Leasing Questions - Affiliated Civilian
Q: Is the Security Deposit refundable?
A: Yes. Monies will be refunded to you when you move out, if all payments have been made and there is not excess damage to the home beyond normal wear and tear.
Q: What is the length of the lease?
A: The lease is for one year and then continue on a month-to-month basis thereafter.
Q: Who is responsible for answering payment questions?
A: You may direct your questions to the Community Management Office.
Q: How do we make a maintenance request?
A: Residents may contact the Service Request Desk or initiate maintenace requests on our website. Emergency maintenance requests should only be phoned in. The phone number will be provided at move-in.
Q: Do I have to sign a lease?
A: Yes, all residents are required to sign a lease in order to protect themselves as well as the partnership.
Maintenance Questions - Affiliated Civilians
Q: Whom do we contact with concerns of maintenance issues?
A: Residents may contact the Service Request Desk. The phone number will be provided at move-in.
Q: Who provides maintenance to my home?
A: Balfour Beatty Communities provides maintenance services.
Construction / Renovation Questions - Military Members
Q: Who pays for the move if I choose to move into the local enconomy instead?
A: Balfour Beatty Communities will make every effort to maintain your residency. The choice to move into the local economy is yours. However, the move would be at your own expense if comparable housing is available in our community.
Q: How much notice will be given prior to the move?
A: All efforts will be made to provide as much notice as possible; however, there you will be given a minimum of thirty (30) days notice.
Q: What are the plans for new construction and renovation of current housing?
A: Plans are being finalized now and information will be available to you in the near future.
Q: If I am moved due to renovation/demolition, will I have to clean my home?
A: The home must be clean from a health and safety perspective and the appliances must be fully cleaned. However, the standards of cleanliness will be less than for a unit that will be immediately reoccupied. The Community Management Office will provide you with those standards.
Q: If I am moved out of my home due to renovation/demolition, will I automatically be moved into one of the newly constructed homes?
A: No. Balfour Beatty Communities knows how stressful it can be to move as often as Military Families do. Our goal is to place you into a permanent home that your family can enjoy during the duration of your tour.
Q: If my neighborhood is part of the construction and I have to move, who will pay for the move?
A: Your move will be paid for by Balfour Beatty Communities. You will also receive a utility reimbursement check to transfer your cable and telephone services. You will be given the option of a DITY move or the services of a professional mover.
Utility Questions - Military Members
Q: Will I have to pay utilities for my home?
A: Utilities (gas, electric, water and sewer) are included in your rent. Once all homes in a neighborhood are equipped with electric and gas meters, consumption costs will be tracked for one year. An average consumption rate will be determined for each type of unit in each neighborhood and 115% of this average will be established as the utility allowance. You will be responsible for any amounts over the 115% average. You will receive rebates for consumption under 100%.
Q: When will homes be metered?
A: Homes will be metered as they are built or renovated. There is not a specific timetable at this time. However, we anticipate that it will occur within the next two to six years.
Miscellaneous Questions - Military Members
Q: Do I have to mow my yard?
A: Balfour Beatty Communities mows all grass areas except within fenced yards.
Q: Where can I park my boat?
A: Boats and boat trailers may only be parked in designated areas. Proper storage of recreational vehicles, including boats, and trailers in a garage will not justify improper parking of other vehicles. Please consult the Resident Guide for more details on the regulation.
Q: Is there a self-help program?
A: Balfour Beatty Communities has on-site professional maintenance personnel to provide responsive care to for every home. We ask residents to leave home repairs to these professionals and place a service request. However, a self-help facility will be provided where residents can obtain common yard materials and tools as well as fluorescent bulbs.
Payment Questions - Military Members
Q: If both spouses are service members, do they both "forfeit" BAH rent?
A: BAH is collected only from the highest ranking service member with dependent rate. This holds true regardless of which spouse carries the dependents on their Page 2 and whether or not the "with dependents" rate is paid to that Service Member. The second spouse will collect their entire BAH in their LES unaffected by Balfour Beatty Communities.
Q: What does my rent include?
A: Your rent will include your electric, gas, water, sewer and fuel oil for heat. It also includes a Personal Property Insurance policy to cover your personal belongings up to $20,000 with a $250 per incident deductible for military residents only.
Q: If my rent is late, do I need to pay a late fee?
