GOVERNMENT HOUSING:
Government housing is unavailable on
Devens. This can be a complicated task, but there are many valuable internet web
sites that have information on available rental units, costs, amenities, and
military policies. Visit the installation Relocation Assistance Program for
local area rental information and guidance before signing a rental/lease
agreement. ACS carries up-to-date information that will be beneficial to you and
your family in deciding where to live. You should also have the installation
legal office review your rental/lease agreement to ensure there are no hidden
clauses before signing and to ensure that the military termination clause is
included.
Housing is expensive and scarce. Due to low
mortgage rates the price of houses and condos has increased dramatically in this
area.
IMPORTANT RENTAL INFORMATION: **VERY IMPORTANT WHEN
PLANNING YOUR FINANCES**
Apartment rentals routinely require first month
rent, last month rent, and often a security deposit equal to one-month rent, to
be paid prior to occupancy.
RENTAL AGREEMENT:
Make sure you
understand your rental agreement before you sign it. In Mass you will
find either Tenancy -at-will or lease. A TENANCY-AT-WILL is a
contract that you renew every thirty days when you pay the rent. You
are not locked into a lease; but you are also not locked into a fixed
rent.
In many cases you will be asked to sign a rental agreement which
outlines both your and the landlord's obligations. You should ask the
legal office to review
any agreement before you sign it.
A LEASE is a
rental contract, which commits each party for a specific period
of
time. The landlord cannot raise the rent or ask you to leave
(without a cause) but you are liable for the rent for the entire period whether
or not you are living there. Make sure that you have a "MILITARY
CLAUSE" inserted in the lease. The clause allows you to break the
lease if you are deployed, PCS, or obtain military housing. There are
no state statutory protections for soldiers, so it is important that you have a
clause inserted. Devens legal office can assist you with
this. Telephone: 978-796-2255
UTILITIES:
There
are three types of heating; electric, gas or oil. These sources
supply your heating, stove, and hot water. Electric heat is the most
expensive. Both oil and gas prices have risen dramatically during the
winters of 2002-2003. Prices of oil vary by month and oil
company. Gas prices have risen during the 2003-2004
winter.
APARTMENT REFERRALS:
ACS will provide you with a listing
of apartment complexes with a 40-mile radius of Devens.