Determine How Much Rent You Can Afford
- List all your income and expenses.
- Call Coordinated Services Planning at 703-222-0880, and ask a specialist to help you assess your income needs for renting a room.
- Use tools from the Virginia Housing (https://www.vhda.com/Renters/Pages/renters.aspx) for guidance on finding a place to rent and review renter education.
Identify and Research Neighborhoods
- Look for neighborhoods convenient to places you go to regularly such as work, visiting family, friends, shopping, or medical appointments.
- To calculate the trip time for some of your favorite destinations, contact the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (www.wmata.com) at 202-637-7000 for information about public transportation options.
- Visit prospective neighborhoods at different times of the day and night to get an idea of how it might feel coming in late at night or leaving early in the morning.
- Contact the police district station in the neighborhood you are considering for crime and safety information.
- The Fairfax County Police Department provides Weekly Crime Data so you can get insight about where crime is happening, and track trends.
Search for a Room
- Ask friends, family, and your support networks for leads about available housing.
- Search legitimate websites for rental listings and only deal with landlords who are willing to meet with you in person.
- Research at virginiahousingsearch.com or call 1-877-428-8844.
- Affordable housing publications are available from the Fairfax County Department of Housing and Community Development at 703-246-5010.
Hold on to Your Money
- Not all rental advertisements or offers to rent a room actually provide housing. The Federal Trade Commission provides guidance on how rental scams work and signs to be alert for to avoid becoming a victim of a scam.
- When responding to an ad, don’t give out personal information, such as social security, bank account, or credit card numbers.
- Never wire money and don’t pay with cash or a money order unless you get a receipt.
- Be sure the person renting the room is who they say they are and that they have permission to rent the room if they do not own the property, make sure they have permission to rent the room to you.
- To find out who owns a property, contact Real Estate Assessments at 703-222-8234.
- Ask the landlord for contact information for previous tenants so you can talk to them to find out about their rental experience, if possible.
- Search complaint history information at Consumer Affairs to find out if there are rental complaints on file about a prospective landlord.
Inspect Properties Offering Rooms for Rent
- Take a look at several properties.
- Visit the property before you commit to renting to make sure it is what you expected and that the room is what you really need and want.
- Meet and talk to potential roommates. Can you see yourself living with them?
- Does the lifestyle of those you will be living with meet your requirements for cleanliness, noise levels, house rules, room temperatures, smoking, pets, guest rules, shared bathroom, kitchen privileges, laundry facilities, parking, internet, cable, and other things that matter to you?
- Is the property well maintained?
- Are appliances, electrical sources, and plumbing in good working order?
- Are common areas free of trash and in good condition?
- Are there signs of rodents, insects, or other pests?
- Who is responsible for cleaning shared areas and how will repairs and maintenance of the dwelling be provided?
- Will you have privacy and a way to protect your belongings? Can you lock your door?
- Who else has keys to your room? When can the landlord come into your room?
- Never rent a room that has no safe and quick exit, such as a basement with no door or window to the outside.
- Article 4 of the zoning ordinance establishes and limits how many people can live in a single residence. In general, no more than four unrelated people may live in one house.
- Report overcrowding to the Department of Code Compliance at 703-324-1300.
- For more information about property maintenance, and fire and health codes, contact the Department of Code Compliance at 703-324-1300 or email.
Get It in Writing
- Landlords in Virginia must offer tenants a written lease agreement. This is required by the Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act, § 55.1-1204.
- The lease should include the beginning and ending date of the tenancy, amount of rent, and all other costs such as utilities, cable, or internet.
- This agreement should include all the rights and responsibilities of the tenant and landlord.
- Read the lease and make sure you agree with all of the terms before you pay rent to the landlord or move into the room.
- For a summary of tenant and landlord rights and responsibilities, review the Virginia Statement of Tenant Rights and Responsibilities.
Need More Information
Contact Consumer Affairs at 703-222-8435 for details about:
Eviction Prevention Task Force