A: The late fee for rent and any other charges that are not paid in a timely manner is $25.
Q: How much is my rent?
A: The amount of your rent is set at your BAH with dependents rate.
Q: If I receive a promotion or demotion, what is the amount of my rent?
A: The rent will increase for a promotion and decrease for a demotion. The rental amount is always the amount of the BAH with dependents. It is your responsibility to notify the Community Management Office within five (5) days of any promotions or demotions.
Q: What is the eviction policy?
A: Residents may be evicted for non-payment, egregious acts, or failure to follow Community Policies. The Command will always be involved in all eviction proceedings.
Q: Will I start to receive BAH?
A: Military families living in Privatized Housing will collect BAH.
Q: Now that BAH is noted on my LES, is this amount taxable?
A: No, BAH is not taxable.
Q: When BAH increases, what happens to the amount of my rent?
A: Rent will increase the same amount as the BAH, effective immediately.
Q: Who is responsible for answering payment questions?
A: You may direct your questions to the Community Management Office.
Q: Will rent be prorated if I move out other than the last day of the month?
A: The month will be divided in to 30 equal periods, despite the numbers of days in any given month. The rent will be assessed only for the days you lived in housing.
Q: How do I pay rent?
A:
For Service Members in the Army, Navy and Air Force:
When you sign your lease, you will also sign a "Payment by Allotment” form. Your BAH will wired to the Military Assistance Corporation (MAC) who is a contractor that collects allotments and remits these payments to vendors. MAC will wire the funds to Southeast Housing, LLC (Balfour Beatty Communities). You will see your BAH on your LES as an entitlement and as a payment to Southeast Housing, LLC. The advantages of Payment by Allotment are that you will not be required to pay a Security Deposit and your rent will be due in arrears. If you choose "Direct Payment" you will need to make your rental payments to the Community Management Office. You will be required to pay a Security Deposit equal to one month of rent and your rent will be due in advance.
For Service Members in the Marines:
The same applies as the answer above, however, if you chose "Payment by Allotment”, you are responsible for filling out an allotment form (DD Form 2558) and forwarding your copy of the DD Form 2558 to your finance administrator.
For Service Members in the Coast Guard:
The same applies as the answer above, however, if you chose "Payment by Allotment”, you are responsible for filling out an Allotment Worksheet (CG PSC-2040). Balfour Beatty Communities maintains a copy of the PSC-2040 and you take the original signed PSC-2040 to your PERSRU Office for initiation of the rent allotment.
Utility Questions - Affiliated Civilians
Q: When will homes be metered?
A: There is no specific timetable for the installation of meters. However, we anticipate that it will occur within the next two to six years.
Q: Will I have to pay utilities for my home?
A: Your electric, water, sewer and trash removal will be included in your rent until all homes are metered and a baseline for consumption/costs are established. Rent for Affiliated Civilians will then be ADJUSTED down and you will have to pay for your own electric. Water, sewer and trash removal will still be included in the rent when the homes are metered.
Pet Questions - Affiliated Civilians
Q: Is there a pet policy?
A: The number of pets in a home is limited to two. There are restrictions on the breeds of aggressive dogs including: Akita, Chow, Doberman, Pit Bull, American Bull Dog and Rotweiller. Residents living in housing prior to October 1, 2007 will be allowed to maintain their existing pets if they document the information on the Pet Addendum at time of signing a lease.
Assignment Questions - Affiliated Civilians
Q: How will the waiting list process be managed?
A: The Navy Family Housing Office will maintain the referral waiting list.
Q: How will the assignment process work?
A: Affiliated Civilians will continue to go to the Navy Family Housing Office to compete their application. The Navy Family Housing Office will refer you to the Bafour Beatty Communities Management Office.
Pet Questions - Military Members
Q: Is there a pet policy?
A: The number of pets in a home is limited to two. Aggressive breeds of pets are not allowed. Residents living in houisng prior to October 1, 2007 will be allowed to maintain their existing pets if they execute a Pet Addendum.
Assignment Questions - Military Members
Q: How will the wait list be managed?
A: The Navy Family Housing Office will maintain the referrals by rank and bedroom size.
Q: How will the Assignment process work?
A: Service members will continue to go to the Navy Family Housing Office to complete their application. The Navy Family Housing Office will determine your entitlement (number of bedrooms) and you will be referred to to the Community Management Office for the actual assignment.
