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🏡 Apartment Hunting Tips for Renters in Massachusetts

Finding an affordable place to live in Massachusetts can feel overwhelming—but with the right tools, you can find more housing that works for you than you might think. This guide offers step-by-step help for households looking to rent an apartment.
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🚀Getting Started

This guide will walk you through the steps to find an apartment. You may also want some help along the way. The Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC) does not specialize in housing search. If you have questions about searching for housing, contact one of the resources below. 

🛠️ Key Resources

💰 Step 1: How Much Rent Can You Afford?

A good rule of thumb is to spend no more than 30-40% of your total income on housing – both rent and utilities, like heat, electricity, and water. While this isn’t always possible, it’s good to do the math so you have a starting point for a housing budget. 

🔖Rental Budget Example:

  • You are a household with after-tax* income of $4000.
  • You decide to budget 40% of income for housing and utilities. Multiply 0.4 by your income: $4000 x 0.4 = $1600.
    • If you are aiming to keep housing expenses to 30%, multiply by 0.3.
    • $1600 is your total housing budget, including $300 for utilities.
  • After subtracting utility costs, you have $1300/month for rent.
     

*If you apply for affordable housing, your rent-share is usually based on your income before taxes, also known as your gross income

💡 Things to remember in your Utility Budget

  • Heat (if not included in rent)
  • Electricity
  • Cooking gas
  • Internet
  • Trash/water/sewer: Often included in rent, but not always
  • Total Utility Budget: Could range from approximately $250-$450 or more

If it’s hard to afford a market rate apartment with your current income, consider starting to look for an affordable apartment. 

🏣 Step 2: Figure Out What You Need in an Apartment

Make a list of what’s essential and what would be nice to have.

📍 Location

  • Do you need to be near work, school, medical care or childcare?
  • Is public transportation a must?
  • Would you move to a nearby town for lower rent?

🧩 Features

  • Number of bedrooms or bathrooms?
  • Ground floor or elevator for accessibility?
  • On-site laundry, parking, or pet-friendly?

Keep your priorities realistic and flexible when needed.

🚛Considering Moving to a New City or Town?

If you are trying to understand what resources are available in a city or town, there are several places you can learn more:

  • 📞Call Mass 211: They can help provide referrals to a wide variety of services, including transportation, schools/daycare, local DTA offices, medical resources, and more. 
    (Call 2-1-1 or 877-211-6277. Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with translation available or use their online resource search tool).
  • 💻 EOHLC Resource Locator can help you find local organizations like your Community Action Agency, Housing Authority, or Regional Administration Agency where there is often a Housing Consumer Education Center.
  • 📑 Massachusetts Community Directory: a list of free and reduced-cost resources and services. 

🔍 Step 3: How to Search for Apartments

There are many ways to find apartments in Massachusetts.

📞Ask Friends and Family

  • Talk to friends and family. Find out if their landlords have other apartments available. A personal connection or recommendation can go a long way.

👀 Look for “for rent” signs

  • For local apartments, keep your eyes open for small signs in building windows. Sometimes mom and pop landlords can be more flexible when it comes to challenges in your rental history.

📲 Online Listings

Below is a list of places you can look for apartments. This list is not all-inclusive nor an endorsement of these websites.

🎯 If you need help creating a housing search strategy, contact your local Nonprofit Housing Consumer Education Centers.

Learn more about how to identify and avoid online scams.

CAUTION: Use all real estate listing platforms with care. Look out for fake listings and scams.

🧱 Step 4: Prepare for Potential Barriers

Life happens—and many renters face issues like past evictions, a criminal record, or a poor credit history. Here’s how to manage those challenges.

🚫 Past Evictions

  • Take action to Seal your past evictions – making them invisible to landlords
  • For evictions you still have on your record, be honest with landlords. Explain what happened and what’s changed.
  • Bring documentation that shows you’ve paid off debts or resolved issues.
  • Some housing programs don’t automatically deny applicants with past evictions.

⚖️ Criminal Record

🧾 Check Your Housing Court History

💵 Step 5: Budgeting & Saving for an Apartment

🚩Before you move in, you may need to pay: 

📊 Tips for Budgeting:

  • Start a “move-in” savings fund, even if it’s $10/week
  • Use a simple budget app or paper notebook
  • Track spending for 1 month to see where you’re at

🔎Look into Financial Assistance:

📄 Step 6: Gather the Paperwork You’ll Need

📂 Get organized early. Most landlords and programs will ask for:

  • Valid photo ID
  • Proof of income (pay stubs, benefit letters, child support, print outs of cash apps like Venmo, etc.)
  • Rental history (addresses and contact info)
  • References (former landlords, employers, caseworkers)
  • Credit report (get a free one at annualcreditreport.com)
  • Housing voucher info (if you have one)

Keep everything in a folder or saved as photos or PDFs on your phone.

🤝 Step 7: Meeting with Landlords

Treat every meeting or call with a landlord like a job interview.

📋 Be Prepared

  • Bring your documents and any applications
  • Dress neatly and be polite
  • Offer references

💬 Be Honest

  • If there are credit issues, unsealed evictions, or other concerns, explain them upfront and describe how your situation has improved.

❔Ask Questions

  • Is heat included?
  • Who takes care of repairs?
  • Are there income or credit score requirements?

💳 Step 8: Repairing or Rebuilding Credit

Landlords may check your credit—even if you’re applying for affordable housing. Here’s how to start improving it:

🧾 Check Your Credit Report

  • Visit AnnualCreditReport.com
  • Look for errors or old accounts you don’t recognize
  • Dispute mistakes online or in writing

💡 Improve Your Score

  • Pay all bills on time—even small ones
  • Try not to max out credit cards
  • Use a secured credit card or credit-builder loan to help build your credit, when you don’t qualify for a traditional credit card.

🆘 Need Help? Contact a Non-Profit Credit Counseling Agency

Keep in mind: Some landlords will work with you if your income and rental history are strong—even with credit issues.

🧭 Final Tips

  • Apply to multiple listings to improve your chances
  • Make a list of all apartments you apply to, date you applied, and any communication
  • Keep copies of everything
  • Follow up on applications—don’t wait for them to call you
  • Be patient and persistent—housing searches take time

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