WAITING LIST PROCESS

Learn detailed information about how our waiting list operates, including our annual audit, applicant screening, and more!

Burbank Housing Corporation (BHC) maintains a joint waiting list to fill the vacancies in its 300+ permanent affordable rental units, which are spread among 46 buildings. All of BHC's properties are mixed-income to accurately reflect the reality of our communities. No specific unit/building requests will be granted.

The next eligible applicant on our waiting list will be offered the first available apartment in our portfolio that fits their household’s size and income level. This could take anywhere from a few months to a few years.

The opportunity to participate in the Burbank Housing Corporation’s Affordable Housing Program is offered without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, religion, ancestry, genetic information, source of income, age, marital status, familial status, sexual orientation or preference, gender identity, or disability, or any other basis prohibited by law.

WHAT TO EXPECT

This section provides a general overview of the process and notifications that households will experience while on the BHC Waiting List. If you have any further questions, please contact our office during our normal business hours.

Waiting List Application

Waiting times vary based on unit availability, turnover rates, Burbank residency & employment preference, and the number of applicants ahead of you. Periodic updates on your position may be requested via email or phone.

Maintaining an up-to-date application is vital to remaining on the waiting list.

Annual Waiting List Audit

Every October, BHC sends correspondence to households on its waiting list to inquire if they are interested in remaining on the waiting list.

Failure to respond by the given deadline will result in the household being removed from the waiting list.

Application Review

Households on our waiting list are notified via telephone and mailed postcard when an apartment suitable for the household's income and size becomes available. The household must provide all requested documentation to our property management office prior to viewing the available unit.

A household on our waiting list is only given two opportunities to accept or qualify for an available BHC unit.

New State Income Limits

Once a year, Burbank Housing Corporation receives updated State Income & Rent Limits from the City of Burbank Housing Authority.

This update may affect the income designation of households on our waiting list. BHC will do its best to notify households that may be impacted by the new income limits.

Please note this does not affect your position on the waiting list.

Rental Screening

A household on our waiting list is only given two opportunities to accept or qualify for an available BHC unit.

HOUSEHOLD MODIFICATIONS

It is the applicant's responsibility to notify the BHC office if their income, address, phone number, or household composition changes while on the BHC Waiting List. Failure to update an application could result in removal from the waiting list. Proof of income, Burbank residency, or Burbank employment may be required.

To update your application, you must contact the BHC office at (818) 559-2336 or info@burbankhousingcorp.org to request a modification form. The modification form must be filled out and signed by the head of household listed on the original application.

REQUEST MODIFICATION FORM

Here's why keeping your application current & accurate is crucial:

Contact Information

Maintaining up-to-date contact information is vital. If we cannot reach you when your name comes up, your application may be removed from the list.

Without current contact information, your household also risks being removed from the waiting list during our annual audit.

Change in Burbank Employment & Residency

Households on our waiting list that live or work in the city of Burbank, CA have a higher priority to be placed into a BHC rental unit. If your household gains or loses the Burbank residency or employment preference during your time on the waiting list, you must fill out a modification form to update your application.

If your application states that you live or work in Burbank but you are unable to show proof during the rental screening process, your household will be moved to the bottom of the waiting list.

Bedroom Preference

When a new household is placed on our waiting list, BHC will automatically enter t

Income Changes

Income updates ensure your application accurately reflects your eligibility.

Each BHC unit has a designated income level and only a household that qualifies for that unit's income level may move in. Should your household not qualify for the income level on your application during the screening process, you will become ineligible for the offered unit and moved to the bottom or completely removed of the waiting list.

Changes in Household Composition

Inform us of any changes in your household size or composition. This helps us match you with suitable housing options. If your household size changes without modifying your application, it could impact your eligibility for an offered unit.

If anyone in your household is pregnant, you may add the unborn infant to the household prior to their birth.

If an adult household member must be removed from the waiting list application, they must consent to the removal by filling out a removal consent letter provided by our office. Please contact us via email or phone to request the template.

ANNUAL AUDIT

Every October, BHC conducts a waiting list audit by sending correspondence to waiting list households. Households must respond to the audit correspondence by the given deadline to remain on the waiting list. Failure to respond by the deadline indicates a disinterest in our Affordable Housing Program & will result in removal from the waiting list.

The contact information listed on your waiting list application must be kept current and accurate in order for you to receive the audit correspondence. Should you fail to update your information prior to the audit, your household risks not receiving the audit correspondence in time to respond by the given deadline.

BHC is not responsible for any issues with the postal service or technical problems. Late responses will NOT be accepted under any circumstances.

RENTAL SCREENING

If you are offered and choose to apply for an apartment with BHC, you will need to provide verification and documentation of your household’s income and eligibility during the rental application process. The household must complete the rental screening process before they are able to view the available unit.

Households that refuse an offered unit for preferential reasons will be removed from the waiting list. If your household requires a reasonable accommodation due to a disability, please contact our office via email or phone to submit a formal request: info@burbankhousingcorp.org or (818) 559-2336

Occupancy Standards

By default, BHC will place households in unit sizes that maximize the unit's occupancy. While on our waiting list, households may contact our office & make an elective request for a larger unit size; however, their wait time will increase as their application will have a low priority level.

Occupancy Standards
One-bedroom unit:
1 person min. - 3 people max.

Two-bedroom unit:
4 people min. - 5 people max.

Three-bedroom unit:
6 people min. - 7 people max.

Four-bedroom unit:
8 people max.

Income Verification

Household income must be verified at the time of the initial rental application AND EVERY YEAR THEREAFTER. Adult household members must submit their income documents (bank statements, tax returns, etc.) to our property management office in order to move into any BHC-managed unit.

If the household is ineligible based on an incorrect application or lack of income documentation, the household may be moved to the bottom or completely removed from the waiting list.

Your minimum income requirement will be approximately 2.5 times the monthly rent.

Rent & Security Deposit

The BHC Affordable Housing Program is not a rent subsidy or rental assistance program. All of BHC's rental units operate under State and Federal rent limits. Tenants are responsible for paying their rent & utility payments in full. We require a security deposit (up to 2 months’ rent).

Each BHC unit has a set rent amount based on the unit's designated income level.

If a resident's income changes during the year, the rent amount may be modified after the annual income recertification process. This is contingent on the availability to redesignate units' income levels, which are established by Affordable Housing Agreements with the City of Burbank.

Credit & Criminal Background Check

A credit and criminal background check will also be performed during the time of the rental application. For this reason, every adult household member must be able to provide a social security number or an individual tax identification number.

If adult household members are unable to provide either a social security number or an individual tax identification number at the time of the rental screening, the household will be moved to the bottom of the list.

Our property management office will review all adults' criminal and credit records for evictions, bankruptcies, and violent or serious offenses.