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Construction / Renovation Questions
Q: What are the plans for new construction and renovation of current housing?
A: Plans are being finalized now and information will be available to you in the near future.
Q: Who pays for the move if I choose to move into the local economy instead?
A: Balfour Beatty Communities will make every effort to maintain your residency. The choice to move into the local economy is yours. However, the move would be at your own expense if comparable housing is available within the the community.
Q: How much notice will be given prior to the move?
A: All efforts will be made to provide as much notice as possible; however, you will be given a minimum of 30 days notice.
Q: If I am moved due to renovation/demolition, will I have to clean my home?
A: The home must be clean from a health and safety perspective and the appliances must be fully cleaned, however, the standards of cleanliness will be less than for a unit that will be immediately reoccupied. You will be provided those standards by the Community Management Office.
Q: If I am moved out of my home due to renovation/demolition will I automatically be moved into one of the newly constructed homes?
A: No. Balfour Beatty Communities knows how stressful it can be to move as often as Military Families. Our goal is to place you in a permanent home that your family can enjoy during the duration of your tour.
Q: If my neighborhood is part of the construction and I have to move, who will pay for the move?
A: Your move will be paid for by Balfour Beatty Communities and will be consistent with the service provided by the Military when they require you to move. You will also receive a utility reimbursement check to cover the expenses to transfer your cable and telephone services.
Utility Questions
Q: Will I have to pay utilities for my home?
A: Currently utilities (gas, electric, water and sewer) are included in your rent. Once all of the homes in a neighborhood are equipped with electric and gas meters, consumption and costs will be tracked for one year. An average consumption will be determined for each type of unit in each neighborhood and 115% of this average will be established as the utility allowance. You will be responsible for any amounts over the 115% average that has been established. You will receive rebates for consumption under 100%.
Q: When will homes be metered?
A: Homes will be metered as they are built or renovated. There is not a specific timetable for this addition. However, we anticipate that it will occur within the next four to six years. Miscellaneous Questions
Q: Will I have to mow my own lawn?
A: Balfour Beatty Communities will mow all grass except for fenced in yards.
Q: Will there be a self-help program?
A: Balfour Beatty Communities will have 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.
Payment Questions
Q: If both spouses are service members, do they both "forfeit" BAH rent?
A: Dual Military will pay rent equal to the "with dependents" BAH of the higher ranking spouse. This holds true, regardless of which spouse carries the dependents on their Page 2 and whether or not the "with dependents" rate is paid to that Member. The second spouse will collect their entire BAH in their LES unaffected by Balfour Beatty Communities.
Q: If my rent is late, do I need to pay a late fee?
A: The late fee for rent and all other charges that are not paid in a timely manner is $25.00.
Q: How much is my rent?
A: The amount of your rent is set at your BAH.
Q: If I receive a promotion or demotion, what is the amount of my rent?
A: The rent will increase for a promotion and decrease for a demotion. The rental amount is always the amount of the BAH. It is your responsibility to notify the Community Management Office within five (5) days of any promotions or demotions.
Q: Is a Security Deposit required?
A: No, there is no Security Deposit required. However, upon move-out, if there are damages to the home which are beyond normal wear and tear, the charges for these repairs must be paid in full before you can clear housing.
Q: What is the eviction policy?
A: 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.
Q: Will I start to receive BAH?
A: Military families living in Privatized Housing will collect the BAH.
Q: Now that BAH is noted on my LES, is this amount taxable?
A: No, BAH is not taxable.
Q: What does my rent include?
A: Your rent will include your electric, gas, water, sewer and trash collection. It also includes a Personal Property insurance policy to cover your personal belongings up to $20,000 with a $250 per incident deductible.
Q: Who is responsible for answering our payment questions?
A: You may direct your questions to the Community Management Office.
Q: When BAH increases, what happens to the amount of my rent?
A: Rent will increase the same amount as BAH, effective immediately.
Q: Will rent be prorated if I move out other than the last day of the month?
