Whether you are opening your first sober living or expanding your offerings with additional sober houses, it can be a struggle to find a property that’s a good fit if you are renting. Here are a few things to consider when searching for a house to rent in order to open a sober home.
The first is location, location, location!
You want to make sure the property is near public transportation service lines, whether it be bus, train or subway. The sober living home residents will need to be able to get to work and recovery activities with ease. A good location also encompasses job opportunities for the residents within a relatively close distance. Many residents don’t have vehicles when they arrive at a sober living home and public transportation becomes their primary mode of getting from place to place, so it’s important to keep that in mind. This also makes your home more attractive to potential residents.
Sober living homes are protected under the Federal Fair Housing Act, however researching zoning laws is important.
You want to find a township/municipality/city/county that is friendly and open to sober homes to make your life easier in the long-term. This isn’t always the easiest task, but knowing the zoning laws in the area where you open will help you prepare for any future battles. Finding locales where sober living homes are already operating can prove fruitful, as often these areas may be more receptive to sober living operators moving into the community. Reaching out to existing sober homes in your area can be beneficial as the operators can tell you firsthand how they navigated the process. This insight can be tremendously beneficial and save you a lot of time and headaches.
It’s important to be aware of the regulations landlords have to comply with when renting to a residential family, as sober living homes do have to follow those rules. Things to consider are fire codes and what the maximum number of people allowed in the home are, as well as whether a certificate of occupancy is required for residential renters. You’ll also want to look at NIMBY activity in the area. If other sober homes have attempted to open and found a lot of opposition from the surrounding community, you’ll want to determine whether that’s an area you truly want to to operate in. Some great sources through which to find available homes to rent are Zillow, Trulia and Craigslist.
Determine how many individuals you’d like to provide a sober living home for and then set your search criteria to encompass homes that would best suit those needs (number of bedrooms, bathrooms, total square footage, etc.).
Homes with HOA’s or on a cul-de-sac can sometimes present roadblocks. Homeowner associations may have rules for the neighborhood that can be tough to comply with, such as number of cars permitted at the property, no street parking, etc. A cul-de-sac may also have limited parking which can present difficulties if multiple residents have cars at the sober home. If the previously mentioned resources don’t turn up any good rental options, speak with the recovery community and try to find landlords who are in recovery and in support of sober living homes. If they don’t have any listings available, they may be able to point you in the direction of someone who does.
Once you find a few homes you’re interested in touring, contact the landlord or realtor to set up a showing and learn more about the property. If it seems to be a fit, let the landlord know that your intent is to provide sober living for the recovery community, which is a protected population.
It’s important to be up front about your intentions as you want to develop a good relationship with the landlord you work with.
If you’ve gone through the above steps, congratulations! You’re likely at the point where you have identified a property for your sober living home and are prepared to sign the lease and welcome residents.
Can’t decide whether you should rent or buy? Check out the pros and cons of renting vs buying a house for your sober living.