Housing

The Air Force is the executive agent for all housing on Okinawa. All accompanied personnel are required to report to the Kadena Housing Office after completion of their restriction of movement to begin the housing assignment process. Advance housing assignments may be possible depending on availability, rank, and family size.

Kadena Housing Office

Call DSN 315-634-0582 or 011-81-98-938-1111, then dial 634-0582.
Email kadenahousing.customerservice@us.af.mil
Website: https://www.housing.af.mil/Units/Okinawa/

Effective 1 Aug 2009, all inbound accompanied military personnel are required to reside on base. Civilians will be assigned on an excess inventory basis only. Newly-assigned military members will be given a Family Housing Overview during the Newcomers briefing.

When you first arrive on Okinawa, the process to obtain a house can appear a bit overwhelming. The Kadena Housing Office will help you navigate this process and secure a residence quickly so that you can begin enjoying island living.

The following steps will streamline the process and get you into your new residence as smoothly and efficiently as possible.

Step 1: Complete your DD Form 1746. Make sure you have a copy of your permanent change of station orders and area clearance/dependent entry approval.

Step 2: Report to the Housing Office, Building 217, after completion of your restriction of movement to begin the housing placement process. At that time, you will be placed on the waiting list based on the date you departed your last duty station.

The Housing Office will provide you with an in-processing brief. Your housing counselor will verify and update any applicable information on the DD Form 1746 and will contact you regarding your options within two to three business days.

Step 3: The housing assignments counselor will make a housing offer based on your rank, number of dependents and duty location. There is a no-housing-preference policy. All assignments are based on entitlements.

Step 4: Each member views the housing offer and has one day to accept or reject it. If a member rejects the offer, the temporary lodging allowance entitlement will stop.

Step 5: If a member accepts one of the housing offers, the counselor will contact him or her to schedule an acceptance briefing appointment.

Step 6: During the acceptance briefing, members complete the required paperwork associated with being assigned to government quarters.

Port to Final Residence Program

The Port to Final Residence Program is a new initiative, established to support inbound service members moving directly into permanent family housing quarters upon arrival on the island of Okinawa.

This program allows inbound service members and their families to complete their restriction of movement period in their permanent quarters. Sponsors assigned to inbound service members play a vital role in completing the required processes prior to moving arriving families into military family housing.

We recommend that contact be made with the Housing Office as early as possible, preferably no later than 30 days in advance, to ensure that all processes can be completed by the estimated arrival date.

To participate in the Port to Final Residence Program, you or your sponsor must provide the Housing Office (kadenahousing.customerservice@us.af.mil) with: a copy of your orders, estimated travel documents for all members listed in the orders, DD Form 1746 (an application for assignment to housing) and AF Form 4422 (a sex offender disclosure form).

Upon receipt of completed documents, a housing counselor will contact both the sponsor and inbound service member to complete the remaining processes. These include a viewing of the units available, acceptance of the unit selected and scheduling temporary furnishings requirement, if required.

The sponsor is authorized to pick up the keys for the unit selected no earlier than 48 hours prior to the arrival of the inbound service member. Note that the initial move-in inspection will be scheduled to align with the restriction of movement period conclusion.

If government family housing is at or above 95% occupancy, accompanied personnel can be authorized and given the option to reside off base.

All Department of Defense personnel are required, by individual service regulation, to report to the Housing Referral Office before making a commitment to rent, lease or purchase off-base housing. This is to protect the DOD personnel, and ensure they have accurate information for securing a home.

Newcomers who plan to live off base can expect to pay a number of upfront costs prior to moving in to their house or apartment, and should plan accordingly. Standard practice by housing agencies on Okinawa is to charge an agency fee usually equal to 50% of one-month’s rent, a security deposit equal to one-month’s rent, and first- and last-month’s rent, all due at lease signing.

Though these types of charges are familiar to many newcomers, the high cost of housing on Okinawa can make these move-in costs a particular burden. As of March 2010, Overseas Housing Allowance for an E-5 with no dependents is approximately $1,800, and fluctuates with the Yen rate.

To mitigate these expenses, the DOD provides several moving allowances (Move-In-Housing Allowance and Dislocation Allowance) to its members who are moving to their permanent change of station, but these may or may not be adequate to cover all move-in expenses depending on the home a member selects. Many members opt to take out a pay advance in order to cover these costs — a quick and easy process that can be accomplished after arriving on Okinawa. It is important to note, however, that pay advances usually are required to be repaid within a 12-month period.

Japanese living is considerably smaller than what we are accustomed to in the U.S. Average, three-bedroom units are typically about 1,100 square feet. Some units do not have central heating and cooling systems, as the year-round temperature on Okinawa is 72 degrees Fahrenheit. Portable units can be used, but expect for utility bills to be higher during the summer months. Members should also expect to pay water, sewage and trash collection fees at off-base housing.

The good news is, that you will receive more compensation in the form of Temporary Lodging Allowance, OHA, and Cost of Living Allowance.

