Residency Tests: What They Are and How They Affect Your Housing Rights

When you apply for a rental, public housing, or even a rent subsidy, you might be asked to pass a residency test, a requirement that proves you live in a specific area or meet local housing authority rules. Also known as local residency verification, it’s not just paperwork—it’s often the difference between getting a home and being turned away. Many people don’t realize how strict these rules can be. In places like Virginia and Maryland, you need to show proof you’ve lived in the county for 30, 60, or even 90 days before you can qualify for help. It’s not about income alone—it’s about where you’ve been.

Residency tests don’t just apply to public housing. They show up in rental applications, Section 8 programs, and even some landlord screening processes. If you’ve recently moved, been homeless, or lived with family, you might not have the right documents. A utility bill, lease agreement, or voter registration card can be enough—but only if they match the address the agency is checking. Missing one detail can delay your application for weeks. And it’s not just about proof of address. Some agencies also check your housing history, your past rentals, evictions, or public assistance use. Also known as tenancy record, it can block you even if you’re currently eligible. A single eviction from five years ago? That might not matter in some states. But in others, it’s an automatic disqualifier. The rules change by county, by state, even by housing provider.

Then there’s the income side. Residency tests often tie into income verification, how much you earn and whether it fits within local limits for affordable housing. Also known as means testing, it’s the other half of the puzzle. You might live in the right place, but if your income is too high—even by a few hundred dollars—you won’t qualify. And it’s not just your salary. Child support, side gigs, even unemployment benefits count. People get tripped up because they forget to report their cousin’s rent payment or their freelance income. One small mistake, and your application gets flagged.

What’s frustrating is that these rules aren’t always clear. A landlord might say you need a year of residency. The housing authority says 30 days. And if you’re new to the area, no one tells you what documents to bring until it’s too late. You end up running in circles. But knowing what’s required ahead of time changes everything. You can gather your proof early. You can challenge errors. You can even find programs that don’t require residency tests at all.

Below, you’ll find real cases from across the U.S.—from Virginia to Baltimore County—where residency rules blocked people, changed outcomes, or were misunderstood. Some stories are about income limits. Others are about criminal records, household size, or landlord behavior. But they all connect back to one thing: how residency rules shape who gets a home, and who doesn’t. These aren’t abstract policies. They’re the fine print that decides where you sleep tonight.