itself may seem.” - Charles Lindbergh, in his book The Spirit of St. Louis

Contacting the landlord Phone etiquette How to present yourself: The importance of first impressions Be polite Be punctual Be friendly Be organized Have names, addresses available Dress appropriately Find childcare if possible

Contacting the landlord cont. . . What a potential landlord can and cannot ask in an application Application fees Following up once you’ve applied

What to ask the landlord What is the rent? What utilities (heat/hot water/electricity) are included? What kind of heat do you have? What were the heating costs for last year? What appliances are included with the apartment? When will the apartment be available? What are the move-in costs (first & last month’s rent, security deposit, key fee)? Do you prefer a lease or a month-to-month rental agreement? Are there any other things I should be aware of or you would like to ask me?

If you’re interested, say you’re interested, but don’t seem desperate!

How to tell the difference Fair Housing Laws Sometimes a “no” constitutes discrimination – and sometimes it doesn’t… How to tell the difference

Fair Housing Laws Federal and state regulations What constitutes discrimination? Discriminatory advertising What to look for What is a “Protected Category?”

Fair Housing Laws: What are the protected categories? Race Color National Origin Religion Sex Familial Status Marital Status Handicap Age Sexual Orientation Gender Identity and Expression Military/Veteran Status Ancestry Public Assistance Housing Subsidies Genetic Information

Fair Housing Laws Reasonable accommodation and housing search Lead paint regulations Domestic violence and sexual harassment

What to do if you think you’re a victim of housing discrimination

Move-in Considerations Deposits Leases versus rental agreements What a prospective landlord can ask for: Key fee First Month’s Rent Last Month’s Rent Security Deposit

Getting there from here… Making a plan for yourself Stay with it Financial Planning Workshop When is it next offered? We can work with you to make it happen! Working with a Counselor

Thank you.