WEBVTT 00:00.331 --> 00:02.914 (lively music) 00:31.987 --> 00:33.914 - Hello and welcome to Germany. 00:33.914 --> 00:35.357 This briefing is designed to help familiarize you 00:35.357 --> 00:38.419 with the local economy, housing contracts, 00:38.419 --> 00:40.257 and any entitlements available to you. 00:40.257 --> 00:43.741 First off, the housing office is open Monday, Wednesday, 00:43.741 --> 00:47.352 Thursday, and Friday from 0800 to 1600 hours 00:47.352 --> 00:50.519 and on Tuesdays from 10 to 1600 hours. 00:50.838 --> 00:53.908 We are closed on all German and American holidays. 00:53.908 --> 00:56.270 After this briefing, you'll meet with a counselor 00:56.270 --> 00:58.353 to complete your profile. 00:58.657 --> 01:00.891 This is your opportunity to ask any questions 01:00.891 --> 01:04.832 that you may have with housing contracts and entitlements. 01:04.832 --> 01:07.244 And again, on behalf of the Spengalamen Housing Team, 01:07.244 --> 01:08.827 welcome to Germany. 01:12.972 --> 01:15.737 - TLA or Temporary Lodging Allowance is the current status 01:15.737 --> 01:18.873 that members fall under until they occupy housing. 01:18.873 --> 01:22.024 If government quarters are unavailable or if you choose 01:22.024 --> 01:24.166 to decline government quarters, this will affect 01:24.166 --> 01:26.290 how many nights in lodging you are allowed. 01:26.290 --> 01:29.395 Initially, you are entitled to 20 nights in lodging. 01:29.395 --> 01:31.657 If permanent housing cannot be found within your first 01:31.657 --> 01:34.198 10 nights in lodging, it is recommended that you occupy 01:34.198 --> 01:36.324 a temporary facility off base. 01:36.324 --> 01:38.403 They are fully furnished and covered by your overseas 01:38.403 --> 01:39.765 housing allowance. 01:39.765 --> 01:41.644 We have these contracts prepped and ready to go, 01:41.644 --> 01:43.335 sitting at the front desk. 01:43.335 --> 01:45.287 Reimbursement claims may be made at our office 01:45.287 --> 01:47.518 in up to 15 night increments and you will need to bring 01:47.518 --> 01:49.552 your lodging receipt and proof you have been actively 01:49.552 --> 01:51.658 house-hunting while staying in lodging. 01:51.658 --> 01:54.155 Our counselors will provide this form for you. 01:54.155 --> 01:56.343 Civilians are entitled to stay longer than 20 nights 01:56.343 --> 01:58.165 in lodging and may file their claims through the 01:58.165 --> 02:00.332 civilian personnel office. 02:03.736 --> 02:05.570 - When searching for a house, we highly recommend 02:05.570 --> 02:07.070 you use homes.mil. 02:07.267 --> 02:10.240 Homes.mil are all USAFE contracts because we no longer 02:10.240 --> 02:12.884 do German contracts, so every contract that you sign 02:12.884 --> 02:15.483 with your landlord will be a UCP contract. 02:15.483 --> 02:18.029 Also, all contracts are open ended until you provide 02:18.029 --> 02:20.021 your landlord a written notice. 02:20.021 --> 02:22.549 When you come to a counselor's office, we will provide you 02:22.549 --> 02:24.763 a listing of villages that have the school bus routes 02:24.763 --> 02:25.680 if need be. 02:26.236 --> 02:29.205 Also, when you're doing house hunting, please make sure that 02:29.205 --> 02:30.719 this is your responsibility. 02:30.719 --> 02:32.741 If for some reason you are finding issues, 02:32.741 --> 02:34.722 please come to our office and one of our agents 02:34.722 --> 02:36.055 will assist you. 02:39.604 --> 02:41.966 - [Man] All housing agents speak German and English fluently 02:41.966 --> 02:44.671 and are responsible for specific villages and towns. 02:44.671 --> 02:46.945 Agents are able to assist you in communicating 02:46.945 --> 02:49.266 with a landlord if they only speak German. 02:49.266 --> 02:51.657 It is strongly discouraged to for a member or civilian 02:51.657 --> 02:52.924 to negotiate the terms of a lease 02:52.924 --> 02:54.533 directly with the landlord. 