How to Rent a HUD House

Public housing is a great benefit for individuals with low incomes. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is a government agency that provides housing for millions of families. Check federal income guidelines to see if you qualify for assistance, and gather important documents for everyone in your house before attempting to rent a HUD house.

Things You'll Need

• Birth certificates Social Security cards Proof of income Current utility bills State ID Proof of residency

Instructions

1. Identify HUD housing in your area by calling 2-1-1 or visiting the HUD website (see Resources below). Both 2-1-1 and HUD will give you a list of organizations and agencies that provide low income housing in the area you request.

2. Call the agencies to get an appointment or walk in to fill out an application. Most agencies have waiting lists, so you should apply with several agencies to increase your chances of a positive outcome. Waiting lists can range from 2 months to 2 years. Organizations try to place individuals as fast as possible, but most times there is a greater demand than supply.

3. Bring copies of all your important documents for everyone who will be living in the house (see Things You'll Need above).

4. Fill out the application completely and truthfully. There are normally several pages to the application and they inquire about your assets, jobs, current housing, household, public benefits and credit. HUD provides affordable housing to low income families, and the rent is based on your income--normally about 30 percent of it. You can apply for HUD if you are in a higher income bracket, and the agency will inform you of your options.

5. Call to check on the status of your application, and ask if there is anything more needed from you to proceed. The agency will verify your information and in some cases run a credit check. This process takes a little time because HUD has to contact several third parties to verify the information on your application. They should give you a time frame for the completion of this part of the process. Once this part is completed, the agency will notify you if you qualify and give you a timetable for move in if they have vacancies.

6. Notify any agencies you have applied with if you receive housing through another organization or if your income or circumstances change. This will allow the agencies to update their systems as well as provide you with the best options for your specific situation.

Tips & Warnings

• Make sure to notify the housing agency if you are homeless or become homeless; sometimes they have more help for extenuating circumstances.

• Always be truthful on applications, as fraudulent information on government documents can result in fines, penalties and jail.

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• The HUD website offers local renting resources.
• The United States Health and Human Services website provides info on low and extremely low income guidelines.