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Finding the Best Home For You
Think about all the things that can help you—and everyone in your household—create a stable life. Think about what you need to thrive.
People with Housing Choice Vouchers (Section 8) can live in any rental property within Snohomish County, including apartments, houses and townhomes.
Families
Choose a community that meets your family’s needs in these five important ways.
Good schools for your children
Lively economy: a neighborhood with fresh food grocery options and access to other things you need
Good quality housing and neighborhoods: well-kept properties and a park or playground nearby
Transportation: bus service, enough parking for your vehicle
Healthy environment: low pollution, residents have access to nature (trees, plants, gardens)
Communities that rate well in all five areas are called “High Opportunity Areas” for a reason. When families move out of high poverty areas with low opportunity to high opportunity areas, their children reach higher levels of school achievement.
Once you know which communities are best for you, start looking for a place to rent there.
Learn where to find the High Opportunity Areas of Snohomish County.
Individuals, People with Disabilities and Senior Citizens
Choose a community that puts you closest to the things you need to live your best life. Consider how easy (or difficult) it is to access necessities, services and the things that add to your quality of life.
Once you know which communities are best for you, start looking for a place to rent there.
Snohomish County is very large. Each community has unique advantages.
Search Tips
After you decide which communities are the best for you and your household, start searching.
Talk and Walk
Tell family, friends and people you work with that you are looking for a rental home in the area or areas you want to live in. Other people sometimes know when there’s a good place available.
Walk or drive around the communities you are interested in. Neighborhoods within a community may be very different. Look for “For Rent” and “Now Leasing” signs.
Use the Internet
The most likely way you will find your home is through Internet search—on a desktop computer, laptop, tablet and even on your smartphone. If you do not have a device or access to the Internet, all Sno-Isle Libraries have computers and Internet service for public use.
Here is a list of popular websites for current rental listings. There are many others.
Use the “Advanced Search” option on each website. You can type in things like location, number of bedrooms and other details so you get results that match your needs.
Check several websites. No one website has all the available rental listings.
Search frequently. Listings are added throughout each day. Many people are looking for rental homes, so you want to be one of the first people to apply for the ones you want.
When you find a place you want to rent, plan what you will say prior to contacting the property owner or manager. The packet you received from HASCO, the Housing Choice Voucher New Participant’s Guide, explains what to do and what NOT to do when applying for your rental home.
90-Day Timeline and RFTA
Once approved for vouchers, you have 90 days (about three months) to find a place to rent and submit the RFTA (Request for Tenancy Approval) forms to HASCO.
There are RFTA forms for you and for your landlord or property manager. All forms must be completed so the rental process can move forward.
HASCO coordinates home inspections in advance with the landlord. For more information about rental unit requirements and the inspection process review the packet you received from HASCO, the Housing Choice Voucher New Participant’s Guide.
Once the rental unit passes inspection and the rent amount is approved, we take the final steps together.
It is very important that you read your lease carefully and understand everything it contains. If you have questions about your lease or need language translation services, contact the housing team at housing@hasco.org
If you cannot complete the RFTA within 90 days from the date you are approved for vouchers, you must request a formal extension from HASCO.
Renter Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Go to the Voucher Holder FAQs section to get information about topics that affect your vouchers and living arrangements.
