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Frequently Asked Questions |
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Renting an Apartment:
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1. Where and how do I apply to rent an apartment?
View Answer |
After reviewing the Resident Qualifications,
use the “Search for an
Apartment” tool to obtain a list of available units that fit
your household size and income. Next, contact the Resident Manager
for the building to schedule a viewing of the unit. If you like the
apartment, immediately call our leasing office to schedule an
application appointment. Our Leasing Office contact is 206-622-2893
and is located at 1651 Bellevue Avenue, in Seattle (at the corner of
Bellevue Ave. and East Olive Way – see directions link at side).
See Appointment Preparation for what to bring with you.
If you need assistance in understanding the
Resident Qualifications or in searching for available units, please
contact our Leasing Office, 206-622-2893. The apartment search
function is not set up for Section 8 vouchers, so please contact our
Leasing Office for assistance.
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2. What do I need to qualify?
View Answer |
Please follow this link to the
Do You Qualify page. If you have further question, please call
206-622-2893. |
3. Do HRG buildings allow pets?
View Answer |
The following HRG buildings
currently allow certain pets:
Bel/Boy,
Cambridge,
Genesee,
Gilmore,
Graham/Terry,
Mercer
Court,
Olive Tower,
Oregon,
Security House,
Sterling Court,
Stewart Court,
Tate
Mason House, and
John
Winthrop all accept cats and certain other small household
animals. HRG accepts small dogs at
Genesee,
Mercer
Court,
Security House and
Tate
Mason House. HRG limits the
number of cats to two per apartment. Pets must be accompanied by a $300 refundable deposit,
proof of inoculations, proof of spay/neutering, and a current license.
All HRG buildings accommodate approved service animals. |
4. Is there a fee to apply?
View Answer |
The only cost to apply is a $26.00
screening fee for each adult applying.
The fee is solely to cover the cost of screening your application,
including a credit check, rental history and public records check.
See the
Fees & Deposit Schedule. |
5. Can I have a co-signer?
View Answer |
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HRG does not accept co-signers on
leases. All applicants must individually meet qualifications. |
6 Do you accept Section 8?
View Answer |
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Yes! All HRG buildings are within
Seattle Housing Authority (PorchLight) jurisdiction; King County
Housing Authority vouchers are not valid. We will need verification of
a Section 8 voucher. Applicants with Section 8 certificates must
still meet all resident qualifications. |
7. Can I be on a waiting list?
View Answer |
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Waiting lists are kept for
subsidized units for very low-income households. We are
currently accepting applications at Judkins Park, The Genesee, Stone
Way, Security House, and Meridian Manor. Each list has different
eligibility requirements. Please contact the Leasing Office at
206-622-2893 or the Resident Manager at the building for information
about eligibility. For all other available units, we work on a
first-come, first-served basis. |
8. How are income “caps” determined?
View Answer |
Our apartments are built or
purchased with requirements to rent them to households that are within
certain income levels. Those levels are determined by the US
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). HUD adjusts the
income levels or “caps” annually.
Do You Qualify? |
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Resident Information:
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1. Why should I get renters insurance?
View Answer |
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In case of fire, flood, earthquake
or any other destructive event, HRG’s insurance does not cover your
personal belongings. Renters Insurance is highly recommended for your
protection. Contact the HRG Rental Office about a renters insurance
brochure. |
2. How do I contact management other than my Resident Manager?
View Answer |
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In a life threatening emergency
situation call 911 Emergency Services. All non-emergency situations
and/or requests must be presented first to your building’s Resident
Manager or other resident staff. Resident staff can be reached through
a building telephone number that is connected to a pager or cell phone
when staff is away.
You can reach the Property Manager for the building by contacting
the HRG Administrative Office during normal business hours
(206-623-0506).
You may send a letter to HRG, c/o Property Manager for (your
building’s name), 1651 Bellevue Avenue, Seattle, Washington,
98122-2014. |
3. How and when are rent increases decided?
View Answer |
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All rents collected at HRG
buildings go toward meeting the operating expenses, maintenance and long-term
debt of that specific building. In many instances, rent rates are
regulated by city or state loans HRG has received to acquire and build
(or rebuild) the apartment building. These agreements keep our rents
below normal market levels. Each year HRG staff members project
expenses for the upcoming year. Then we determine the amount of the
rent increase necessary to adequately care for the building’s current
and long-term needs. |
4. Can I renew my lease?
View Answer |
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Most apartment leases are
initially for a one-year period. After this initial lease period
expires, the lease automatically converts to a month-to-month rental
agreement. You do not need to renew your lease to continue living in
the same apartment in the same building. |
5. What happens if I get a better job and my income goes up? Will I
need to move?
