The Montgomery County, Maryland Department of Technology Services - Geographic Information Systems (DTS-GIS) team, in cooperation with the Department of Housing and Community Affairs (DHCA), developed a web-based Apartment Rental Guide to provide the public (customers) with a tool to find rental apartments in Montgomery County. The Apartment Rental Guide web application includes listings and information for 416 rental apartment facilities including special apartment buildings for the elderly and the disabled in addition to subsidized apartments for singles and families.

Customers can search for an apartment by name, location or city, apartment type and rent range as well as building type. They can also search for those apartments that include utilities, allow pets, provide a washer/dryer, a pool, handicapped access, and are within a mile of public transportation. Below market value apartment search options are also available. After search criteria are submitted, the application will generate a list of apartments with contact information and a brief summary. Customers can then click an apartment listed in the results to access more detailed information. Details for each apartment include survey data, an exterior photo, proximity information (bus routes, school service areas, places of interest), and links to map and travel directions.

The apartment data and information presented in the Apartment Rental Guide application reflects information reported annually to DHCA by apartment landlords. In addition, there are a few apartment management companies using the new on-line Apartment Rental Guide Management application to update vacancy and rental range data on an as-needed basis.

In summary, the Guide provides free tools for citizens and staff to search, display, or link to apartment rental information in seconds rather than going through the time consuming effort of finding the same information in a printed guide.