Black mold, rodents, lead paint in privatized housing: No rent until it's fixed, military spouses s

Source: militarytimes




By: Karen Jowers ? 8 hours ago

This 111-home family housing development built in 2011 by a private developer at Trumbo Point, an annex of Naval Air Station Key West, is one of many military family housing communities managed by private companies around the country. (Photo by Chris Carson)

Military spouses suggested to lawmakers one immediate way, for starters, to fix problems like mold, lead paint, termites, mice and other issues in privatized military housing: allow families to withhold rent payments until the issues are resolved.

Spouses testified before senators Wednesday, then watched as senators grilled company officials, and DoD and service officials, about the problems. All the officials admitted there have been breakdowns in the system, and assured senators they are making a commitment to address the systemic problems.

Robert McMahon, assistant secretary of defense for sustainment, told the senators that what he heard from the spouses “reinforced what we already know, that we collectively have to do significantly better."

McMahon said that working with DoD attorneys to look at possibly withholding rent payments to the companies “would be prudent, to ensure [privatization] partners respond rapidly.” The privatized housing rent payments are generally the service member’s Basic Allowance for Housing, paid by allotment.
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Read more: https://www.militarytimes.com/pay-benefits/2019/02/14/black-mold-rodents-lead-paint-in-privatized-housing-no-rent-until-its-fixed-military-spouses-say/