OHA Rates at Ramstein: Overseas Housing Allowance Guide for Military Families

How OHA Works — The Basics

OHA is fundamentally different from BAH (Basic Allowance for Housing) that you receive in the States:

• BAH is a flat-rate allowance — you keep whatever you don’t spend on housing
• OHA reimburses your actual rent up to a maximum cap for your pay grade
• If your rent is below the cap, you receive only what you actually pay — you cannot pocket the difference
• OHA also includes a separate Utility/Recurring Maintenance (U/RM) allowance — this is a flat amount you keep regardless of actual utility costs

Ramstein OHA Locality Code: DE 700

The KMC area (Ramstein, Landstuhl, Kaiserslautern, Vogelweh, Sembach) falls under locality code DE 700. This is critical when looking up your rate.

OHA Rate Examples for DE 700 (KMC)

Approximate monthly OHA rental ceilings (these change periodically):

• E-5 with dependents: approximately €1,200–€1,400/month rental ceiling
• E-7 with dependents: approximately €1,400–€1,600/month rental ceiling
• O-3 with dependents: approximately €1,600–€1,900/month rental ceiling
• O-5 with dependents: approximately €1,900–€2,300/month rental ceiling

Utility/RM allowance is typically an additional €200–€400/month depending on pay grade, paid as a flat rate.

Always verify current rates on the DTMO website — rates are updated regularly based on housing surveys and currency fluctuations.

What OHA Covers

Rental Component

• Monthly rent (Kaltmiete) for your off-base apartment or house
• Rent is reimbursed in local currency (EUR) up to your pay grade ceiling
• If your rent exceeds the ceiling, you pay the difference out of pocket
• If your rent is below the ceiling, you only receive what you actually pay

Utility/Recurring Maintenance (U/RM)

• Flat monthly amount to cover electricity, gas, water, heating, trash removal
• You keep this amount regardless of actual utility costs — if you’re energy-efficient, you save money
• German utilities can be expensive, especially heating in winter (Nebenkosten)
• Average German utility costs for a family: €200–€400/month depending on apartment size

Move-In Housing Allowance (MIHA)

When you first move into off-base housing, you may qualify for MIHA, which covers one-time expenses:

• MIHA Miscellaneous — covers things like kitchen appliances (German rentals often have NO kitchen), light fixtures, curtain rods
• MIHA Rent — covers security deposits or advance rent payments
• File MIHA through your Housing Office with receipts
• Keep ALL receipts — you’ll need them for reimbursement

Finding Off-Base Housing Within Your OHA

Tips for Apartment Hunting

• Start with the Housing Office — they maintain listings and can help with German landlords
• Understand German rental terms: Kaltmiete (cold rent = base rent), Warmmiete (warm rent = rent + utilities), Nebenkosten (additional costs)
• Your OHA covers Kaltmiete only — Nebenkosten come from your U/RM allowance
• Consider location carefully — closer to base often means higher rent but lower commuting costs
• German leases typically require 3 months’ notice to terminate
• Most German rentals do NOT include a kitchen — budget for buying/installing one (MIHA helps with this)

Popular Areas Near Ramstein

• Ramstein-Miesenbach — walking distance to base, highest rents
• Landstuhl — close to LRMC, good amenities, moderate rents
• Kaiserslautern — city living, more options, 15-20 min commute
• Mackenbach, Steinwenden, Kottweiler — quiet villages, very close to base
• Weilerbach, Rodenbach — family-friendly, reasonable rents

OHA and TLA: The Connection

When you first arrive at Ramstein, you’ll stay in Temporary Lodging Allowance (TLA) housing while searching for a permanent off-base home. TLA covers your temporary apartment for up to 60 days (extendable in some cases).

Once you sign a lease and move into your permanent housing, TLA stops and OHA begins. The transition happens on the date your lease starts.