View Answer |
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Households living in an HRG
building will not be asked to move simply because their income has
increased. HRG is pleased when residents’ financial situations
improve. HRG rents do not change with fluctuations in your household
income. |
6. Why do you need to recertify my household every year?
View Answer |
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Many of the lenders and
government agencies that help fund our projects require yearly
household recertifications. Since we are required to recertify your
household, we must require you to participate in the process. |
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General: Housing Resources Group (HRG) as an
organization
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1. What resources does Housing Resources Group offer?
View Answer |
HRG provides individuals and
families with a wide range of affordable housing options in downtown
Seattle and surrounding neighborhoods, near employment and on transit
routes. Visit
Web Towns
to see neighborhood amenities. |
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2. Are you subsidized?
View Answer |
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HRG provides affordable
housing, not to be confused with subsidized public housing. We depend
on the rents we collect to pay the apartment building's expenses.
There is no government organization behind HRG to pay operating costs.
We do have some subsidized units at several buildings that are the
exception to this. |
3. Are there agencies like HRG outside of Seattle?
View Answer |
HRG is a
single, private organization. HDC, the Housing Development Consortium
of Seattle-King County (206-682-9541,
www.housingconsortium.org) can direct you to other King County
resources. |
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4. Do you provide emergency shelter?
View Answer |
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HRG only provides permanent
rental housing. The small number of transitional housing units are
filled through agency referral partnerships. For a list of
organizations that provide emergency shelter contact the Community
Information Line by calling 2-1-1. |
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5. Do you provide monetary rental assistance?
View Answer |
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Sorry, no. For a list of
organizations that offer financial assistance contact the Community
Information Line by calling 2-1-1. |
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6. How can residents help keep rents down?
View Answer |
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Residents can help keep expenses
low by: conserving use of water, recycling efficiently, keeping
garbage out of recycle containers, keeping common areas clean and
damage free, taking good care of their apartments and just generally
taking an interest in the building. |
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7. Do you have any job openings?
View Answer
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Any job openings are listed in
the Employment section of this
web site. |
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About HRG Development
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1. How are your buildings financed?
View Answer |
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Affordable housing requires the
financial support of public agencies as well as the private sector. In
order to construct or acquire affordable housing, HRG borrows money at
below-market interest rates, raises equity through the Low Income
Housing Tax Credit from private investors (local banks, corporations
and individuals), and receives loans and grants from the City of
Seattle, King County and the State of Washington. |
2. How do you start a development project?
View Answer |
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New development opportunities
occur in many ways: a building or vacant land is listed with a real
estate broker, a government agency is surplusing unneeded property, or
a property owner wants to donate a building to provide affordable
housing. HRG then must determine the zoning and total financial cost
to buy the property and refurbish or construct a building. HRG would
work with an architect to design the apartment while getting permits.
Simultaneously HRG would get the financing commitments needed to pay
for the building. With financing and permits in place HRG then hires a
contractor to build the building. From purchase of land to move-in of
residents an HRG building can take 24 to 36 months to complete. |
3. Do you build only for HRG?
View Answer |
HRG also assists other non-profit
organizations that need assistance in financing and constructing
affordable housing. These organizations provide critical social
services for substance abuse, formerly homeless, chronically mentally
ill and HIV/AIDS clients. HRG is proud to have assisted Downtown
Emergency Service Center, Seattle Emergency Housing, YWCA of King
County, Harborview Mental Health and Lifelong AIDS Alliance create
service enriched housing for their programs. See our
Partnerships. |
4. Do you work with other developers?
View Answer |
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HRG has been successful working
with large commercial developers. Because HRG works collaboratively we
find innovative ways of meeting our goal of providing low-income
housing. |
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About Contributions:
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1. Do you take non-monetary donations?
View Answer |
HRG welcomes donations of all
kinds. Besides cash contributions, donations include professional
services, land, buildings, stocks and insurance policies. See our
Donate
page. |
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2. Where does the money go?
View Answer |
All donations received are used
to further the mission of HRG. Specifically, these donations are used
to pay for staff who work to preserve, finance and construct the
affordable apartment buildings. See our
Donate page. |
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