A: 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 that you lived in housing. A refund check for the difference will be either mailed to your forwarding address or directly deposited into a bank account of your choice after the BAH for that month is received.
Q: How will I pay rent?
A: For Service Members in the Army, Navy and Air Force:
Rent is paid by 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 Fort Jackson Housing, LLC (Balfour Beatty Communities). You will see your BAH on your LES as an entitlement and as a payment to Fort Jackson Housing, LLC. The advantages of payment by Allotment are that you will not be required to pay a Security Deposit and your rent will be due in arrears.
For Service Members in the Marines:
The same applies as the answer above, however, 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, you are responsible for filling out an Allotment Worksheet (CG PSC-2040). Balfour Beatty Communities 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.
Pet Questions
Q: Is there a pet weight/policy?
A: The number of pets in a home is limited to two. Dogs are not to be chained or left unattended at any time. Pets may be left in fenced-in-yards for short periods of time with proper food, water, and shelter. All pets must be micro chipped and registered with the Post Veterinarian as well as the Community Management Office at the time of lease signing, or within 10 business days of move-in or acquiring the pet. Prohibited animals include the following:
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Akita
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Chow
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Doberman
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Pit Bull
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Rottweiler
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American Staffordshire Terriers
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English Staffordshire Bull Terriers
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Wolf Hybrids
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any other breed with dominant traits geared toward aggression
Current residents (those living in housing prior to July 1, 2008) will be allowed to maintain their existing pets if they execute a "Pet Addendum". There is no Pet Deposit required.
Assignment Questions
Q: How will the waiting list process be managed?
A: The Community Management Office will maintain the waiting lists based on eligibility date, grade category,bedroom size and special needs status.
Q: How will the Assignment process work?
A: Visit our on line website or the Balfour Beatty Communities Management Office to complete your application. The Balfour Beatty Communities Management staff will determine your entitlement and eligibility date and place you on the correct waiting list and/or assign you a home at that time.
Q: Can a family be moved from a three bedroom to a two bedroom if they only have one child?
A: No. Once settled in, you will not be downgraded regardless of a reduction in family composition.
Q: What happens if my family size increases?
A: You will need to visit the Balfour Beatty Communities Management Office to be placed on the correct waiting list for the size home that meets your family needs.
Maintenance Questions
Q: Who will provide maintenance for my home?
A: Balfour Beatty Communities will provide maintenance services.
Q: Who do we contact with concerns about maintenance issues?
A: Residents may contact the Service Request Desk at 803-787-6416.
Q: How do we make a maintenance request?
A: You can contact the Community Management Office at 803-790-7913. After hours calls will be answered by the answering service, or you can submit a maintenance request on line at this website. Emergency maintenance requests should be called in and not made via the website.
Leasing Questions
Q: What if I receive orders to PCS or TDY for more than ninety days?
A: The lease contains provisions that will allow you to terminate your lease with a thirty (30) day written notice and a copy of the orders.
Q: What if I receive immediate orders and am not able to provide a thirty (30) day written notice?
A: The lease allows you the flexibility to provide a shorter notice if you should receive immediate orders. Proper documentation is required in order to honor the notice reduction.
Q: Do I have to sign a lease?
A: Yes, all residents will be required to sign a lease in order to protect themselves as well as the partnership.
Q: What if I decide to "break" my lease for other reasons, prior to the 12-month expiration?
A: You will be required to provide a thirty (30) day written notice and pay a lease termination fee equal to 1 month's BAH.
Q: What is the length of the lease?
A: The lease will be for 12 months and then continue thereafter on a month- to- month basis.
Q: What happens if a divorce occurs in a family residing in Housing?
A: The policy is the same as it was when the Housing was operated by the Army. The first day that the service member resides away from the home, a thirty (30) day written notice must be submitted. The spouse and the family will be required to vacate the home within thirty (30) days of physical separation. In these cases, the lease may be broken without an early termination fee due to a change in family status.
Q: How will I sign the lease if military member is deployed?
A: Please designate a special or general power-of-attorney for your spouse. If you are unable to do that, please contact the Community Management Office for further assistance.
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