02:54.533 --> 02:56.758 Please let your village's agents take care of all 02:56.758 --> 02:59.044 rental price and term negotiations. 02:59.044 --> 03:01.947 Agents are also responsible for drafting contracts, 03:01.947 --> 03:04.733 listing new rental locations, and mediating problems 03:04.733 --> 03:06.710 between tenants and landlords. 03:06.710 --> 03:09.078 Agents will only be able to assist you when you have 03:09.078 --> 03:13.078 a USAFE lease, so remember, no German contracts. 03:16.355 --> 03:18.763 - After finding the property you intend to rent, 03:18.763 --> 03:20.538 you will complete a promissory note with your 03:20.538 --> 03:21.985 potential landlord. 03:21.985 --> 03:24.352 This promissory note puts a temporary hold on the home 03:24.352 --> 03:25.860 you intend to rent. 03:25.860 --> 03:28.319 This document should only be provided for our office 03:28.319 --> 03:30.650 and should not be given by another source. 03:30.650 --> 03:33.089 Once the promissory note has been returned to our office, 03:33.089 --> 03:35.831 this is what will initiate your contract preparation. 03:35.831 --> 03:38.233 Contracts typically take two to three days to draft 03:38.233 --> 03:39.400 by our office. 03:39.699 --> 03:41.753 Should you need to cancel a promissory note, 03:41.753 --> 03:44.333 you may do so, just please inform the original landlord 03:44.333 --> 03:46.457 that your plans have changed and then come back 03:46.457 --> 03:49.091 to visit us so we can give you a new promissory note. 03:49.091 --> 03:51.984 As a key note, when you are just viewing a rental, 03:51.984 --> 03:54.245 please do not accept keys from a landlord. 03:54.245 --> 03:55.975 If you take a key from a German landlord, 03:55.975 --> 03:58.220 according to their rental laws, you have signed 03:58.220 --> 04:01.083 a binding contract with them to move into their home. 04:01.083 --> 04:03.669 So as a primary note, do not accept a key 04:03.669 --> 04:05.766 until you have a formally signed contract 04:05.766 --> 04:06.933 by our office. 04:11.046 --> 04:14.099 - OHA, also known as Overseas Housing Allowance, 04:14.099 --> 04:15.472 is an up to amount. 04:15.472 --> 04:18.181 Also, you do get to utilize all your utility amount, 04:18.181 --> 04:20.496 but if you do have any extra, please set it aside 04:20.496 --> 04:22.156 for any end of the year bills. 04:22.156 --> 04:24.769 Also, utilities can no longer be included into 04:24.769 --> 04:27.705 your base rent, so please, don't try to negotiate 04:27.705 --> 04:29.088 with your landlord. 04:29.088 --> 04:31.485 If your landlord decides to give you a garage, 04:31.485 --> 04:33.845 the garage can be included into your OHA. 04:33.845 --> 04:36.761 Also, you are entitled to a move in housing allowance 04:36.761 --> 04:38.103 which is also MIHA. 04:38.103 --> 04:39.581 If you elect to know that amount, please get with your 04:39.581 --> 04:41.164 counselor to do so. 04:45.489 --> 04:47.828 - What should you do for furnishings while you're waiting 04:47.828 --> 04:50.090 for your households good to arrive? 04:50.090 --> 04:53.160 Furnishing Managements Section, or short FMS, 04:53.160 --> 04:57.327 is here to provide you with basic and permanent items. 04:57.435 --> 05:00.842 Basic items of course are the loaner furniture, 05:00.842 --> 05:05.009 such as living room, bedroom, as well as dining room sets. 05:05.518 --> 05:08.842 And permanent items you will get to keep for the entire 05:08.842 --> 05:10.598 duration of your tour. 05:10.598 --> 05:14.135 These do include appliances such as washing machine, 05:14.135 --> 05:17.137 dryer, and fridge, but also we will provide you with 05:17.137 --> 05:20.557 a few kitchen cabinets as well as wardrobes. 