AFS: Wait on tenant ‘bill of rights’

Air Force Secretary Barbara Barrett told senators from the Armed Services Committee that the AF is ready to put into place a new “bill of rights” for personnel living in one of its 32 bases with privatized military housing when Congress passes an FY 2020 defense policy, which was due Oct. 1. Barrett said the AF would rather wait on issuing the tenant bill, and reconcile differences and to be consistent, with the law after passage of the defense bill. Early in 2019, the military proposed a joint draft bill of rights for service members living in privatized housing managed by private firms. Across all of DoD there are 79 privatized family housing projects. Quality of life in those housing projects vary by base. DoD is trying to fix thousands of issues involving mold, fire code compliance, vermin, and lead-based paint, among others. The bill of rights would entitle tenants to withhold pay from landlords while disputes are decided; offer access to housing advocates; and allow third parties to adjudicate landlord-tenant disagreements. Fourteen companies manage housing for DoD, including at bases in Columbus, Meridian and Gulfport, Miss.; and Pensacola and Milton, Fla.; (Source: AF Magazine 12/03/19) http://www.airforcemag.com/Features/Pages/2019/December%202019/New-Military-Tenant-Protections-Stalled-as-DOD-Awaits-2020-Policy-Bill.aspx