Posting Policy-Restricted (IR) & Prohibited moves [MERGED]

[PMedMoe]

No offense to the staff at CFSU(O) but good luck getting a reply from them.  When I was posted, the clerk forwarded my email requesting a list of places to rent to another clerk and I never received a reply.  It was a good thing I already knew people here on IR.

 

[Pusser]

I'd be curious as to why the clerk who received it did not forward it on to you.  Unfortunately, things like that do happen, but I can honestly say that my experience with Orderly Room in Ottawa has always been pretty positive (although it bugs the crap out of me why I can't wear jeans to be served there, even if I'm on leave, but the civilian clerk serving me can).  Perhaps the moral of the story is to call and talk to a person.

 

[PMedMoe]

I don't know what it is about the OR in Ottawa.  I think going in person is your best bet, albeit it's rather inconvenient from where I work.  Phoning and emailing (with read receipt) seems to be hit or miss. 

 

[J.J]

You rent your own place.  Current entitlement right now is $1600 for rent and $100 for parking (if required).  You can rent furnished (which is best) or rent the furniture but it cannot be a rent-to-own agreement.  Furniture rental and apartment rental combined cannot exceed the entitlement.

As far as other options, either you go IR or you move your family.  That's all the options.

CBSA gives us $2500 for rent and $195 for parking, plus after 31 days you get %75 of your travel entitlements, meals and incidentals, which gives you an additional $62/day.
Sometimes it is good to a civil servant!  ;D

What I found when I was there, is the apartment/hotel will ask you where you work and then whatever your maximum amount is, that will be the rent.

For the same place...

For DND the rent would be $1600 + $100 for parking.

For CBSA, it would be $2500 + $195 parking.

Like Pmed suggested, ask someone who is there and I would suggest don't sign a long term lease. Stay there for a month and see if you like it and then explore the city to find the right neighbourhood for you & your family....If possible

 

[birdgunnnersrule]

There are PMQs in Ottawa at the Uplands site, which is quite convenient to Leitrim and not to bad for getting to Startop.  I don't know about parking at Startop

The parking at Startop is good if you happen to qualify for a pass next to the building. Like everywhere in Ottawa it is based on the points system of time in, where you live, car pooling, and if you are near public transit.  There is an additional parking lot out back that is run privately.  You can pay a monthly flat rate or pay a daily rate of $6.  They kind of have a monopoly and you are at their mercy as there is not much parking around. 

I hope this helps.

 

[opcougar]

just wondering if any of you knowledgeable folks in Ottawa, can please tell me from the list below, which hotel will be the best place for me to stay at for a few months while I sell my house, if I need to get to STARTOP on startop and innes road

 

[PMedMoe]

I think you forgot the list of hotels.

 

[opcougar]

Sorry about that, here they are. How long is someone allowed to stay at these kind of hotels on IR? I can't seem to find an apartment, and just think hotel is the way to go for now

\\ best western victoria park suites, 377 o connor str
\\ novotel ottawa, 33 nicholas street
\\ radisson hotel ottawa, parliament hill
\\ delta ottawa hotel and suites, 361 queen str
\\ holiday inn hotel and suites downtown ottawa, 111 cooper str
\\ courtyard by marriot ottawa, 350 dalhousie str
\\ residence inn by marriot ottawa, 161 laurier ave west
\\ Bostonian executive suites, 341 maclaren str

 

[Occam]

I can't give you any info about IR, but we did stay at the Residence Inn on our HHT, and it was okay, but nothing spectacular.  We stayed at the Minto Suites during our actual move for a little over two weeks, and it was really nice.  All of those hotels are downtown, and I assume you're taking the bus to Startop.  I've heard good things about the Business Inn & Suites too, although it's not on your list.

Where did you get the list of hotels?  The PWGSC 2010 Accommodation and Car Rental Directory?

 

[PMedMoe]

All of those hotels are pretty much downtown and not really near Star Top and Innes Rd.  You are allowed to stay as long as your IR is authorized.  When you call to inquire about a place, explain you are on IR and how many months you want the place for.  Some places will rent on a month-by-month basis.  Make sure you get a 30-day release as well (meaning you can terminate the rental with 30 days notice).  Do you even have a posting message yet?  Don't forget that you have to request IR from your CM.

Here's a list of some rental agencies that may have properties closer to Star Top.

http://www.ottawarentalhouses.com/

http://ottawa.sublet.com/

http://www.rentboard.ca/rentals/index.aspx?locid=4617

http://www.viewit.ca/vwListings.aspx?cs=1

http://www.ottawaliving.ca/rentals.php?view=new_rentals

You really ought to try using Google yourself.

 

[opcougar]

I can't give you any info about IR, but we did stay at the Residence Inn on our HHT, and it was okay, but nothing spectacular.  We stayed at the Minto Suites during our actual move for a little over two weeks, and it was really nice.  All of those hotels are downtown, and I assume you're taking the bus to Startop.  I've heard good things about the Business Inn & Suites too, although it's not on your list.

Where did you get the list of hotels?  The PWGSC 2010 Accommodation and Car Rental Directory?

Yes....that is where I got it from, through MPSS.

 

[opcougar]

Yes I do have a posting message in hand, and it shows a fin code for IR. Pmedmoe don't feel you need to contribute to the thread, I am asking for first hand knowledge/experience here from people that have done the move, if it's too much to ask, just ignore the thread.

