Attend Private Rental Brief at Housing Office: If you’re eligible for private housing, the Housing representative at CSC will schedule you for a private rental brief at Housing (off-post) to learn about the private rental process. 
Search for a Private Rental: Use the website www.homes.mil. Create an account and search daily for private rental listings extensively vetted and approved by Housing. No realtor fees will be applied.
Search for a Private Rental via a Realtor: 

While a realtor may offer more selection, remember that they probably don’t vet homes as thoroughly as the Housing office. Service members are eligible for reimbursement of ALL REALTOR FEES (usually 1 month’s rent + 22% tax). Civilians should refer to their CPAC for the possible options available in this regard. When you find a home through a realtor, Housing will assist with finalizing your rental contract.

House Viewing: To view a home from homes.mil, you must make requests trough the Housing office by e-mail over the phone or in-person. Each requested home is put on hold (max of 2 homes at a time), meaning nobody else can view it.

An interpreter service (liaison) will be available, if requested, in case you will need transportation and translation, to pick you up from Post to visit the selected property. 

You must provide car seats for kids. Need a seat? Borrow one from the ACS Lending Closet.
You may see up to 5 homes with a liaison support. Notify housing within 24 hours of viewing a home that you would like to rent; otherwise, it goes back on the market.
It’s worth taking time to find a home that you and your family can enjoy while in Italy.
Signing a Lease: Make all the necessary considerations, arrangement with the landlord/agency before your contract/lease signing appointment in order to expedite the process.
The lese signing appointment usually takes about two hours. During the meeting the following material will be covered and signed:
  1. Bilingual lease contract
  2. Utilities documents and related information
  3. OHA/MIHA documents for finance 
PRIVATE HOUSING CONSIDERATIONS
When you’re looking at private rentals, read through the lists below to make sure you don’t overlook anything.
What to Consider Before Leasing
  1. Is a school transportation stop close to the home?
  2. Have any tenants had problems with the landlord?
  3. Are the AC units cleaned and maintained yearly?
  4. Ask to see previous years electric, gas, water bills.
  5. Is home part of a co-op with central heat/air? If so, you can’t use Tax Relief service program.
  6. Is there city electricity and gas (cheaper)?
  7. Is there space for pets (inside and outside)?
  8. Is garage height and width sufficient for your car?
  9. Is the garage door and property gate electric? Is it also manual in case of power outages?
  10. What is the home’s energy rating? Scale is A-G. A is excellent, G is poor. Better grades are more energy efficient, and you’ll pay less to heat/cool a home. Older homes: ~E; Newer homes: ~B. Homes rated “A” likely have solar panels. Choose wisely.
PRIVATE RENTAL HOUSING PROCESS
Once you decide on a rental, call or visit Housing as soon as possible to start the lease process.
Lease Process
  1. Lease Appointment: Housing will set up a time and date for you to meet with a bilingual Lease Counselor to assist with your lease.
  2. Lease Signing: You will return to Housing, usually within a week, to meet with Lease Counselor and landlord. This will be a 2–3-hour meeting to review and sign the final lease agreement.
  3. Utilities: On the day you sign the lease contract, Housing will assist you setting up gas, water, and electric. 
  4. Temporary furniture: temporary furniture and permanent appliances are available at the CFMO warehouse. The contact numbers will be provided to the customer that will make the proper arrangement for the delivery based on the plan of action/effective date of the lease.
  5. Home Inspection: A preliminary inspection at the property will be conducted prior the effective date of the lease to assess the condition of the premises. Pictures and meters readings will be taken, and technical details will be covered. The tenant will receive two sets of house keys; a condition report will be signed by landlord and tenant.
  6. Security Deposit: a security deposit, usually equal to one month’s rent, is required to be paid to the landlord before moving into the premises.
HOUSING ALLOWANCE
Overseas Housing Allowance (OHA) is more complex than stateside Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH). Housing authorizes OHA only when government quarters are not available, meaning you have to lease a private rental property. Military personnel living in government or off-post government-leased housing don’t receive OHA because the government pays all rent/utility expenses.
OHA INCLUDES MULTIPLE ALLOWANCES
Only military members assigned to private rental housing will receive OHA. There are 3 elements of OHA:
  1. Rent: Based on ranking and family status, the amount is “Use or Lose” Please, note that renting a property above your maximum allowance requires Command approval.
  2. Utility and Maintenance: Monthly (lump sum based on family status)
    If the Service Member is responsible for all your utilities, he will receive the full amount every month. Otherwise, if one or more utilities are included into the rent amount a portion of the Utilities Allowance will be deducted.
  3. Move-In Housing Allowance (MIHA): One-time
    There are 2 MIHAs you may receive for private rental housing:
  • MIHA/Miscellaneous: it is meant to offset the expenses that a Service Member typically incurs when moving into privately leased or owned dwellings.
  • MIHA/Rent: Covers all reasonable rent-related expenses. These are fixed, one-time, non-refundable charges levied on behalf of the landlord or a foreign government that the Service member must pay before or upon occupying a dwelling. Specifically, in Vicenza, MIHA Rent is intended to reimburse the Service Members for the Agencies Fees, and the redecoration Fees possibly charge by the landlords for the painting of the premises.  

NOTE: OHA fluctuates monthly based on exchange rate.

TLA and OHA cannot overlap. TLA ends as soon as housing is available, meaning when your housing lease (and OHA) begins. FYI, if you delay moving into available housing for personal reasons, you will have to pay out-of- pocket for any extra nights of lodging.