Military Bases - Is There A Blacklist? (Navy, enlisted, signing)

[SnugBuffalo]

I've heard that many of the large military bases have lists of things to stay away from. Certain bars, restaurants, clubs... What about housing? Are you told not to rent from certain landlords because of past problems? Or, if there is a list, do the restrictions deal with certain neighborhoods?

[lisdol]

I guess it would be on a base by base basis. Since you are supposed to go to housing first to check in and get authorization to live off base (right? I am pretty sure we have had to do that each time) they will let you know if there are any restrictions or warnings about slumlords, etc..

[SnugBuffalo]

Thanks, Lisdol. My specific area of concern is where owners of apartment projects have been blacklisted by the local base, but base personnel continue to live in problem apartments due to availability of low rents. With a reasonably good housing allowance, it comes down to a choice between safer or better quality housing, or having more money in your pocket.

If the military tells you to stay away from certain bars, clubs and tattoo parlors, should not bad landlords also be restricted?

[Balad1]

The military doesn't seem to black list businesses like they did 10-20 years ago.

I've seen it on a few occassions and have noticed that the Navy seems more proactive than other services.

Personally I believe it's all about political correctness and fear of offending the local community (aka lack of backbone).

[Poncho_NM]

Check with the local base housing office. If they do have any "Off Limits" housing, they are the ones who would know.

Current example:
http://www.bragg.army.mil/DPW-HSG/off_limits.htm (broken link)


Rich

[fearnofish]

Originally Posted by SnugBuffalo

I've heard that many of the large military bases have lists of things to stay away from. Certain bars, restaurants, clubs... What about housing? Are you told not to rent from certain landlords because of past problems? Or, if there is a list, do the restrictions deal with certain neighborhoods?

In our area they blacklisted a section of town because it was drastically decreasing our BAH levels and the housing in that sections was not up to standards. That is something our Command had to step up and recognize and it helped out everyone.

[ladybug07]

There is a blacklist for rentals and landlords. Some commands even require that you check with them before signing a lease.

[Poncho_NM]

Originally Posted by ladybug07

There is a blacklist for rentals and landlords. Some commands even require that you check with them before signing a lease.

Technically you have to get permission to reside off post and draw BAH (Basic Allowance for Housing).


Rich

[212david51]

If you are junior enlisted and single, it is most likely they will make you live on base. But lets assume you have permission to live off base and you are going to get BAH. The first place to start is the base housing office. They have a ton of info for you including info on who gives military discounts for renters. They can also tell you about the "Military clause" that you are suppose to get in your lease. They have a list of complaints filed with them about particular landlords. Lastly, if any landlord has been a real problem and there is a black list, they will tell you about it. The black list is there to protect you as the land lord has to be a real problem to get added to it. In many cases it is land lords who do not cooperate with the military clause or in other ways takes advantages of military people. Such as requiring large security deposits and then not returning them for bogus reasons.

I only had one experience with the "black list." During Desert Shield/Storm a number of military members got deployed and gave their spouses a General Power of Attorney so the spouse could get stuff done while the military person was in Saudi Arabia. Many businesses would not accept the General Power of Attorney and the spouse was stuck not being able to get things done.

So the base commander (general) asked the Chamber of Commerce, Better Business Bureau and any owners of major businesses to come out for a meeting on base. He also invited all the local news media to come. So many showed up they had to use the base theater. He got up on stage, explained how the General Power of Attorney forms get issued, who witnesses them and why they were needed. Then he said, "Any business that refuses to accept one of our military issue General Power of Attorney forms will be black listed. If you are not willing to help out our troops in Saudi Arabia, then we do not want our troops to do business with you."

We had no more problem with businesses and the Power of Attorney forms. All of the businesses got real nice about it.

[newtocolumbia]

Do you guys think everyone should have the right to know whether they or their businesses have been blacklisted as well as to view all the blacklisted businesses around the world, blacklisted by the US military or by other military? If so, where can one view such a BLACK LIST of all blacklisted online and offline merchants and stores, establishments and places from around the world? They (business owners etc.) must be shown such info, to give them a chance to review it and to change and improve things so that they or their businesses potentially could be removed from such black lists.