Information for Renters
57% of Houstonians rent their homes, often at prices that aren’t affordable. 46% of these households spend over 30% of their monthly income on the costs of housing, and 23% spend 50% or more. Creating more affordable units is more important than ever, especially as housing costs continue to rise.
There are multiple options for renters to take advantage of. Many apartment complexes across the city have units that must be rented at affordable rates or low- or moderate-income households. Renters can also work with our community and national partners to find more suitable living.
FAIR HOUSING & TENANT/LANDLORD HOTLINE
Have you experienced housing discrimination?
Housing discrimination is illegal in nearly all housing, including private housing, public housing, and housing that receives federal funding.
Learn MoreSearch for Affordable Apartments
To find apartments that must be rented at affordable rates, visit any of the websites below:
Harris County Housing and Community Resource Center
The Harris County Housing and Community Resource Center is a one-stop-shop for finding rental property, opportunities for first time home buyers, financial assistance, emergency shelter and a variety of other services.
Social Serve
Social Serve is a nonprofit, bilingual call center that connects people to housing and provides supportive, second chance employment. We provide professional housing location and listing services, assist displaced households in finding new housing, offer waiting list opening support, and gather housing data for regions and municipalities across the United States.
Vacancy Clearing House
Vacancy Clearing House provides information regarding rents, amenities and units for persons with disabilities. Please note that the properties listed are only properties funded by the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs.
Affordable Rental Housing Dashboard
Housing Choice Voucher Program
The Housing Choice Voucher Program (formerly called Section 8) is run by the Houston Housing Authority and the Harris County Housing Authority . The program provides rental assistance to low-income families, seniors, and persons with disabilities to rent apartments in the private market.
If you have a Housing Choice Voucher from the Houston Housing Authority and are interested in moving close to a highly rated school for your school-age child(ren), NestQuest Houston can help.
Information for Developers
The City partners with developers on apartment complexes that must be rented to eligible Houstonians at affordable rates. These projects are focused on providing access to highly-rated schools, community amenities, and public transportation and protecting from flooding. The City also prioritizes projects that serve seniors, persons with disabilities, and people who have experienced homelessness. Find news about upcoming developments that will be offering new units soon in our press releases.
HCD-funded developments may have additional rent restrictions with local housing entities and/or other entities. Prospective tenants should contact the property’s management team for additional information.
See all the developments HCDD has funded in the map below.
Fair Housing
It is illegal for property managers and landlords to discriminate against renters on the basis of race, religion, family status, sex, disability, color, or national origin. If you feel you have faced housing discrimination in renting a home, call our Fair Housing Hotline at 832-394-6200, ext. 1.
Read more about Fair HousingWant to Become a Homeowner?
Homeownership might be closer than you think! Our Homebuyer Assistance Program helps new homebuyers with down payments, closing costs, and initial mortgages. The department also partners with the Houston Land Bank and the Houston Community Land Trust to build new homes at below-market prices through the New Home Development Program.
More Homebuying opportunities could be found in our Homebuyer Hub
