By Armando Perez, AFIMSC Public Affairs / Published September 05, 2017
In December 2014, the Department of Defense removed the renters insurance portion of a service members Basic Allowance for Housing, or BAH. Airmen and their families leasing or renting housing on or off the installation need to be aware of the importance of renters insurance. Air Force Housing Privatization program portfolio is managed by the Air Force Civil Engineer Center. (U.S. Air Force photo/Carole Chiles Fuller)
JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Airmen and their families leasing or renting housing on or off the installation need to be aware of the importance of renters insurance. Unforeseen fires, floods, theft or accidents can occur in anyone’s residence and Airmen need to understand the importance of protecting their families from financial hardship should such losses occur.
The Air Force strongly encourages all service members, whether they rent off base or in privatized housing, to purchase renters insurance to make sure valuable items can be replaced in case of loss due to unforeseen circumstances. Property managers will not be responsible for damages to personal property.
For service members living in privatized housing, Department of Defense announced a policy change in December 2014 that removed the renters insurance portion of a service members Basic Allowance for Housing, or BAH. As a result, the Air Force eliminated any rental insurance requirement from its privatized housing agreements.
The policy change doesn’t negate current project obligations to provide renters insurance. It does, however, allow housing Project Owners the flexibility to independently decide if they will continue to provide renters insurance as part of a new or renewed lease. As a result, service members signing a lease to live in privatized homes may no longer be covered by Project Owner-provided renters insurance and should purchase renters insurance out of pocket, as their colleagues who live off base currently do.
“AFCEC works with installation Housing Management Offices to ensure they provide information on not only the policy change but an understanding that renter’s insurance provides coverage for loss, damage, or destruction of property,” said Col. Michael Beach, AFCEC Division Chief for Family Housing. “Living without renters insurance can have a substantial impact on Airmen and their families, although Air Force does not require residents to carry renters insurance on their personal belongings, it is strongly encouraged.”
Before purchasing renters insurance consider the following:
Renters insurance is a smart and inexpensive investment. Prior to your next PCS or if you are currently living in on- or off-base housing, contact your local Housing Management Office by going to http://www.housing.af.mil/. The housing team can assist with contacting local insurance agents to review your personal needs.