1. Session Six: Planning to Move July 13, 2016

2. Please mute phones if you’re attending in person Remember that this session will be recorded and later made public, so any statements you make may be captured on that recording

3. Dennis Brown, facilitator Jeannie Cummins, Regional Housing Specialist, DBHDS Lucy Beadnell, Director of Advocacy, The Arc of Northern Virginia

4.  Housing Search Options- Jeannie Cummins  Housing search resources  Presenting a good tenant  Credit checks  Letters of introduction  Housing wants, needs, realities, and alternatives- Gary Hughes  Leases  Trial time away  Moving expenses and logistics  Move in check list

6.  Go to annualcreditreport.com to check your credit history and find if anything is wrong or you have debts  Build your credit with a revolving bill in your name  Think about co-signors

7.  Introduce yourself  Explain why you want the unit so much  Explain any blemishes on your credit report or criminal history AND how you will prevent them from happening again  Give your housing history  Provide references  Explain what makes you a good tenant  You have received commendations for your neat work/organization  You have a respectful demeanor  Prevous employers, landlords, places of residence, housemates, etc. have good things to say about working with or living with you  Explain the voucher  Offer to talk

8.  Finding Housing That Accepts Rental Assistance  Using a Housing Locator  Negotiating with landlords on  Accepting rental assistance  Credit issues  Minimum income requirements  Criminal background issues

9.  http://apartments.oodle.com offers the ability to search for rental housing in apartment properties or privately owned condominium units.  www.gosection8.com helps you search for properties that accept the housing choice voucher by location, unit size and rent amount.  www.hotpads.com allows you to search for units that are for rent in apartment properties or for rent by private owners. You can get alerts about new and updated listings in locations you prefer.  Housing & Community Services of Northern Virginia (www.hcsnv.org) posts a list of weekly affordable rental vacancies in Northern Virginia. Click on “Browse Our List of Rental Housing.”  www.padmapper.com harnesses the power of multiple search tools for rental units in apartment properties or for rent by private owners, including Craig’s List, apartmentsearch.com, ListHub, and RentLinx.  www.realtor.com allows you to search for apartment units that are for rent by private owners, and to get email updates on units that become available on the market in locations you prefer.  www.virginiahousingsearch.com helps you search for apartment properties in locations you prefer, and you can focus your search on properties that accept housing choice vouchers as well as properties with units that have specific accessibility features.  www.wetakesection8.com assists with finding apartment properties and owners of private homes that accept the housing choice voucher by location, unit size and rent amount.

10.  What to expect when you work with a realtor  Signing an agreement with the realtor to represent you in the transaction  Up front costs  When to work with a realtor  Knowing what you want vs. what you need  What to do if what you want and need doesn’t exist

11. 11 Leases should contain:  A term (start date and end date)  Total rent for the term, divided into installments (e.g., $X/month for 12 months)  Due date for each installment, whom to pay and where payment should be sent  Late fee for rent that is past due  Security deposit amount (if any), how it will be used, and when/how the balance of the deposit plus interest will be returned to the renter  A list of the tenants and occupants permitted to live in the unit

12. 12 Leases should contain:  Utilities paid by landlord and by tenant  Landlord and tenant responsibilities for maintenance and repairs  A description of activities that are tenant lease violations  Information about when landlord can enter the property, and requirements for advance notice to tenant  Provisions for renewing the lease (e.g., sign a new lease; existing lease automatically renews on a month-to-month basis, etc.)  Instructions for giving notice to renew or to terminate the lease  Explanation of penalties for terminating the lease prior to the end of the lease term

13.  Leases should NOT contain:  Terms prohibited by Virginia Residential Landlord Tenant Act http://www.dhcd.virginia.gov/images/Housing/Landlord-Tenant-Handbook.pdf  Be cautious about leases that contain:  Excessive late fees  There are no legal protections against large late fees, BUT fees so large that they exceed the actual loss suffered by the landlord may be unenforceable (common law)  Severe early termination penalties, which are legal  Some can be harsh – e.g., owe balance of rent for term in full  Landlord must mitigate damages – room for negotiation if early termination occurs  Usual and customary – penalty equals 2 months rent  Onerous move-out requirements, e.g., repainting, recarpeting, etc. 13

14. If you think you’re ready...  Try a short vacation or overnight trip with the roommate or live in staff  Practice your commute to work, family, friends, activities, etc.  Visit the potential home a few times at different times of the day  Walk around and get a feel for the neighbors and neighborhood  Find local needs like grocery stores, pharmacies, post office, bank, etc.

15.  Ensure you can get your rental truck at the time you need with time to load  Consider asking for a dedicated parking space and/or elevator time on move in day and sync up with when you have a truck  Put in a change of address notice with the Postal Office  Consider renting crates for moving instead of buying boxes. Clearly label boxes by destination location  Notify bills, doctors, prescriptions, subscription services, etc. of new address  Pack items you won’t need for a long time first and make a list of how you can progress until the day of move in  Have a 24-hour supply of clothes, toiletries, cleaning supplies, food, paper products, communication devices etc. in a separate last minute bag that you carry personally  Label cabinets/shelves/cables to make navigating a new space easier  Post a list of important local numbers  Consider moving “stuff” the day before you move in to allow time to manage last minute hiccups

16.  Pull out your budget and self-assessment  Likely expenses:  Move out costs of current home (e.g. final bills, deposit losses)  Application fee  Utility deposits  Security deposit  Pet fee  Amenity fees  Boxes, packaging, movers  New home expenses  Furniture  Cleaning supplies  Linens  Household cleaners

17.  Is the home in perfect condition?  Document with writing and photos any problems  Show issues to the landlord  Ask for needed repairs 17

18.  Ensure you’re saving all your work on your jump drive or computer in an easy to find place.  Make a list of questions you want to ask our panel of expert parents next week Please bring the homework materials back with you on July 20, 2016