A housing referral counselor will provide you with the following:
a. Comprehensive lists and availability of apartments, houses, mobile homes, or mobile home lots for rent or sale.
b. Guidance in obtaining the most suitable residence for the most affordable price.
c. Information on leases (military clause), the South Carolina Landlord/Tenant Act, deposits, complaint process, etc.
d. Advice on locations to meet your family requirements.
RENTAL PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM (RPP) (Formerly Navy Set-Aside Program)
Military personnel with six months or more remaining on active duty in the Charleston area are eligible for the program. This program provides community apartment complexes and some townhouses with no security deposit, no application fee, and no credit check. Military members desiring to participate in this program need to visit the Housing Office to apply. Bring current orders, a page 2, LES, evidence of length of PCS tour and evidence of obligation of service date extending at least one year; and where applicable, permission to live off-base/off-ship.
Common Questions regarding the Rental Partnership Program:
Q. What is the program about?
A. It is designed to provide military personnel, enlisted and officers, with off-base, affordable housing. The program is governed by an agreement between the Property Management Company and Commanding Officer, Naval Weapons Station Charleston. It was implemented to ease the transition for our military personnel and to help defray some of the cost incurred while moving. Service members are not charged a security deposit nor application fee and receive up to a five percent (5%) reduction in rental cost. Credit checks are waived as applicants are approved based on EAOS, PRD, and pay grade. Applicants must have permanent orders in the Charleston/Tri-County area. Program permits communities to voluntarily obligate for rent by military personnel, one-, two-, three-, and four-bedroom apartments or houses. Housing units offered to the program are evaluated and qualified to meet the highest standards.
Q. Who is eligible under the Program?
A. All military personnel (married and single) who are members of the various branches of the military and are eligible to apply for Navy housing. A Power of Attorney is not authorized; member must apply.
Q. How does the military member get approved for the program?
A. The military member must report to the Housing Office with orders, LES, and/or Page 2 for counseling. He/she must have a minimum of 6 months remaining on PRD and one year EAOS. If single, E4 and below, the military member must have written approval from their command to live off-base. When counseling has been completed, the military member will receive a letter of eligibility, authorizing participation in the program, for presentation to the property manager.
Q. How does the program work?
A. It enables military personnel to rent off-base housing at a reduced rental rate while not paying a deposit or application fee.
Q. What type of lease does the service member sign?
A. A 12- or 6-month lease is signed. The service member may terminate the lease with military orders, discharge orders, or retirement. An official copy of orders must be presented, along with a 30-day written notice. Liquidated damage charges may apply.
Q. How does the service member pay rent?
A. The service member must initiate an allotment, via Disbursing Office, for payment of monthly rent to the landlord; this is MANDATORY if service member chooses to participate in the program. Rent is the service member's responsibility and must be paid directly to the landlord by certified funds until the allotment becomes effective. No personal checks are accepted under this program.
Q. How does the program affect the service member's current lease?
A. It is up to individual management companies to release a service member from their current lease to participate under this program. However, at the end of the original lease term, the service member may, by signing a new 12- or 6-month lease, participate in the program. If the service member decides to participate in the program, the property manager would refund the security deposit within 30 days. Rent is based on the negotiated rate between property owner/complex manager and the Naval Weapons Station. The security deposit refund may not be used for the first month's rent under the program nor the final month on an existing lease agreement.
Q. Can an apartment complex refuse to rent to certain ranks?
A. No. Any rank may rent at the current rental rate. When the quota of apartments has been filled, the Housing Office will refer no service members to the complex. The management company may increase the quota if it desires.
Q. Who is responsible for the check-in condition report?
A. The service member is responsible for completing the check-in discrepancy/condition report within five (5) calendar days of accepting the keys to the unit. Member may request a Housing representative be present.
Q. What must the member provide the landlord in order to receive keys to the unit?
A. The member must provide the landlord two items in order to receive keys to the unit: (1) a copy last page from the allotment paperwork package reflecting a disbursing clerk's signature and (2) a money order or cashier's check for the pro-rata rent due at move in.
Q. What happens after the lease expires?
A. After the initial term of the lease has expired, the service member may continue under the program on a month-to-month basis or may sign a new 12- or 6-month lease.
Q. What happens if the service member receives PCS orders?
A. If the service member receives PCS orders or TAD/TDY orders in excess of three months (not including deployment) and is transferred outside a 50-mile radius, the service member may terminate the lease before the end of the lease period under the Military Clause. The service member must present a copy of his/her orders to the property manager along with a 30-day written notice; liquidated damage charges may apply.
Q. Is a security deposit required?
A. No. However, the apartment complex may charge a reservation fee up to $100 to hold a housing unit. The reservation fee will be applied toward the first month's rent. If for some reason the service member does not qualify, the fee will be returned; but, if the service member is qualified and changes his/her mind, the fee is forfeited.
Q. Is an application fee required?
A. No. However, the service member must show proper military identification and verification provided by the Housing Office. In addition, if the property manager decides to run a credit check, the member cannot be turned down for a poor credit history, but the member may be turned down for poor rental references verified from a previous landlord.
Q. Is a pet deposit required?
A. Yes. Individual complex rules apply.
Q. What if service member disagrees about damages or apartment conditions?
A. Before service member moves out, member is responsible for coordinating a joint final check-out inspection between the property owner/complex manager, a Housing representative, and the member within 72 hours prior to member's lease expiration date. Housing representative will mediate any issues at the time of the final check-out.
Q. What if the service member leaves owing money?
A. Should a member leave owing money, property owner/complex manager may fax an itemized list of the charges owed to the Housing Office. Itemization must be on letterhead, contain a readable and detailed breakdown with a final total, and have an authorized signature. Upon receipt, the Housing Office will process a Pay Adjustment Authorization, DD Form 139 (automatic payment deduction) if the member is active duty and if the charges are $50 or greater.
Vacancy rate in the civilian community is approximately 5%. Some landlords allow one small pet; difficult when more than one pet or for larger pets; in most cases, pet fee is non-refundable. Furnished/unfurnished short-term lease rentals for single, group/share available.