It's that easy really

Thx

All of those hotels are pretty much downtown and not really near Star Top and Innes Rd.  You are allowed to stay as long as your IR is authorized.  When you call to inquire about a place, explain you are on IR and how many months you want the place for.  Some places will rent on a month-by-month basis.  Make sure you get a 30-day release as well (meaning you can terminate the rental with 30 days notice).  Do you even have a posting message yet?  Don't forget that you have to request IR from your CM.

Here's a list of some rental agencies that may have properties closer to Star Top.

http://www.ottawarentalhouses.com/

http://ottawa.sublet.com/

http://www.rentboard.ca/rentals/index.aspx?locid=4617

http://www.viewit.ca/vwListings.aspx?cs=1

http://www.ottawaliving.ca/rentals.php?view=new_rentals

You really ought to try using Google yourself.

 

[Occam]

Yes....that is where I got it from, through MPSS.

MPSS??

You can view the directory yourself here - http://rehelv-acrd.tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca/rechercher-search-eng.aspx

Make sure you select Ottawa (downtown) or you'll get wonky results.  Also make sure you're getting a suite w/kitchen or you'll also get wonky results.

For what it's worth, I think PMedMoe is actually on IR here in Ottawa, so you might want to be a little friendlier with her as I'm sure she probably knows a fair bit about the IR situation here.

 

[opcougar]

I really appreciate that and know Pmed is on IR, but she just keeps coming back saying "use google". Google does not give me first hand experience of people, which is what am looking for here.

Pmedmoe....I don't mean to come across as cocky, it's just that I need to move ASAP

MPSS??

You can view the directory yourself here - http://rehelv-acrd.tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca/rechercher-search-eng.aspx

Make sure you select Ottawa (downtown) or you'll get wonky results.  Also make sure you're getting a suite w/kitchen or you'll also get wonky results.

For what it's worth, I think PMedMoe is actually on IR here in Ottawa, so you might want to be a little friendlier with her as I'm sure she probably knows a fair bit about the IR situation here.

 

[PMedMoe]

Actually, I am on IR here in Ottawa and I had to do everything myself since the support unit was no help at all.  This is why I am attempting to help you, but really, you could be Googling all this stuff yourself and then ask questions as you did with the hotel list.  No one is really going to able to give you "first hand" info on every place in Ottawa.  You're going to have to do a lot of the footwork yourself.  You do know you're entitled to an HHT, right?

 

[opcougar]

Actually, I am on IR here in Ottawa and I had to do everything myself since the support unit was no help at all.  This is why I am attempting to help you, but really, you could be Googling all this stuff yourself and then ask questions as you did with the hotel list.  No one is really going to able to give you "first hand" info on every place in Ottawa.  You're going to have to do a lot of the footwork yourself.  You do know you're entitled to an HHT, right?

Yes I know, but am saving that for when my house in Toronto sells in the spring/summer, then the wife and kids can use the HHT to find a house to buy in Ottawa

 

[Pusser]

For the record, I did exactly what opcougar is planning to do - came first on IR until kids finished school, then moved in the summer.  I found a place by phoning around using the list from the CFSU(O) IR desk.  I then made all the arrangements via e-mail/fax and secured the place sight unseen.  Since it was only for three months, I was prepared to accept the risk of ending up in a dive (I didn't).  I spent my weekends on IR checking out the housing market and when I felt I had a good short list and the market was right, I called my wife and had her come on the HHT.  I was working in the same basic timeframe (arrived in Ottawa in late March - HHT end of April -moved in early July).

You won't be able to stay in a hotel for any length of time.  You are only allowed seven days to find a place with cooking facilities.  After that, your meal allowance goes WAY down.  You need to find a furnished apartment as soon as possible.  Most of them seem to be downtown, but the bus service in Ottawa is not horrific (other than surly drivers who crank up the heat when everybody is wearing winter coats and who think they're at LeMans).

I stayed at the Horizon Towers (http://www.horizontowers.ca/).  There is a minimum three month lease period, but that worked out OK for me.  They charge the CF rate for the room and for parking.  It's conveniently located downtown if you're interested in entertaining yourself.  The best part I found was that the rent included cable and telephone.  Other places I looked at charged the CF rate, but cable and telephone were extra.  It also has a pool.

Good luck

 

[PMedMoe]

Just to give you a heads up, it seems they are doing a "fact finding" search on personnel on IR here in Ottawa.  According to the DCBA Aide Memoire, you are only entitled to a one bedroom place, so make sure you don't get a place with two bedrooms.  You will find (as Pusser said) the majority of the places are downtown.  Because everyone in Ottawa works at 101.  :

 

[captloadie]

According to the DCBA Aide Memoire, you are only entitled to a one bedroom place, so make sure you don't get a place with two bedrooms. 

On a bit of a tangent concerning the DCBA Aide Memoire, I have been reading alot of the grievances at this link:
http://www.cfgb-cgfc.gc.ca/english/CS.html

It seems that grievances were filed because the Aide Memoire was used as the reference to "clarify" the regulations. However, the grievance board has continually stated that it cannot take precedence over the regulation and granted the grievance. I was wondering if any word has filtered down to the RMS world about quoting it as gospel.

 

[PMedMoe]

captloadie, I understand that.  I had a bit of an argument with CFSU(O) last year over their own IR briefing info sheet.  Changes were made immediately after that.  :

I'm only trying to let members know what's going on here but I intend on looking up the actual directive as well.