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Renting a Home

It seems like every week there is another news story with data showing that Massachusetts does not have enough housing! For that reason, prices are becoming out of reach for more people who live and work here. How can you find an apartment that is more affordable?

  • Market Rate: Most renters pay market rate. Landlords look at their own expenses and look around at what other landlords are charging nearby for similar apartments and then set the price. Landlords can charge more for units that are closer to Boston, near public transportation, newer, larger, or have more amenities (nice features on site like a laundry room or community space). 
  • Rent based on income: 
    • Public housing: Most towns in the RHSO service area have a public housing authority subsidized by the state and/or federal government to help people with low incomes. These properties range from large apartment buildings for the elderly to one-family homes. They all have a long waiting list. Residents pay about 30% of their income on rent, slightly less if they also pay their own utilities. Acton, Bedford, Concord, Lexington, Maynard, and Sudbury use the online Common Housing Application for Massachusetts Programs (CHAMP). Wayland's application is here. If you need help with CHAMP or Wayland's application, you can call your local office (phone numbers listed here).
    • Section 8: The Housing Choice Voucher Program is federally-funded and has a long waiting list. If someone receives a Section 8 voucher, they pay about 30 to 40% of their income towards rent and the remainder of the market rent is covered by the voucher. You can apply online through MetroHousing Boston if you have a connection to Bedford or Lexington or send an application to South Middlesex Opportunity Council for the other towns in our service area. Most parts of the RHSO service area are part of a special Section 8 program called SNO Mass that reflects the higher rents in our towns. If you already have a voucher and have been living outside the RHSO area, you may be able to get support from a SNO Mass case manager to help you find an apartment and move to our region.
  • Lower rent but not based on income: Massachusetts has a number of programs that try to get developers to build more rental housing. These apartment buildings will have units set aside for people who earn less than the area median income (the median is the midpoint where half of households earn more and half earn less). Often the units are limited to those who earn up to 50%, 60%, or 80% of the median income. The rents are calculated as 30% of the highest income someone could have and still qualify for the unit.
    • Many of these subsidized units are listed on the website of the non-profit Housing Navigator Massachusetts Inc. Not all the listings in the database are currently accepting applications, but you can sign up to receive new listings by providing an email address at the bottom of the Housing Navigator page.
    • Especially when a building is new, owners may hire a lottery agent to collect applications and randomly select who gets the chance to rent there. RHSO does not manage any rentals. Other lottery agents for rentals are: MCO Housing Services (which has an email list), SEB Housing, JTE Realty Associates, and Maloney Affordable (which has an email list). Many of these units also are listed on the Housing Navigator.