Renting for a Military House - How to make a decision?

Renting for a Military House – How to make a decision?

        To live in military family housing, you must be living in the house with your dependent. There are exceptions for those who are temporarily deployed, or who are serving a remote overseas tour. In these cases,the family members can continue to live in military family housing, while the member is away. In the military rental homes. Members who are assigned to locations where dependents are not allowed to travel at government expense (such as basic training, and some unaccompanied overseas assignments) can live in the barracks for free, and still continue to receive the housing allowance (for the location of their dependents), in order to provide a household for their family members.

Advantages for Military Rental Housing in US:

1. No responsibility for maintenance or repairs:

           As a renter, you’re not responsible for military home maintenance or repair costs. If a toilet backs up, a pipe bursts, or an appliance stops working, you don’t have to call an expensive repair person – you just have to call your landlord or superintendent.

2. Relocating is Easier:

          When you rent, relocating for work is easier, less time-consuming, and potentially less costly. That’s why renters who change jobs often typically rent until their professional lives stabilize. Though a sudden move may require you to break your rental lease, you can partially or fully offset the cost of doing so by subletting your apartment or negotiating with your landlord.

3. No Exposure to Military Real Estate Market:

         Military Home values fluctuate in response to changing economic conditions, and can decline over time. If you’re a renter, that’s not your problem – it’s your landlord’s.

4. Credit Requirements generally less strict:

        Although most landlords require prospective military renters to undergo a credit check, this is typically a zero-sum proposition. Your application is either approved or denied based on your credit score and credit history. As long as you don’t have a checkered credit report that includes bankruptcies and judgments, you’re likely to find a landlord willing to rent to you.

5. Some Utilities may be Included:

       Many multi-unit building owners cover the cost of most or all utilities, including non-essentials such as cable television. The practice is less common, but definitely still possible, in smaller buildings like duplexes and single-family military homes. By contrast, homeowners have to pay full utility costs, sometimes several hundred dollars per month, depending on dwelling size and usage.