Q: Can a family be moved from a three bedroom to a two bedroom if they only have one child?
A: No. Once settled in, you will not be downgraded regardless of a reduction in family composition.
Q: What happens if my family size increases?
A: A transfer request will be placed through the Community Management Office. You will be required to update your eligibility through the Navy Family Housing Office and be placed on the proper referral wait list. The initial lease term must be fulfilled and a thirty (30) day written notice must be given prior to any transfer request.
Maintenance Questions - Military Members
Q: Who provides maintenance for my home?
A: Balfour Beatty Communities provides maintenance services.
Q: Who do we contact with concerns about maintenance issues?
A: Residents may contact the Service Request Desk. The phone number will be provided at move-in.
Q: How do we make a maintenance request?
A: Residents can contact the Service Request Desk or enter via the website. The phone number will be provided at time of move-in. Emergency service requests may only be called in and not entered on line.
Miscellaneous Questions - Affiliated Civilians
Q: Is there a self-help program?
A: Balfour Beatty Communities has on-site professional maintenance personnel to provide responsive care to every home. We ask residents to leave home repairs to these professionals and make a service request. However, a self-help facility will be provided where common yard materials, fluorescent bulbs and HVAC filters can be found.
Q: Will I have to mow my own lawn?
A: Balfour Beatty Communities will mow all grass areas except in fenced yards.
Leasing Questions - Military Members
Q: What if I receive orders to PCS or TDY for more than thirty days?
A: The lease contains provisions that will allow you to break your lease with thirty (30) days written notice and a copy of the orders.
Q: What if I receive immediate orders and am not able to provide thirty (30) days notice?
A: The lease allows you the flexibility to provide a shorter notice if you receive immediate orders. Proper documentation is required in order to honor the notice reduction.
Q: Do I have to sign a lease?
A: Yes, all residents will be required to sign a lease in order to protect themselves as well as the partnership.
Q: What if I decide to "break" my lease for other reasons, prior to the seven month expiration?
A: You will be required to provide a thirty (30) day written notice and pay a lease termination fee equal to one month rent/BAH.
Q: What is the length of the lease?
A: The lease is for seven months and then continues month-to-month.
Q: What happens if a divorce occurs in a family residing in Housing?
A: The policy is the same as when the Housing was operated by the Navy. The first day that the service member resides away from the home, a thirty (30) day written notice must be submitted. The spouse
and the family will be required to vacate the home within thirty (30) days of physical separation. In this case, the lease may be broken without early termination fee due to a change in family status.
Q: How will I sign the lease if I am at sea?
A: Only a military sponsor can sign a lease; therefore you may provide a special or general power of attorney permitting your spouse to sign the lease in your absence. If you are unable to do that, please contact the Community Management Office for further assistance.
Payment Questions - Affiliated Civilians
Q: What does my rent include?
A: Your rent will include electric, water, sewer and trash removal. Once the homes are metered and a baseline for consumption/costs are established, rent for Affiliated Civilians will be ADJUSTED down and Residents will be responsible for paying their own electric. Water, sewer and trash removal will still be included in the rent after the homes are metered.
Q: What is the eviction policy?
A: Residents may be evicted for nonpayment of rent or other charges, egregious acts, or failure to follow Community Policies. The Command will always be made aware of all eviction proceedings.
Q: How do I pay rent?
A: Rent payments are to be made directly to the Community Management Office.
An upfront Security Deposit equal to one month of rent is due before October 1, 2007. If for any reason you cannot pay the Security Deposit in full by October 1, 2007, you must make arrangements with the Community Management Office in order to prevent eviction proceedings.
Q: If my rent is late, do I need to pay a late fee?
A: Yes. The late fee for rent or any other charges that are not paid in a timely manner is $25.
Q: How much is my rent?
A: Affiliated Civilian residents that currently live in housing or move in by September 30, 2007 will have their current rates frozen until December 31, 2008.
Affiliated Civilians who sign a lease after October 1,2007 will be subject to the following monthly rates:
2 Bedroom rent is $1025*
3 Bedroom rent is $1340**
4 Bedroom rent is $1810***
* First priority for 2 bedroom homes will be given to GS5/equivalent or below.
** First priority for 3 bedroom homes will be given to GS10/equivalent or below.
*** 4 bedroom homes will be given to all GS employees regardless of paygrade.