Housing

Family Housing

The Commander, Navy Region Southwest Family Housing Welcome Center at Naval Base San Diego is responsible for assignment of military housing and provision of community housing referrals to all military families in San Diego, including Marine Corps Air Station Miramar and Marine Corps Recruit Depot. It is highly recommended that each service member and family check in to the CNRSW Family Housing Welcome Center upon arrival to San Diego. For more information, please contact the CNRSW Housing Welcome Center at 619-556-8443 or visit the CNRSW San Diego Military Family Housing website.

There are over 44,000 military families in the San Diego area. There are 9,130 government homes located in 38 housing sites throughout San Diego. Of these homes, approximately 8,600 are enlisted units and 600 are officer units. Depending on the housing site selected, waiting times can be as little as 0-3 months or as long as 18-24 months or more. Please see the CNRSW San Diego Military Family website for more information on housing availability, size of quarters, waiting time and pet restrictions.

San Diego has entered into a public private venture with Lincoln BP Management, Inc., a private property management company. Members who reside in a PPV unit are required to sign a six-month lease and pay (via allotment) the equivalent of the member's monthly Basic Allowance for Housing rate. Some neighborhoods offer discounted rates. The Navy has joined with Lincoln to improve and expand housing for service members and their families. Remember to consider rental insurance for when occupying government housing to cover your personal property. For more information and details on the housing neighborhoods in the San Diego area, including photos and floor plans, visit the Liberty Military Housing San Diego website.

All officers and enlisted personnel with accompanying dependents are eligible to apply for Military Family Housing. MFH is limited. Apply for MFH at the CNRSW Family Housing Welcome Center located at NBSD or send required documents by email to NBSDhousing@us.navy.mil . In order to apply, you are required to have the following:

• Assessment package for housing (download here)
• A copy of orders showing your detachment date
• Certification of bona fide family members, either through the emergency data application (Page 2) or the record of emergency data
• A copy of your leave and earnings statement

All personnel are required to renew their applications every six months. Renewal may be made in person or by telephone at 619-556-8443 or DSN 312-526-8443. The CNRSW Family Housing Welcome Center recommends the service member or spouse periodically check with the center regarding the status of your application. Failure to provide current information may result in a delay in your assignment to housing.

Single Service Member Housing

Naval Base Point Loma offers barracks to qualified single service members. It is the responsibility of the service member to check into the Billeting Office for room assignment. See the below contact information section for the billeting enlisted quarters and billeting officer quarters.

Your command sponsor is your link to specific needs; however, CNRSW Fleet and Family Support Center is also standing by to provide information and resources.

The cost of renting a home in San Diego is above average compared to other locations in the United States. There are many housing options available in the San Diego area for single service members who want to live in the local community, including furnished and unfurnished apartments, homes and condos. All of these housing options offer various lease options, including short- and long-term leasing. The CNRSW Family Housing Welcome Center can offer you referrals to local options.

Exceptional Family Member Housing

The Exceptional Family Member Program is a mandatory program to support families with special needs. Various physical, emotional, developmental and educational special needs may require enrollment. For more information, contact the FFSC. There are six categories of EFM which identify the level of special care required. Family members designated as Categories IV and V are severely disabled and permanency in living arrangements is desirable. Personnel being assigned under EFM Category IV or V priority status are not permitted to choose a neighborhood. EFM assignments are made at the discretion of the CNRSW Family Housing Welcome Center. Once an EFM family has been assigned to MFH, they are not automatically eligible for priority relocation when they have a change in status, such as family composition or pay grade. Requests for priority relocation should be submitted in writing via the service member's command to the appropriate housing office. 

More details include:

• Single-level units and units that comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act are available at various housing locations. For specific housing areas, contact the EFM housing coordinator at 619-556-9642.
• EFM category IV and V, injured active-duty warriors and active-duty medical entitled to family Basic Allowance for Housing with special needs are given priority based on availability at the arrival timeframe and housing inventory. Personnel being assigned under EFM category IV or V or special medical priority status are not permitted to choose a neighborhood.
• Housing is located on base as well as in community areas throughout San Diego County. Air conditioning is provided in over half of the housing sites. For specific housing areas, contact the EFM housing coordinator at 619-556-9642.
• Generator information can be obtained from the EFM housing coordinator at 619-556-9642.

