Gainesville, FL · Member since 2013 · 127 posts · 21 votes
An applicant for a rental that I own in Florida claims full-time employment for the U.S. Air Force as an officer making $85,000/yr. In a Linked-In profile he claims to be a Commander of a Communications Squadron in the U.S. Air Force Reserve at a base in the Atlanta area. On his rental application he lists as his supervisor a colonel who is commander of the Mission Support Group at the base in Atlanta. However, the applicant now lives in our little college town here in Florida where the only Air Force presence that I'm aware of is a recruiting office.
Please forgive my ignorance about the U.S. Air Force Reserve, but is this applicant employed full-time? I doubt I'll be able to reach the colonel to confirm the applicant's claims.
Real Estate Investor · Englewood, CO · Member since 2013 · 988 posts · 258 votes
13y
My military friends tell me the government issues an I.D. card that all are required to carry. I have one friend who has been retired from the Air Force for more than 10 years that still has a card issued by the government.
If you get the person's rank, you can search the Internet for the monthly salary for that rank.
Lender · Woodland Hills, CA · Member since 2013 · 362 posts · 115 votes
13y
Kay March be careful renting to military personnel. If you have to evict, it takes an act of God, as the courts (at least in CA) will slap down your landlord rights.
YMMV, check the laws in your state.
Vet him carefully, and check with previous landords.
Real Estate Investor · Englewood, CO · Member since 2013 · 988 posts · 258 votes
13y
Great points Tevis. I would think there are also different rules that apply should an active member be deployed. Especially should the rent become delinquent.
Investor · Parker, CO · Member since 2012 · 44 posts · 7 votes
13y
I am an Army Major. Just ask for his/her leave and earnings statement (LES) It will show all income. Military pay can be confusing because there is a good portion of it that is not considered base salary and is a non taxable basic housing allowance. If he has dependents this is almost 1700.00 in Colorado. Also he may be going to school as some compete and are funded for short tour to go to school. My friend is an REI and is in Kansas for a year at school and renting.
The LES will tell you everything. PM me when you get it and can show you how to read it. He gets it on the 1st and 15th of every month.
Gainesville, FL · Member since 2013 · 127 posts · 21 votes
13y
Russ McKelvey, thank you for that great info. I will keep it in mind for future applicants. This applicant decided that he was not in the market for a rental house after all. He made that decision once it was clear that I would not let him move in the day after he and his family first viewed the property and I would take time to process the application. Tevis Verrett, you are the second fellow landlord to warn me about renting to military personnel, so thank you for that reminder. As I understand it, though, we can't refuse the application based solely on the applicant's military status, so as you say, vet carefully.
Investor · Clairemont, CA · Member since 2011 · 3k+ posts · 2k+ votes
13y
I think the "warning" of military is in part due to the Soldiers and Sailors Civil Relief Act, basically active duty members have benefits of federal protection due to their military status. Things like debts from before the military can have interest dropped to 6%, if you deploy legal proceedings can be stayed, if there is a court case you have additional notice requirements to ensure that they received it ect.
But you are overlooking a huge benefit to you, this guy no matter if he is an E-3(enlisted) or an O-5(officer which is about the rank he claimed) has a boss, and those bosses don't like hearing that a service member is stiffing their LL on the rent. I know we had a kid that wasn't acting quite right and you better believe he got a "come to Jesus" meeting real quick and his bills got sorted out, and he got them paid quick after that. Also as a last resort the CO can garnish his wages and direct deposit if necessary, and even implement disciplinary action that is permanently attached to their record, so don't discount the possible benefits to you.
Also as far as judgements go they are the best because you can cost them their security clearance and they know it so they will pay you to keep their clearance intact.
Gainesville, FL · Member since 2013 · 127 posts · 21 votes
13y
Matt Devincenzo, I think we are all grateful for your informed response! I certainly would feel better if I could rent to military personnel without hesitation.
Residential Real Estate Broker · Bremerton, WA · Member since 2013 · 494 posts · 142 votes
13y
I am a LL in a military town. I will always rent to military and they have been great tenants for the reasons mentioned by Matt D. Military go through the same screening all my applicants go through. Consequently, when I rent to military, I have the added advantage of someone who has passed screening like everyone else.
I get many young military in my area who's only reference is the barracks. The Military barracks keep great records of how the military personal kept their quarters. This qualifies as a rental reference for me - it is great. The military who report to me are factual and literally read off of a piece of paper how the tenant kept their quarters. I know exactly what happened. Renting to military has been great - each of my rentals has been returned to me in same condition, rent paid on time, and needed repairs reported immediately. I received a call tonight about a small repair I might want to head off - I was glad they called now, not later. Great tenants so far. And my tenants have been grateful that I'm providing them with nice rentals. I give two thumbs up for military. My only disappointment with military so far is that they get re-stationed. Military have a lot at stake, plus great training.
Rental Property Investor · Upstate, NY · Member since 2012 · 3k+ posts · 3k+ votes
13y
Originally posted by Stephanie Dupuis:
I am a LL in a military town. I will always rent to military and they have been great tenants for the reasons mentioned by Matt D. Military go through the same screening all my applicants go through. Consequently, when I rent to military, I have the added advantage of someone who has passed screening like everyone else.
I get many young military in my area who's only reference is the barracks. The Military barracks keep great records of how the military personal kept their quarters. This qualifies as a rental reference for me - it is great. The military who report to me are factual and literally read off of a piece of paper how the tenant kept their quarters. I know exactly what happened. Renting to military has been great - each of my rentals has been returned to me in same condition, rent paid on time, and needed repairs reported immediately. I received a call tonight about a small repair I might want to head off - I was glad they called now, not later. Great tenants so far. And my tenants have been grateful that I'm providing them with nice rentals. I give two thumbs up for military. My only disappointment with military so far is that they get re-stationed. Military have a lot at stake, plus great training.
ditto
we have had great experiences with both active duty & Vets.
Lexington, KY · Member since 2009 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
13y
Originally posted by Tevis Verrett:
Kay March be careful renting to military personnel. If you have to evict, it takes an act of God, as the courts (at least in CA) will slap down your landlord rights.
YMMV, check the laws in your state.
Vet him carefully, and check with previous landords.
Good luck,
Tevis
Wow, Tevis Verrett, this is the first time I have heard anyone say this. Sure, evictions might be difficult, but are aware of some of the benefits of renting to military personnel. First off, your chances of getting a great tenant are probably higher with military than the general population. While evicting might be more difficult, the chances of having to so are far less. Why? As Matt Devincenzo pointed out, commanders do not like hearing about service-members not taking care of their obligations, and the military is able to step-in.
I am glad me nor none of my friends had issues finding landlords that saw the benefits, because most of us rented for 3-4 years at a time and the place looked like new when we moved.