Renting

Are you planning on renting an apartment or home? Finding affordable and quality rental housing can be challenging, especially if you are looking for housing that accepts housing choice vouchers (Section 8), is located near public transportation, is barrier free or any other specific characteristic that would make that housing your perfect home.

Being informed on the renting process and knowing your rights is an important first step in starting the search for any place you are looking to rent. Knowing what organizations and resources are available to help you is a great way to ensure that if you run into any challenges along the way, you know where to turn. The following articles and resources are available in order to provide you with information and assistance in finding rental housing and through the rental process.

CHN Services

Oakland Housing Link

This website allows social workers within the OCHN network to search for housing options for individuals receiving services through OCHN.

Rent Right – Renter Education

Rent Right is a free monthly workshop series designed to provide valuable information and insight for current and future renters. These workshops give practical and useful guidance around being a successful tenant, protecting your rights, housing affordability and how to recognize and report rental discrimination. Fair housing is your right – use it!

Real Estate Development

We actively seek out opportunities to work with local, state and federal entities to create high-quality, rental residential homes built and maintained to be appealing and affordable for hard-working families and individuals.

Housing Resource Center (HRC)

Our Housing Resource Center is a free service and the best first step for anyone in a housing challenge. Our trained specialists can help recommend options connecting callers to programs and resources to address housing needs.

Property and Asset Management

We manage all areas of property and asset management services, providing the highest level of service for both the property owner and the tenants.

Permanent Supportive Housing programs

We help people with disabilities who are homeless and their family members find affordable rental housing.

Articles

Rental Recertification

Do your homework before you rent from a landlord.

Section 8 accommodations for the needs of people with disabilities

To insure accessibility for people with disabilities HUD has provided many rules to the public housing commission (PHC) that administer the vouchers.

Understanding affordable housing: A look at myths and stereotypes

As difficult as it is to define affordable housing, it is often difficult to understand what it is and why creating affordable housing is beneficial.

Roommates 101

Here are several points to should consider when trying deciding to engage in a roommate situation.

Rent local

Renting from someone who lives in your state may help your landlord have a better understanding of the local state law and assist the tenant in recovering damages when the landlord breeches state law.

Define Family: Township Codes

When a group of three or four unrelated people decide to combine their resources to rent, buy, or lease a residence some research and communication with the local governing agencies may be necessary.

Housing start-up costs to consider

When considering renting out an unlicensed home for people with disabilities there are some extra start-up costs to consider above the normal maintenance.

Housing: Choices, Choices and Needs

What is the ideal home setting? There are lots and lots of right answers, depending on the person. The ideal home setting is different for everyone.

LLC as a means for affordable housing

By forming Limited Liability Corporations (LLC) family members can help provide affordable housing for people with disabilities.

Housing Choice Vouchers (Section 8) 101

The housing choice voucher program is one of the federal government’s most popular housing programs to assist families with very low-income to afford safe and affordable housing.

Other Services

Legal Resources

The following resources assist when people are talking about friction between landlords, friends, roommates, or neighbors when all other more informal negotiations have failed. Sometimes educating a property manager of laws or legal rights is enough to resolve the issue. HUD: for federal subsidies and fair housing issues, Fair Housing: when rights are violated, and legal counsel numbers offer reduced and free helps for many different legal helps. For maintenance issues also suggest the local code enforcers for the city or township. On August 17, 2012, a new statewide Michigan Legal Help self-help website was launched at www.MichiganLegalHelp.org

Subsidized housing lists

Following the link below, you will find lists of subsidized apartments throughout the local community. Please note that some of the entries in this list are not true subsidized housing but are affordable and provided as additional options for consideration.

Emergency/basic needs organizations in Oakland County

The organizations listed in the linked document provide resources to help with basic needs such as shelter, food and clothing.

Rent Registration

When a person is interested in renting a unit from a landlord it is strongly encouraged that the potential tenant research if the local community had this requirement. Potential tenants should ask to the landlord to see the license/registration before signing a lease as this is an added assurance for the renter. Additionally many housing programs may need proof of registration/license before providing any rental assistance