General Questions
How is Public Private Venture (PPV) different from military housing? The housing is leased and managed by a private company. Service Members will sign a lease. Service Members receive basic allowance for housing (BAH), however, under PPV the BAH is paid to the landlord through their normally BAH forfeiture process.
How long can visitors stay in my home? Written request must be submitted to the Community Management Office for approval for visitors staying beyond 30 days. Occupancy of family housing units by more than one family is not authorized.
Are RVs and boats permitted in Privatized Housing? Parking for recreational vehicles, boats and trailers are not permitted in the neighborhoods. Recreational vehicles will be allowed 24 hours before and after use. Unregistered, inoperable, unlicensed or abandoned vehicles may not be parked in the neighborhoods. Violators will be ticketed by Security Forces and be subject to having their vehicles towed away at the resident's expense. At no times are vehicles to be left up on jacks.
Assignment Questions
How will the waiting list process be managed? The Air Force Capital Asset Management Office will be responsible for determining bed room entitlement and rank and bedroom size.
How will the assignment process work? Service members will continue to go to the Air Force Capital Asset Management Office to complete their application. The Air Force Capital Asset Management Office will determine your entitlement (rank and number of bedrooms) and you will be referred to the Community Management Office for the actual assignment.
How long will it take for us to be offered a house? It all depends on what bedroom size you are requiring and also what neighborhood you will be living in. Currently, the wait time for housing with Tierra Vista at Los Angeles AFB is very short for two, three and four bedroom homes at Fort MacArthur. For the single family homes in Pacific Crest and Heights, the wait time is anywhere from 30 days to 60 days.
Can we select a home or is one assigned? You can most certainly let your Resident Services Coordinator know which home styles you are interested in. They will do their best to try and fit your needs and interests. Just make sure you choose a home style that is within your rank and family size.
Will I be able to view a house before accepting it? Yes, if the house is ready for move in.
Can a family be moved from a three bedroom to a two bedroom if they only have one child? No, once settled in, you will not be downgraded regardless of a reduction in family composition.
What happens if my family size increases? A transfer request will be placed through the Community Management Office. The initial lease term must be fulfilled, and a 30 day written notice must be given prior to any requested transfer.
Payment Questions
How much is my rent? Housing rates are equal to the highest ranking member's With Dependent Rate Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH).
If both spouses are service members, do they both "forfeit" BAH for rent? BAH is collected only from the most senior service member with dependent rate.
If I receive a promotion or demotion, what is the amount of my rent? The rent will increase for a promotion and decrease for a demotion. The rental amount is always the amount of the BAH with dependents. It is your responsibility to notify the Community Management Office within five days of any promotions or demotions.
What does my rent include? Your rent will include your electric, gas, water and sewer. It also includes a Personal Property insurance policy. This policy is only available for active duty military families and it covers your personal belongings up to $20,000 with a $250 deductible and $100,000 liability insurance policy. Residents are encouraged to obtain supplemental insurance coverage.
If I am not active duty military, am I covered by your insurance? Unfortunately, you are not covered by the Tierra Vista Renter’s Insurance. This policy is only available to active duty military members and their families. Residents are encouraged to obtain a Renter’s Insurance policy.
Will my personal check be accepted for rent? You may pay your pro-rated rent by check, cashier’s check, money order, or credit card. Cash is not an acceptable form of payment. All regular monthly payments are required to be paid by a discretionary allotment.
How do I pay rent? For Service Members in the Army, Navy and Air Force:
- By signing your lease, you are authorizing Tierra Vista to collect your rent via allotment. You are responsible for setting up the entitlement with Finance and Tierra Vista is responsible for starting the allotment. Your BAH will be wired to the Military Assistance Corporation (MAC) who is a contractor that collects allotments and remits these payments to vendors. MAC will wire the funds to Tierra Vista. You will see your BAH on your LES as an entitlement and as an allotment paid to Tierra Vista.
For Service Members in the Marines:
- The same applies as the answer above, however, if you chose "Payment by Allotment”, you are responsible for filling out an allotment form (DD Form 2558) and forwarding your copy of the DD Form 2558 to your finance administrator.
For Service Members in the Coast Guard:
- The same applies as the answer above, however, if you chose "Payment by Allotment”, you are responsible for filling out an Allotment Worksheet (CG PSC-2040). Tierra Vista maintains a copy of the PSC-2040 and you take the original signed PSC-2040 to your PERSRU Office for initiation of the rent allotment.
For all non active duty military service members:
- Since you are not active duty military and MAC is unable to process an allotment, your monthly rent can be paid by check, cashier’s check, money order, or credit card. Cash is not an acceptable form of payment. Tierra Vista does offer a Credit Card Authorization Program ONLY for non active duty military service members. Please click here to download the form and return to the Community Management Office.