05:20.557 --> 05:23.720 It is very important that once you have signed in 05:23.720 --> 05:26.999 at the housing office and dropped off your promissory note 05:26.999 --> 05:30.392 with them that you will come and see us immediately 05:30.392 --> 05:34.523 afterwards, even though you do not have your contract yet. 05:34.523 --> 05:37.634 We can, at that time, already schedule delivery appointments 05:37.634 --> 05:40.373 for you and that way you don't have such a long 05:40.373 --> 05:41.456 waiting time. 05:41.673 --> 05:43.844 You may not get a delivery for your contract 05:43.844 --> 05:47.080 effective date, so please come and see us for that. 05:47.080 --> 05:49.432 In addition, we are able to issue you a 05:49.432 --> 05:52.693 ^housing maintenance number, which is for repairs 05:52.693 --> 05:56.073 ^or replacements of any of the major appliances 05:56.073 --> 06:00.240 ^in case they break down, their number is 452-6686. 06:05.394 --> 06:07.869 - The military does not pay your deposit for the home, 06:07.869 --> 06:10.485 and some homes will have upwards of three months rent 06:10.485 --> 06:12.764 for the deposit, so what you are welcome to do 06:12.764 --> 06:15.811 is take the amount of the deposit, split it into thirds, 06:15.811 --> 06:17.504 and pay it out over the first three months 06:17.504 --> 06:18.653 you live in the home. 06:18.653 --> 06:20.595 If you're unable to cover this sum or should you want to 06:20.595 --> 06:23.911 accept it, you are welcome to get advance from the base 06:23.911 --> 06:25.661 to cover this amount. 06:26.117 --> 06:27.772 Rent does need to be paid within the first three 06:27.772 --> 06:29.876 working days of the month. 06:29.876 --> 06:32.308 You may choose to pay your landlord in cash and 06:32.308 --> 06:35.668 if you do pay in cash, please track it with receipts, 06:35.668 --> 06:37.685 otherwise what most members choose to do 06:37.685 --> 06:39.903 is use their German bank account that they got here 06:39.903 --> 06:42.795 in Spangdalem Air Base to pay their German landlord. 06:42.795 --> 06:45.240 Recycling practices in Germany are quite strict, 06:45.240 --> 06:47.446 so what you will need to do is separate your glass 06:47.446 --> 06:49.571 from your paper from your plastic. 06:49.571 --> 06:51.383 Glass will be separated out by color 06:51.383 --> 06:53.289 and dumped into large metal bins located 06:53.289 --> 06:54.702 on the edge of your village. 06:54.702 --> 06:56.611 Be sure to check the bins for a timestamp, 06:56.611 --> 06:58.522 because it will only be certain times of day 06:58.522 --> 07:00.428 that you are allowed to bring your glass there. 07:00.428 --> 07:01.811 Definitely not on Sundays 07:01.811 --> 07:04.207 and certainly not on German holidays. 07:04.207 --> 07:06.015 Paper and cardboard will need to be flattened out 07:06.015 --> 07:08.092 and put into a blue bin that should be provided 07:08.092 --> 07:11.122 for your home and plastics, product packaging, 07:11.122 --> 07:13.261 milk cartons, egg cartons will need to go into 07:13.261 --> 07:14.594 the yellow bags. 07:14.616 --> 07:17.225 Yellow bags may be collected from the collection company 07:17.225 --> 07:18.359 on pickup day. 07:18.359 --> 07:20.678 You just need to provide a sign on top of the bag 07:20.678 --> 07:22.968 stating "Bitte gelbe sacke, danke!" 07:22.968 --> 07:25.885 Or "please yellow bags, thank you." 07:29.289 --> 07:31.507 - Rent insurance is very highly recommended. 07:31.507 --> 07:33.656 Also, some landlords will ask for a higher coverage, 07:33.656 --> 07:35.528 so please ask if need be. 07:35.528 --> 07:38.494 Internet, take your address to any of the local companies 07:38.494 --> 07:41.159 ^to see how well the coverage is for that house. 07:41.159 --> 07:43.348 ^Ventilate the house at least two times a day 07:43.348 --> 07:46.952 ^to prevent mold and mildew from growing into your house. 07:46.952 --> 07:49.112 ^Local maps will be provided from your counselor, 07:49.112 --> 07:50.945 so please ask for one. 07:51.741 --> 07:53.481 Thank you for stopping by today to receive 07:53.481 --> 07:54.874 your housing office briefing. 07:54.874 --> 07:56.573 You will now meet with one of our counselors 07:56.573 --> 07:58.120 to answer any questions you may have 07:58.120 --> 08:00.021 and to complete your housing profile.