The Housing Welcome Center has available lists of apartment
complexes, house rentals, sale listings, rooms in private homes, roommate or
share listings, and motel/hotel lists. All listing placed with Housing Referral
are offered to our personnel regardless of race, creed, color, nation origin, or
sex. Any housing discrimination should be reported to the Housing Referral
Manager immediately. We look into charges and advise of procedures that may be
taken. Housing Referral is assigned the task of counseling incoming personnel
regarding local laws pertaining to leases and security deposits. While you live
off-base, if you have any problems with your landlord, we encourage you to talk
to the landlord first. If you cannot work out the problem, you may call us and
we can offer advice, according to local or Maryland law, and we can talk to your
landlord and try to work things out.
1. Military Clause. Maryland Law
states: "If a person who is on active duty with the United States military
enters into a residential lease of property and subsequently receives permanent
change of station orders or temporary duty orders for a period in excess of 3
months, any liability of the person for rent under the lease may not
exceed:
(a) 30 days rent after written notice and
proof of the assignment is given to the landlord;
and
(b) the cost of repairing damages to the premises
caused by an act or omission of the tenant."
In the opinion of the
Attorney General, military personnel who retire, discharge, resign, or separate
from the service under honorable conditions have the right to terminate their
residential lease.
2. If you are on the waiting list for Government
Quarters, you should try to locate a short term lease. The Military Clause will
not allow you to break a lease for assignment to on-base housing.
3.
Meade Village in Severn, MD has been placed on an "off-limits" status by the
Maryland and Delaware Armed Forces Disciplinary Control Board. Military
personnel are advised that they are prohibited from entering off-limits
establishments or areas.
4. Single enlisted personnel should go through
budget or financial counseling before negotiating off-base housing. Do not sign
a lease until you know you will be able to draw BAH.
5. Be absolutely
sure, before you sign a lease, that this is where you want to live. You are
signing a legal binding contract. If you have questions about a lease, ask
before you sign. If a lease is broken in Anne Arundel County before the end of
its term, the tenant is liable to the landlord for the rest of the term of the
lease, or until a new tenant occupies the property.
6. When you move into
a rental, make a checklist of damages. This list should be made within 15
calendar days after you move in. Make 2 copies: you keep the original and give a
copy to your landlord, and have him/her sign your copy. Attach your copy to your
lease and keep it in a safe place - you will need it when you vacate. You will
be held responsible for damages incurred while you were a resident
of the property. Your checklist is your only guarantee that you will
not be charged for something that was already damaged when you moved
in.
7. The Navy has signed a rental agreement contract called the "Rental
Partnership Program (RPP)". There are several complexes that offer this program.
Families and bachelors attached to the Naval Academy and Naval Station Complex
qualify for the Rental Partnership program. This program offers affordable
housing. A few of the benefits are:
(a) Rental rates
set at an agreed upon
amount
(usually equal to
BAH)
(b) No security deposit, application
fee,
or credit
check
(c) No income
requirements
(d) Rent must be paid through
allotment
(e) Must be a 1-year lease