Resources

What you need to know before your next move.

Plain-language guides for renters, landlords, and partner organizations. Voucher basics, tenant rights, screening standards, and referral packets.

01For Renters

Renter questions, answered.

Voucher and market-rate. We get the same questions over and over — here are the plain-language answers.

What is a housing choice voucher and how do I get one?

A federally funded rental subsidy (sometimes called "Section 8"), administered in DC by DCHA. DCHA manages the waiting list; applications open periodically. Check dchousing.org or call DCHA for current status.

I have a voucher. What should I bring when I view a unit?

Your voucher, photo ID, caseworker's contact info, and DCHA paperwork (bedroom size, payment standard). If you have children, bring their info for household composition.

What's HQS inspection and why does it matter?

HUD's inspection checklist — every voucher unit must pass before move-in. It's a list of fixable items, not a pass/fail on the building. The inspection is between DCHA and the landlord; we keep your paperwork moving in parallel.

My voucher is from Prince George's County or Virginia. Can I still rent in DC?

Yes — it's called "portability." Adds a few weeks while housing authorities coordinate, but it's routine. We handle it.

What if I don't have a voucher?

You can still apply. We place market-rate renters under the same screening standard. A voucher is not required.

What are tenant rights in DC?

DC has some of the strongest tenant protections in the country — rent stabilization, TOPA, and robust eviction protections. The Office of the Tenant Advocate (ota.dc.gov) is the authoritative resource.

02For Landlords

What landlords actually ask.

The small set of questions that matter. The fee, the time, the screening, the things we won't do.

What does it cost to work with you?

One month's rent, due on lease signing. No retainer, no hourly, no monthly coordination fee. If a placement falls through pre-execution, you owe nothing.

How long does placement typically take?

Market-rate: 1–2 weeks. Voucher: 3–5 weeks, depending on DCHA inspection scheduling. Candidate packets in the first week.

How do you screen tenants?

Income vs. tenant portion of rent, eviction history, and criminal history under HUD guidance. Fair Housing-compliant — no screening on source of income, family composition, or any protected class.

What don't you do?

HQS inspections, corrective work, setting rent, signing leases, property management, MLS listings. We are not a landlord, broker, or property manager. We deliver tenants.

Can I reject a tenant you send?

Yes — final approval is yours, subject to Fair Housing law. Expect 2–4 candidates per vacancy.

What about voucher tenants who haven't found a landlord in months?

That's the gap we close. We work with property owners who welcome vouchers and run tenant-side HAP paperwork end-to-end.

03For Partners

For case managers & service agencies.

A handful of practical questions that come up when you start routing referrals to a placement nonprofit.

How do I refer a client?

Three ways: submit through our online referral form, email a fillable referral PDF to leasing@birdieshousecd.org, or call (202) 656-9668. We confirm intake within one business day.

How much information do I need to send?

Household size, voucher status (yes / no / pending / portability), neighborhood preference, timeline, and the best way to reach the family. We collect everything else from the family directly.

How will I know what's happening?

Automatic email updates at six milestones (referral received, matched, walk-through, application submitted, inspection passed, move-in). Opt out of any step. Milestone-only (referral + move-in) is fine for high-volume caseloads.

Do I need an MOU?

No. We don't require a formal MOU to begin referring. An MOU can be added later if we want to formalize reporting cadence or data-sharing.

Are there fees?

None — to clients, to caseworkers, to partner orgs. Landlords pay the placement fee on lease signing.

What if a placement breaks down post-move-in?

Day-to-day issues route to the property's management company directly. We escalate housing-stability flags back to the referring caseworker if requested.

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