Not all housing is pet friendly; all efforts will be made to accommodate families with pets. Okinawa has a Joint Service Pet Policy for the ownership and control of pets in all Military Family Housing (MFH) areas. Certain dog breeds are prohibited in all MFH (i.e, Pit Bull/Bull Terrier, Doberman Pinscher, Rottweiler, Chow, Canid-Wolf Hybrids, etc). Exotic animals such as, but not limited to, reptiles, rodents (other than hamsters and guinea pigs), ferrets, hedgehogs, skunks, rats, raccoons, squirrels, pot bellied pigs, monkeys, arachnids, or any farm animals are not permitted in government housing. 

All pet owners must ensure their dogs and cats are properly registered with the Base Veterinary Facility (VTF) within three days (72 hours) of arrival. All MFH residents will be required to complete the Pet Registration Form prior to assignment to MFH. Two domestic pets per household, defined as a cat, dog or a combination, are allowed in single dwelling units, duplexes, multiplex units and towers. In tower buildings, cats are allowed on all floors; however, dogs are only allowed on the first and second floors. For more information regarding the Pet Policy, please refer to the link provided under Featured Documents. Please remember that having a pet does not guarantee you placement in a particular housing unit. Placement is based on availability and the member's entitlement. The non-availability of pet friendly housing is not a justification to turn down a housing offer.

Additional information regarding pet policies for MFH on Okinawa can be found under the “Resources” section of the Okinawa Housing website: https://www.housing.af.mil/Units/Okinawa/.

Visit InMyArea.com to search for utility providers based on your zip code. This website serves as a one-stop shop where you can explore your options, compare prices and purchase services.

Government Furniture Support
All personnel entitled to family housing are authorized temporary loaner furnishings and in some cases permanent furnishings, depending on the member's JFTR authorization. For additional information, please submit inquiries to the 718ces.fms@us.af.mil 

Temporary Government Furniture Loaner Kits
Temporary loaner furnishings kits are available for assigned personnel on full JFTR for 90-days after initial delivery and up to 60-days before departure from Okinawa. Personnel on restricted JFTR are authorized permanent government furnishings and appliances for the duration of tour and a one-time pickup up within 90-days after initial delivery.  

Government Furnishings and Appliance Maintenance
Personnel are responsible for the safe-keeping of all assigned items placed within their custody. Personnel will be held financially liable for the lost, damaged, or destroyed government property.  

Government Furniture and Appliances Delivery and Self Help 
Your home will already be outfitted with a standard loaner kit when you move-in. Personnel are authorized a one-time delivery and pickup of government furnishings and appliances within 90-days after the initial delivery. After the 90-day mark; personnel on restricted JFTR can visit the Kadena Housing Furnishings Management Customer Service Section located within building 217 to process the proper forms for self-help issue or turn-in as long as the entitlement authorization is not exceeded.  

Loaner Furnishings kits are made up of the following items; personnel entitlement will determine the authorized number of items that will be processed.

Government Furnishings Available
Furniture loaner kits are made up of the following items, the member entitlement will determine the number of items that will be processed.

- Double/Queen Bed (member and spouse or head of household)

- Single Bed (per child and/or additional dependent)

- Chest-of-Drawers (1 per bedroom)

- Dresser (member and spouse or head of household)

- Dresser Mirror (member and spouse or head of household)

- Night Table (1 per single bed/2 per double/queen bed)

- Dining Table (1 each)

- Dining Chair w/o Arm (4 each)

- Dining Chair w/ Arm (Restricted JFTR, 2 each)

- Sofa (1 each)

- Easy Chair (Restricted JFTR 2 each / Full JFTR pending number of dependents)

- Coffee Table (1 each)

- End Table (2 each)

- Dryer Electric (1 each)

- Washer Electric (1 each)

- Refrigerator/Freezer Electric (1 each)

- Range Electric (1 each)

Major Appliances Assigned to Housing Units
Major appliances including a washer, dryer, dishwasher, refrigerator, and ranges are permanently assigned to each on base housing unit and are also available for off base housing units. 

The Loan Locker 
The Marine and Family Programs resources centers have a total of four Loan Lockers conveniently located throughout the island at Camp Courtney, Foster, Hansen and Kinser with basic kitchen items for incoming service members and their families to use while waiting for their household goods shipment to arrive.

Loan Locker items are lent out for an initial 30-day period with the option to extend for a maximum of 60 days. Provided below is a list of the items available to borrow:

• Plates and bowls
• Drinking glasses and coffee cups
• Cutlery
• Cooking spoons and cooking forks
• Spatulas, tongs, peelers and can openers
• Measuring cups and measuring spoons
• Pots and pans
• Baking sheets and baking pans
• Irons and ironing boards
• Coffee machines
• Toasters

Please note the following items are not available at any Loan Locker:

• Microwaves
• Crockpots
• Playpens
• Linens