I wasn't sure where to post this, as the housing section didn't have apartment info in it. I commissioned in May through a midwest NROTC unit, and am stashed here until October. However, my lease ends at the end of this month, so I'm having to look for a new place to live for 2-3 months. Problem is, I can't find any leases at all that are shorter than 12 months, and none of the apartments around here have explicit military clauses in their leases, so I'm being forced to look into the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to cancel a lease. Problem is, I'm having trouble finding clarification on this. My orders came in mid April, and from what I've read, the SCRA says you are able to terminate a lease if you 'execute the lease and thereafter receive military orders.' Because I received orders prior to any lease I would sign in the future, would I be able to use this Act to break mine when I leave my unit? I'm trying to be very cautious about this because I don't want to be stuck with a lease on an apartment that I'm not going to be living in, and that I can't break through SCRA. Any insight anyone has on this would be greatly appreciated.
Local classifieds...Craig's List..."rooms for rent"...buddies still in the area tolerant of a short "crash pad" arrangement...yadda yadda yadda. I'm guessing that lots of places in your college town are empty over summer breaks, etc. Just my $.02. One other thought...and I may be AFU here (yes...it's happened before...), since you are now a commissioned officer on...what...TAD orders? (e.g., "stash"), do you qualify to draw reasonable temporary lodging expenses? A Homewood Suites thingie may be best...I dunno.
+1 to everything on here - also check your state's SCRA equivalent, some give it further coverage w/bigger standard military clauses.
This is your first test as a newly minted Ensign If you can't figure out how/where to live for a few months, how in Gods name are we going to trust you to set up the admin, steal another night of liberty or, heaven forbid, lead Sailors into harms way ???? Check out Marriot Rewards and other, furnished apartment type of units offered through most of the major hotel chains . . . . .
Craigslist sublets are a good option, though picking through the sketchy options is a fun task. I crashed with a forty year old woman who had a spare bedroom and included utilities in the cheap ass rent. It was pretty weird, but she cooked for me and let me drink her booze, so it wasn't all bad.
Me (and other) members have lived in The Puma, and other campers when short term cheap housing was needed.
^ +1 to this one in particular. I am actually in the same situation as you out west, and this was the route that I chose initially, but it definitely gets old after a while, so I went a different direction. Has anyone here already suggested trying to sort out some sort of no-cost/TAD orders to wherever your folks live? It is not a bad way to go, and you'll still collect whatever BAH you were making at your ROTC unit. Shouldn't be too hard to find a command willing to take you: no cost to them, and another ENS to stock the coffee....
If your unit will ok it that usually isn't an issue, I have had many stash ensigns right out of college get no cost TAD to the NRD I am at.
