Military Housing Policy
Military housing, whether barracks or single-family housing units, is available to all military members according to Department of Defense rules. Individual military members may be housed in on-base barracks, while military families may live in on-base housing or offsite private sector housing.
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Sense Of Obligation
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Because military members must be available for service at any given moment, sometimes placing the military’s needs above individual family needs, the Department of Defense carries a legal and ethical obligation to care for military members in terms of housing, according to its website.
Military members who live in areas with higher-quality housing offerings have a 15 percent higher retention rate than those military members who live in areas with lower-quality housing offerings, according to the Department of Defense website.
On-Base Housing
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The military offers on-base housing to about 10 percent of military families, owning and operating about 134,000 housing units worldwide, according to the Department of Defense website. Military housing is provided in areas where outside housing is of low quality, expensive or far away.
The Department of Defense determines that work commutes should be one hour or less.
On-base government housing has its own problems: it can be too small or run down. The Department of Defense estimates that 43 percent, or 58,000 units, are considered substandard housing.
Military members without dependents are required to live in military barracks, sharing a room with at least one person. Shared bathroom and telephone facilities are available. Military members surveyed in 1992 have indicated preferences for larger rooms, more privacy and storage space, and a private bathroom, according to the Department of Defense website.
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Private Sector Housing
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About 65 percent of military families live in private homes, receiving a housing allowance from the military, according to the Department of Defense website. The department estimates that families living in private sector housing enjoy better-quality living conditions.
Rights Of Military Tenants
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Military housing tenants are protected by the same laws as civilian tenants, according to the Department of Defense website.
After receiving a permanent “change of station” order or deployment, military members have 90 days to terminate leases without penalty.
Because military demands may necessitate immediate relocation to other areas, military families may terminate rental agreements with private landlords without penalty. Military personnel aren’t responsible for paying “back rent” if deployed and unable to continue holding a lease.
While on active duty, military members may not be evicted for nonpayment of rents totaling $1,200 per month or less.
The Department of Defense offers landlord protection to ensure that rent is not disrupted while new tenants are located, however.
Landlords are also able to contact base housing offices should a military family begin to default on rent payments.
Moving
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In most instances, the Department of Defense allows military members 10 days for house hunting and moving, according to Navy Times. However, military members can choose to use vacation days to augment this timeframe.
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References
- Photo Credit military housing #1 image by Aaron Kohr from Fotolia.com