The Department of Defense relies on the local community to provide the majority of housing occupied by military personnel and their families. Since military family housing is only built when there is a shortage of suitable, affordable housing in the private sector, most military families live in off-base rental or privately-owned properties. In San Diego, 80 % of military families live in housing in the private sector.

Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) is tax-free housing allowance that is provided to military members (with and without dependents) who are authorized to reside off base at government expense. BAH amounts are determined by location, rank, and whether or not the member has dependents.

The cost of purchasing a home in San Diego varies widely and the average cost of housing in San Diego is high compared to other locations around the country. Opportunities to purchase or rent are available throughout the County. The types of housing available are as varied as the communities within the County. Single-family homes, condos, townhouses and apartments are available throughout the private sector.

Military housing tenants are protected by the same state and federal fair housing and consumer protection laws as civilian tenants. Due to the DoD's authority to relocate military members to new assignments without their consent, Congress enacted legislation that permits military tenants to lawfully terminate rental contracts early without penalty when they receive military orders to relocate. In time of war, members may be deployed for extended periods without the worry of owing rent on units they could not occupy. Contact the Navy Legal Services Office for information on protections afforded by the Service Members’ Civil Relief Act (SCRA).

There are many and varied mobile home communities in the San Diego local community. Speak with the Commander, Navy Region Southwest Family Housing Welcome Center to find out more information. There are no government mobile home parks in the San Diego area.

The Morale, Welfare and Recreation website offers information on recreational vehicle parks for vacations.

Command Navy Region Southwest Family Housing Welcome Center is your contact for any problems you may encounter such as discrimination complaints, tenant/landlord disputes or any questions or problems about off-base housing. Staff can provide you a list of rentals and information regarding the communities in which the rentals are located. All renters should carry renters insurance against fire, theft and other damages. The property owner's insurance will cover the property but not the renter's personal property. Be sure to transfer coverage from your previous home after you arrive.

Rental Partnership Program

The San Diego Housing Service Center is partnering up with local landlords to provide active-duty military personnel with affordable off-base housing. All participating landlords will offer:

· Waived application and credit fees

· Reduced deposits

· Rental rates below the market rent

To qualify, you must have orders to a San Diego command with at least one year remaining in the San Diego area, at least one year remaining in active-duty service, good rental history and be receiving San Diego Basic Allowance for Housing. Rent must be paid by allotment. Required documents include your permanent change of station orders to a San Diego command and a copy of your leave and earnings statement. For more information, please contact the San Diego Housing Service Center at 619-556-8443.

Availability

While the average cost of housing in San Diego is high, opportunities to purchase or rent are available throughout the county. The types of housing available are as varied as the communities within the county. Single-family homes, condos, townhouses and apartments are available throughout the private sector.

Deposits and Fees

Many real estate agents/landlords require fees to process your application. This fee offsets their expense for verifying your credit references, employment history, etc. Any unused portion of the fee must be refunded to the applicant. A landlord is also required by law to send a copy of an applicant's credit report if requested by the applicant.

In California, a security deposit for an unfurnished residential property may be twice the cost of rent. For furnished apartments, the landlord may charge up to three times the rent.

Also in California, there are no non-refundable security deposits. No matter what it’s called, all money you pay in addition to your first month’s rent is refundable. Non-refundable deposits are illegal according to Section 1950.5 of the California Civil Code.

Pet Deposits

Many San Diego landlords prohibit pets while others will allow them with an additional deposit or non-refundable fee. The amount may vary according to the type, size, and number of pets. There may also be an additional monthly charge for allowing your pets.

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San Diego's Military Housing Welcome Center offers personalized housing services to help with temporary and long term, apartment, condo, and home rentals, in addition to home buying counseling. All military personnel, unaccompanied and accompanied, their families, and DoD employees are eligible for these services. Call (619) 556-8443 or visit the Metro San Diego Housing Welcome Center, located onboard Naval Base San Diego at 625 LeHardy Street, Bldg 3544, San Diego, CA 92136. You may also visit the website.