Construction / Renovation Questions
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 this will be established as the initial utility allowance. This allowance will be placed in a reserve account. Residents whose consumption exceeds 115% of that initial utility allowance will be billed for that excess amount over 115% on a quarterly basis in arrears. Residents whose consumption is at less than 85% of the initial utility allowance will be given a credit for the cumulative savings at the end of their lease.
Q: When will homes be metered?
A: Homes will be metered as they are built or renovated. There is not a specific timetable at this time. However, we anticipate that it will occur within the next four to six years.
Q: How will heating bills be handled for duplexes with a common heating unit?
A: Residents will not be responsible for heat costs/consumption until the systems have been split. In some neighborhoods, this will take a long time to accomplish, therefore, other utilities, such as electricity, will probably be metered and billed well before home heating.
Miscellaneous Questions
Q: Will BAH impact the WIC Program?
A: No. BAH is not counted as income when calculating eligibility for this nutritional program.
Q: Will BAH impact the Free Lunch Program?
A: Now that BAH will be shown on your LES statements, it may be counted as income which could impact your family's eligibility for this program.
Q: Will there be a self-help program?
A: Balfour Beatty Communities 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.
Payment Questions
Q: If both spouses in 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 which spouse carries the dependents on their Page 2 and actually collects at the "with dependents" rate.
Q: What does my rent include?
A: Your rent will include your electric, gas, water, sewer, and fuel oil for heat as well as lawn care and trash pick up. It also includes a Personal Property Insurance policy to cover your personal belongings up to $20,000 with a $250 deductible.
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 by the 5th of the month is $25.
Q: How much is my rent?
A: The amount of your rent is set at your BAH at the with-dependant rate based on the DPC for Carlisle.
Q: When BAH increases, what happens to the amount of my rent?
A: Rent will increase the same amount as BAH, effective immediately.
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: 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: Who is responsible for answering our payment questions?
A: You may direct your questions to the Community Manager.
Q: Will my personal check be accepted for rent?
A: Personal checks are not accepted. You may pay by money order, debit card or credit card.
Q: Will rent be prorated if I move out other than the last day of the month?
A: The month will be divided into 30 equal periods, despite the number of days in any given month. The rent will be assessed only for the days that you lived in housing.
Q: How do 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 Carlisle Barracks/Picatinny Arsenal Housing, LLC (Balfour Beatty Communities). You will see your BAH on your LES as an entitlement and as a payment to Carlisle Barracks/Picatinny Arsenal 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.
For Service Members in the National Guard and Reserve
National Guard and Reservist will be required to establish a monthly ACH for rent payment. The Community Management Office will provide the ACH form. Your BAH will go into your checking account and then the payment will be transferred to Balfour Beatty Communities. The advantage of payment by ACH is the same as the allotment.
Pet Questions
Q: Is there a pet weight/policy?
A: The number of pets in a home is limited to two. Restricted breeds include: Staffordshire Terrier, Pitt Bull (American Pit Bull), Yankee Terrier, Rottweiler, Chow Chow, Presa Canario, Trained Guard Dogs, other breeds may be added at the discretion of the Garrison Commander.
Assignment Questions
Q: How will the waiting list process be managed?
A: The Balfour Beatty Communities Management Office will maintain the waiting lists by rank and bedroom size.
Q: How will the Assignment process work?
A: Contact the Community Management Office to complete your application. Once the application is received Balfour Beatty Communities will determine your entitlement (number of bedrooms) and if there is a home (s) available.
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.
Q: What happens if my family size increases?
A: You go to the Community Management Office to be placed on the proper waiting list.
Maintenance Questions
Q: Who provides maintenance for my home?
A: Balfour Beatty Communities will provide maintenance services.
Q: How do we make a maintenance request?
A: Residents can call the Community Management Office at 717-243-7177 to report an emergency, or to request maintenance repairs. Residents can also initiate maintenance service via our website.
Q: Whom do we contact with concerns of maintenance issues?
A: Residents may contact the Community Management Office.
Refer all questions to the Community Manager.
Leasing Questions
Q: What if I receive orders to PCS or TDY for more than thirty days?
A: The lease contains provisions that will allow you to break your lease with thirty (30) days notice and a copy of the orders.
Q: What if I receive immediate orders and am not able to provide thirty (30) days notice?
A: The lease allows you to provide a shorter notice if you can provide documentation of your immediate orders.
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 one-year expiration?
A: You will be required to provide a thirty (30)days notice and pay a lease termination fee equal to one month BAH.
Q: What is the length of the lease?
A: The lease is for one year and then continues month- to- month.
Q: What happens if a divorce occurs in a family residing in Housing?
A: The policy is the same as it was when the Army operated the Housing. 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.
Q: How will I sign the lease if the military member is deployed?
A: Please designate a special or general power-of-attorney for you spouse. If you are unable to do that, please contact the Community Management Office for further assistance