Rental Search Assistance

In an ideal situation, renters should not spend more than 30% of their income on rent. In locations where rent is high, it can be a challenge to find a home that’s within your budget.

The resources below are great ways to find the right rental unit for you:

• Housing locators
  These housing professionals are typically tasked with finding available rentals within their service area. Their primary responsibility is to help renters locate affordable housing. Search for a HUD-approved Housing Counseling Agency by visiting HUD.gov.
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• Print and digital publications
  Check newspaper ads, local magazines, bulletin board advertisements at public facilities, places of employment and university/college campuses for rental options. There are also many websites that can assist you in addition to property management and real estate companies.
  
  
• VirginiaHousingSearch.com
  This free, comprehensive housing locator service, sponsored by Virginia Housing, is a growing database that lets you look for rental housing throughout the Commonwealth using a wide variety of criteria and special mapping features. A toll-free call center is available Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 8 p.m. EST, at 877-428-8844 in English and Spanish.
  
  
• HUD.gov
  A government website, this has information on low-rent apartments for senior citizens and people with disabilities, as well as families and individuals.
  
  
• GoSection8.com
  As the largest rental listing service for the Section 8 housing market, this database lets you locate and compare affordable rental homes currently available in your area. The listings are available online as well as through the bilingual call center at 866-466-SEC8 (7328).
  
  

Find links to HUD median income, federal income limits
and fair market rents by visiting VirginiaHousing.com.