HOUSING

NAVSTA ROTA Housing Website

**Housing briefs for off-base leases as well as on-base family housing are at 1000 every Friday at the Housing Office. It is important that you attend the first available brief after your arrival to Rota.

**Unaccompanied Housing (unaccompanied E4 and junior) briefs are at 0900 every Friday at the Housing Office - required for barracks check-in.

Housing can be stressful topic to discuss when learning about PCSing overseas. Here are a few steps to guide you through the process, as well as some information regarding housing prior to your move and once you arrive in Rota.

1. Decide if you want to live on or off base.

   • Keep in mind on-base housing has all US outlets, which is helpful. You do not have to pay separate for utilities and get A/C and heat (rare in town). Many find it more convenient to immerse into the Spanish cultural experience by living off base. However, many who live on base also find it easy to explore and enjoy everything off base.

   • Keep in mind that when living out in town, the utilities are expensive. You will get a utility allowance but you need to be careful about leaving electricity on. Many Spanish landlords require an entire month for a security deposit so be prepared to pay 2 full months rent up front!

   • Many landlords out in town will negotiate price, furniture, and what all is included in rent. If you don't have enough furniture they will most likely supply you with some.

   • Visit the TRAVEL DISTANCES page to assist with your decision.

2. Base Housing:

• • Use the HEAT (Housing Early Application Tool) (the above link) to get in touch with the Housing Office and let them know you are interested in living on base.

  • Base housing is available for all military families, but depending on rank and family size, you will qualify for certain areas of housing.

  • All base housing has all appliances, are equipped with laundry washer and dryer, and have central heat and A/C (very rare out in towns around base). All water is safe to drink from faucets as well.

  • Maintenance of the houses, common spaces, and appliances is overseen by the Housing Office. Repairs are of no cost to military personnel. Maintenance of your lawn and personal outdoor space is the resident's responsibility.

  • Self Help office has lawn equipment that families can borrow as well as other household tools/parts (AC filters, some hardware items, etc.).

  • Bring curtains, rugs, etc. because the homes all have tile floor which can get very cold in the winter months. There are pre-mounted curtain rods and towel racks as well as pre-installed rolling blinds for the windows.

  • All houses are single story 2, 3, or 4 bedroom houses with a fenced in backyard.

  • Base family housing is located at one end of base, near the Puerto gate. The Commissary, NEX, and other services are all about 1-2 miles from the housing area.

  • The DoD School is located in the center of the housing area. There are numerous parks and playgrounds and an outdoor swimming pool in the summer months.

  • There is a base shuttle bus which runs through base housing to major points of interest on base during work transit times.

3. Off-Base Housing:

   • • The options for off-base housing towns are Rota, El Puerto de Santa María, Chipiona, or Sanlúcar de Barrameda.

       1. Rota/New Rota: Rota has a ton of night-life, restaurants, celebrations and many other things. Apartments/townhouses here are smaller because it is a compacted city. This area is probably better for young couples, with no kids or a small family because of the close quarters. There are small sidewalks and not many grass areas besides in parks. Keep in mind that the Spanish don't go out until late so the noise could keep you up and apartments/townhouses might not fit all your American sized furniture. The best part about Rota is that you are super close to grocery stores, the beach, restaurants, bars, etc. New Rota is a little more "residential" than Old Rota. New Rota has bigger sidewalks and streets, which may make it easier to take dogs out, go on bike rides, etc. Rota is in walking distance from the Rota Base Gate.

       2. El Puerto: El Puerto also has night-life, lots of restaurants, the beach, shopping, and larger celebrations, etc. There is more space here so townhouses/houses are more common than little apartments and it is also more common for there to be a "garden" or yard. The houses are larger here as well so it may accommodate a family or American sized furniture a little better. There are multiple different areas, or neighborhoods, in Puerto and each has its own feel. There is more parking available in Puerto, especially in the summer months, and many houses have pools. Base is about a 15 min drive from Puerto so a car would be necessary.

       3. Chipiona/Sanlúcar de Barrameda: These towns are about 20-30 min away from base. There isn't as much American influence in these towns so people who live there get a very authentic Spanish farm town feel. There is a lot of space and the houses are extremely spacious with large yards and pools. These areas are well suited for larger families. There is a small "downtown" area with shops and restaurants but not nearly as large as Rota or Puerto. The school buses for the on-base school does make stops in Chipiona.