When do I pay rent? For Service Members in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard:
- Your rent will be paid in arrears. DFFAS will collect half of your BAH on the 15th and the other half on the 30th/31st of the month and Tierra Vista will receive these funds on the 1st of the following month. EX: If you BAH is $2000 a month and you are paying December rent, $1000 will be collected on December 15th and the other $1000 on December 31st and the $2000 will be deposited to Tierra Vista on January 1st.
For all non active duty military service members:
- Your rent will be paid in the forward. EX: If your rent is $2000 a month and you are paying December rent it is due in full on December 1st. Tierra Vista gives till the 5th of the month for rent to be paid on time. Anything after the 5th of the month is considered late and you will be assessed a $100 late fee.
Will rent be prorated if I move out other than the last day of the month? The month will be divided in to 30 equal periods, despite the numbers of days in any given month. The rent will be assessed only for the days you lived in housing.
Now that BAH is noted on my LES, is this amount taxable? No, BAH is not taxable.
Will BAH impact the WIC Program and or the Free Lunch Program? No, BAH is not counted as income when calculating eligibility for the WIC Program. However, you need to contact your State Program Provider for information about the Free Lunch Program and how to qualify.
Lease Agreement Questions
Do I have to sign a lease? Yes, all residents will be required to sign a lease in order to protect themselves as well as the partnership.
What is the length of the lease? The lease will be for one year and then continue thereafter on a month-to-month basis.
How will I sign the lease if I am deployed or on an unaccompanied tour? Please designate a special or general power-of-attorney permitting your spouse to sign the lease in your absence as well as start or change an allotment. If you are unable to do that, please contact the Community Management Office for further assistance.
What if I receive orders to PCS or TDY for more than ninety days? The lease contains provisions that will allow you to terminate your lease with a written 30 Day Notice to Vacate and a copy of the orders.
What if I receive immediate orders and am not able to provide a written 30 Day Notice to Vacate? The lease allows you the flexibility to provide shorter notice if you should receive immediate orders. Proper documentation is required in order to honor the notice reduction.
What if I decide to "break" my lease for other reasons, prior to the one year expiration? You will be required to provide a written 30 Day Notice to Vacate and pay a lease termination fee equal to one month's BAH.
What is the eviction policy? Residents may be evicted for non-payment, egregious acts, or failure to follow Community Policies. The Command will always be involved in all eviction proceedings.
Utility Questions
Will I have to pay utilities for my home? Currently utilities (gas, electric, water and sewer) are included in your rent. Once all the homes in a neighborhood are equipped with electric and gas meters, consumption and costs will be tracked for six to twelve months. An average consumption will be determined for each type of unit in each neighborhood and 110% of this average will be established as the utility allowance. You will be responsible for any amounts over the 110% average that has been established. You will receive rebates for consumption under the allowance.
When will homes be metered? The homes are currently being installed with gas and electric meters, which are scheduled to be completed by February 2012. After installation is completed, an average consumption will be determined by tracking the usage and cost for each unit type over the next 6 to 12 months.
Maintenance Questions
Who provides maintenance for my home? Tierra Vista at Los Angeles AFB provides maintenance services.
Who do we contact with concerns about maintenance issues? Contact the Tierra Vista Community Management Office at (310) 241-6184.
How do we make a maintenance request? You may call (310) 241-6194 or stop by the Community Management Office. You may also initiate maintenance service by way of our website at www.tierra-vista.com. Emergency and urgent maintenance issues should not be made by way of the website, but called into the Maintenance Call Center.
Who has access to my home? Tierra Vista reserves the right to enter your house under reasonable circumstances. In all but emergency situations, you will be notified a minimum of 24 hours before scheduled entry.
Is there a Self Help program? Tierra Vista has on-site professional maintenance personnel to provide responsive care for every home. We ask residents to leave home repairs to these professionals by calling in a service request. We have a Self Help Store located at the Community Management Office where residents can obtain common yard materials and tools as well as fluorescent bulbs. Click here for a list of supplies and items provided at Self Help.
Landscape Questions
Will I be required to mow my yard? Residents will only be required to mow inside their fenced back yards.
Who takes care of my yard? We have a private contractor who is responsible for maintaining the front and sides yards and common areas of Tierra Vista. It is the resident's responsibility to maintain their enclosed backyard as well as any flower beds.
How can I get on the "No Mow" list? You can email your Resident Services Coordinator at the Community Management Office. You will then be added to the No Mow list and it will be forwarded to the lawn contractor.