Can I Designate myRental Unit for Government/Military Employees?

Question

We're picking up a single-family BRRR home in a beaten-down-but-on-its-way-up neighborhood. Price is nice and low, condition is fair, and rehab should be low-to-moderate in cost. Question is, with a large military base nearby, it is a great candidate for two young Soldiers. Anyone familiar with the ins and outs of designating a property for Government employees. Code requirements? Points of contact? Etc.

Yvette M. · Answer

When I put my flyers in the housing office they try to steer LLs into using homes.mil.  I didn't find the site user friendly, but its free.

What you may try is offering a reduced security deposit or waive the application for military/govt employees.  I don't know if you can advertise that or just offer it to people when they inquire about the property.  There is no approved listing for private landlords in the housing office.

Gail K. · Answer

Good places to advertise:  www.ahrn.com (automated housing referral network)' used by the military; free to post.

www.militarybyowner.com; this one costs but the cheapest ad isn't very much.  Less folks posting on this one because it isn't free like www.ahrn.com.

Only problem we've come up with dealing with military/government folks (and I'm a retired government employee) is that we require that folks be able to view our properties before signing a lease.  Once had an issue with a young military couple coming from across the country; they were happy about the house until they got here and she suddenly got picky walking into the place (not modern enough for her).  Since then we have this requirement so we don't waste our time or theirs.

If you require this (and it's a good idea) then an interested applicant who is not in the area can request a fellow employee/soldier, friend, relative, etc. come a view the house for them, take pictures, video, etc. in their place.

Check out the housing allowances for the military for your area and set your rent accordingly.

In regard to Code requirements....no one from our military base or the VA Medical Center I worked at has checked out our places in terms of approving them for the military/government folks.  Keep in mind that if there is a dispute with, say, a security deposit later on the soldiers always have access to the military attorneys to help them out.  And your lease should include a military clause for them.

Gail

Bill Gulley · Answer

Dealing with the military is good business, you've mentioned advantages, you can even have an allotment for rents.

As to exclusive dealing, no you can't bar the public. There are special provisions for associations, religious groups, etc. but you don't need to go there.

Just advertise to the military. Some loan programs can require a ad in a newspaper, but you're probably not going to have that type of low-mod housing.

Make good friends with the folks at Post Housing! They should have a list of "Approved Landlords/Properties" or the can have ones of barred LLs and properties.

Saying two soldiers....well, make sure they are of sufficient rank (usually E-4 and above) who are command sponsored or authorized to live off post. 2 single people will likely mean "party house" with lower EM, IMO. Try for a small family, they won't have as many platoon parties! :)

Account Closed · Answer

This thread got me thinking - people who are not in the military are not a protected class.  And since the military consists of families and all types of races and religions, etc., I don't see how you could be viewed as discriminating against any of the protected classes, by saying you only rent to members of the military.

But, I agree with the poster above who suggested just advertising that you are military-friendly.  Or you could say you specialize in renting to members of the military, just so you don't have to deal with the fair housing testers.

But, I think that even if you just advertised it as "military housing," I don't see any basis for a legitimate discrimination complaint, since non-military households are not a protected class.

Anyway, good luck with your investment.  It will be really helpful to understand your tenant pool like you do.

Yvette M. · Answer

You can word your ad to say "military friendly" or "DoD friendly" landlord -- maybe not that blatant because you don't want a prospect crying to the Fair Housing Admin. My properties are fairly close to several military bases and I've been thinking of putting flyers on cars near the base.  Most bases also have a spouse Facebook pages too for rentals and yardsales, so check into that.  Two that I can think of are "white walls real estate"and "oh the places we lived". Good luck!

Account Closed · Answer

Those are awesome page names. They remind me of the wall hanging at my brother's house that reads, "Home is where the Army sends us."

Account Closed · Answer

I like that idea, Yvette. Thanks! I am heading to the housing office on post this week to see what they can do. I'll ask about offering discounts/waivers to military.

Account Closed · Answer

Small family. Roger that. :-)

Account Closed · Answer

Thanks, Gail. That all jives with what I've learned during my career. Perhaps I should have been more specific. The question is how to designate the property for military, e.g. establishing the unit with the post housing office as a military/government-designated/friendly property. This could help weed out any of the unscrupulous folks who could easily disappear into the woodwork if a problem arises. Government folks, on the other hand, have a chain of command and UCMJ to keep them accountable.

Can I Designate myRental Unit for Government/Military Employees?

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