     • Before arriving in Rota, look at homes.mil website for what type of housing options you can expect in the different towns around base. You can filter it for your wants and needs as well as what your max OHA will be (however, many landlords can be negotiated down to your max OHA) .

     • There are also many facebook groups, especially the "Rota Naval Community Q and A" and "Rota NAVSTA Housing" pages, that post apartments/townhouses/homes for rent. Get in contact with a "House Runner", who will take you into town and show you multiple housing options. Send them your wish list so you can set up a day and time to meet with them once you arrive in Rota. (Be careful, some of them are a scam but most are extremely helpful. It will help to be put in contact with a House Runner that another military family has used).

4. Unaccompanied Housing barracks

• For E-4 and junior single or unaccompanied Sailors

• Not for E-5 and above single or unaccompanied Sailors

• Limited Resident Assistant (RA) opportunities for E-5 and above single/unaccompanied Sailors. Requests can be made through chain of command to the housing office.

WHEN YOU ARRIVE IN SPAIN:

1. The first Friday you are in Spain, there is an important initial housing meeting. This meeting is mandatory and everyone must attend. It is usually about 10am on the first Friday in Rota at the Housing office on base.

2. Once you've completed the initial housing meeting, you can schedule your initial housing appointment. A counselor will go over housing related things such as OHA, on-base vs off-base housing, the different towns you can live in, neighborhood safety and things of that nature. This must be completed PRIOR to meeting with any house runners or making any house hunting appointments through the Housing Office.

3. IF LIVING ON BASE: Applications must be submitted to the Housing Office. Even if you applied through HEAT, each applicant must be confirmed upon arrival. Applications must be submitted with a copy of the PCS orders, a copy of Page 2, and Page 13 (command sponsorship).

   1. 1. • If there are houses available upon arrival, you will get assigned a house to move into. If HHG is not here, loaner locker/self-help/FFSC can supply you with things.

         • If there are no houses available upon arrival, you will be placed on the waitlist. When a house becomes available, people who applied within 30 days of their arrive will receive a government funded move from their off base housing to family housing on base.

4. IF LIVING OFF BASE: Once the initial housing appointment is completed, make an appointment with a House Runner to see some places and/or make an appointment with the Housing Office for a counselor to take you into town to show you houses you have chosen from homes.mil. (Note: the housing counselors will only take you to see places in one town per day. Come prepared with listing ID numbers from homes.mil of the places you have liked and would want to see in person).

5. IF LIVING OFF BASE: After you have picked your apartment/townhouse/house, go to the Housing Office on base to start your Pre-Contract. Once you have started this, the house is yours and no one can take it. During this phase you will also determine your move in date. The Housing Counselor will call the landlord and verify that you will be the tenants, make sure the house is up to date on it's inspection status, and help you with the lease process.

   1. 1. • NOTE: THE LEASE IS BETWEEN YOU AND THE LANDLORD, NOT YOU AND THE HOUSING OFFICE.

6. IF LIVING OFF BASE: After the Pre-Contract is signed by both parties (you and the landlord) and the inspection is complete (if needed), the lease will be generated and signed by both parties. Be sure to obtain an NIE in case you need to open utility accounts or pay rent via Spanish Bank. You will be able to move in and get your HHG shipment delivered and start calling Rota home!

LOANER LOCKER/SELF-HELP/FFSC:

• If your HHG is still en route, Housing's Loaner Locker can give you 90 day loaner furniture until your HHG arrives. Examples: beds, sofa, dining table/chairs, night stands, cribs, etc.

• If off-base, housing can also provide you with full-tour appliances if you are missing any. Examples include: washer, dryer, dishwasher, microwaves, freezers, stoves, etc. All appliances are 220 volts/60 hertz so no transformers are needed.

• Family Fleet Support Center (FFSC) can supply a move in package of pots and pans, small appliances and other necessities.

• Self-Help can supply families with transformers, smoke detectors (most Spanish housing do not have carbon monoxide or smoke detectors), lawn mowers, garden tools, weed eaters, etc.