Renting Without Getting Caught Off Guard

Planning for the full cost of renting and avoiding surprises.

Renting can seem straightforward, but many of the challenges show up before you even move in. For Veterans and military families, it’s not just about whether the monthly rent fits. It’s the upfront costs, ongoing expenses, and approval process that can catch people off guard. This theme focuses on helping your audience prepare for everything that comes with renting so they’re not surprised along the way. 

Key Message: Renting comes with more than a monthly payment. Upfront costs, ongoing expenses, and the approval process all affect what is realistic.

Featured Resources to Share

Checking Your Credit Before You Apply for Housing: Use this resource to help your audience understand how credit can affect rental approvals, deposits, and housing options. 

Renting a Home: Use this resource to help Veterans understand common rental costs, lease considerations, and what to plan for financially before signing a lease. 

Understanding Relocation Costs for Transitioning Military Members: Use this resource to help Veterans prepare for the financial side of moving, including upfront housing expenses and relocation-related costs. 

 

Additional Resources: Use these to build on the conversation or support specific situations: 

Partner Post (Social Media) 

How to use: Share this post on social media to help your audience think beyond just the monthly rent.  If you do share, please tag us on social media! You can post as-is or adjust it to fit your audience. 

 

Suggested link: Pair this post with one of the featured Veteran Saves resources above or your organization’s housing support resources. 

 

Post Copy: 

Rent is only part of the cost. Security deposits, utility setup fees, application costs, moving expenses, and credit checks can all affect what you’ll need upfront before moving into a new place. 

Before signing a lease, take time to look at the full financial picture. @VeteranSaves created resources to help Veterans prepare for the real cost of renting after the military: : [INSERT LINK]

Right click on the image and choose "Save Image As" to download to your device.

Sample Email Copy

If you’re moving out of the military or adjusting to civilian life, renting can look very different than what you’re used to. 

Whether you were receiving a housing allowance or living on base, you may now be responsible for covering the full cost of housing on your own. 

Rent is just one part of that cost. Things like security deposits, application fees, utilities, and moving expenses can add up quickly. 

There’s also the approval process. Many landlords will look at your credit, income, and rental history when deciding whether to approve your application or how much you’ll need to pay upfront. 

Even if the rent seems manageable, these additional pieces can change what’s realistic. 

Taking a few minutes now to understand what you might run into can help you avoid delays, extra costs, or surprises later. 

Veteran Saves created resources to help Veterans better understand the renting process, prepare financially, and avoid common surprises before moving. 

Featured Resources: 

Action Step 

Encourage your audience to estimate their total move-in cost before applying. 

Ask them to add up: 

  • first month’s rent  
  • security deposit  
  • application or screening fees  
  • utility setup costs  
  • moving expenses  

Thanks again for sharing these resources to help keep your community informed about their housing decisions at every stage! If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to us at save@americasaves.org.