Dealing with tenants in the Military

[David Mares]

Hi everyone, 

I am an aspiring investor from the San Antonio area and am looking to rent to SFH to active military (SA is a large military city). My father is retired Air Force and I accompany him to several base facilities where I can post my information for those who are new and searching for a home. Can you share some valuable lessons that you have learned from having tenants in the military so that I may be better informed?

Thanks! 

[Gail K.]

Become familiar with the Soldiers and Sailors Civil Relief Act in terms of leases (when leases can be broken, what the active duty military personnel must provide the landlord in doing so).  Include a military clause in your lease.

Often those coming into an area have a pretty good idea how long they'll be stationed there.  Feel free to ask them this.  Know the BAH rates for your area.

If having someone contact you from outside your area that wants to rent your place but can't view it themselves, STRONGLY encourage (we now require) that a friend/proxy view the place first for them.  We no longer rent places to folks "sight unseen".

Youngsters just finishing basic training and going to their first station might, at times, be like any youngster renting for the first time.  Starting out in the military doesn't necessarily make them mature.  It's helpful to get the name of their commanding officer on your application should a "straightening up" call ever need to be made to them.

For the most part (and I come from a long line of military folks, including having a youngest son who is a Navy veteran and a long history of working with vets in my local VA Medical Center) we've had good luck renting to veterans.

Gail