Congratulations on your assignment! Living in Italy, and being a part of its culture, is a unique and exciting experience that involves a steep learning curve. The USAG Italy Housing Office will help you through some of the more challenging areas and guide you every step of the way through the Housing process.
When you are 15 DAYS AWAY FROM ARRIVING TO ITALY: CLICK HERE please reach back out to our office and provide us with the following information:
1. CMR/PO Box
2. CAC front and back
3. Passport and Visa (if civilians)
4. Date and Place of Birth
5. Orders
6. Family composition (number and ages of dependents, pets, etc.)
7. Telephone number
8. Personal email address
9. Arrival in Italy
10. Leave Form and sign out date from losing Installation.
With this information we will apply for your Codice Fiscale, which is like the American SSN and used for tax purposes. You will need this to open a local bank account, activate utilities in private rentals, start a local cell phone account, and potentially a few other instances.
When you reach 7 DAY FROM ARRIVING IT ITALY: CLICK HERE, we will be able to tell you whether you and your family will be authorized for a Government Leased Quarter(s) or a Private Rental home.
There is a mandatory Army Family Housing (AFH) policy in place for all Service Members and their families: they must be placed in government quarters if there is availability in their category and bedroom requirement. Attached to this email you will find a copy of the Mandatory Housing Policy.
If Government Leased Quarters (GLQ) are not available, then a Certificate of Non-availability (CNA) will be approved to look for a private rental home on the economy. Please do not engage in this option until you have spoken with a member of the Housing Office, and you have received confirmation that you will be given a CNA. If a CNA is approved, a Housing Counselor will assist you in scheduling to take part in a Private Rental Briefing.
USAG Italy AFH consists of:
1. Government Leased Quarters (GLQ) - GLQ are located off post and in the neighborhoods of the USAG Italy footprint but are still controlled, or managed, by the US Government. Usually located within a 30-minute commute and near the DODEA bus route. All utilities are included; the only out of pocket expenses will be Wi-fi/internet service and telephone service if you choose to have these services.
2. Private Rental (PR) – PR housing is in Vicenza and the surrounding townships. This is like when renting a home in the U.S. and the contract is between the resident and property owner. The resident would be responsible for abiding by the lease contract and all utilities. (Overseas Housing Allowance (OHA) will be issued/approved based on rank and family size). The Housing Office will assist you throughout the process and that will start with a Private Rental Briefing. The Housing Office will also be available to assist you throughout your tenure in USAG Italy, to include facilitate communication with your landlord or a point of contact, maintenance/repair requests, and mediation.
Generally, the housing in the communities of Italy consist of duplexes, townhomes, or apartment flats. In some communities they do have single family homes but, this is not common. The average size of a duplex or townhouse is approximately 1,200 to 1,800 square feet. Most Italian homes have stairs, often two or three stories, which can make it difficult to accommodate large pieces of furniture. The homes on the economy usually do not have kitchen appliances, closets or washers and dryers. The USAG Italy Central Furnishings Management Office (CFMO) will accommodate Service Members with major appliances for the duration of their tour. These appliances are stove/oven, refrigerator, dishwasher, washer, and dryer. CFMO also has the ability to issue loaner furnishings until their Household Goods arrive such as: a dining room table and chairs, living area furniture, bedroom furniture, and wardrobes.
I hope this information is helpful to you and your family.
I wish you the best on your move and if you have any other questions, please don’t hesitate to contact our office.