- Forces families living in military housing will enjoy greater
freedoms to make their house feel more like home.
- The new Consumer Charter will cut the red tape and make it
easier for families to own pets, decorate properties and run
businesses from their homes.
- Reforms follow the Strategic Defence Review (SDR) commitment
of more than £1.5 billion extra for forces family housing,
delivering on the government's Plan for
Change.
Thousands of Armed Forces families will benefit from new freedoms
to keep pets and personalise their homes as part of the
Government's commitment to improve forces housing.
The measures, announced today, include greater freedoms to own
pets, decorate and personalise houses, and run businesses from
home.
The latest improvements to military family housing — some already
in effect from 9 August — mark a key milestone in delivering the
Government's new Consumer Charter. Defence Secretary has pledged to put forces
families at the heart of defence housing reform, vowing to “stop
the rot” and raise standards across service accommodation
nationwide.
The Charter is part of the forthcoming Defence Housing Strategy,
which will set out plans for a generational renewal of forces
housing, helping renew the nation's contract with those who serve
and supporting the Government's Plan for Change.
Defence Secretary MP said:
Our Armed Forces make extraordinary sacrifices to keep us safe
every day. But for too long, military families have lived in
substandard housing without basic consumer
rights.
These new measures are a key milestone as we deliver on our
Consumer Charter to stop the rot in military accommodation and
ensure our heroes and their loved ones live in houses they can
truly call home.
By introducing greater freedoms, including pet ownership, we are
ensuring forces families up and down the UK can live and work in
homes fit for modern life.
Until now, military families faced a lengthy and bureaucratic
approval process to own pets. From this week, they can keep up to
two dogs, cats or smaller pets without needing permission —
recognising the vital role pets play in family life and mental
wellbeing.
The comfort and companionship that pets provide is especially
important for military families, whose partner or parent may be
away for many months at a time on deployment. Safeguards remain
in place to protect the welfare of animals and support families
if any issues arise.
Minister for Veterans and People, , said:
As a dog owner and Royal Marine who served for 24 years, much of
it in Service accommodation, I'm delighted to be making it easier
for our dedicated personnel to own family pets.
Recognising the unique demands of Service family life, it is also
right that we make it easier for family members to run businesses
from military housing.
Another measure, that comes into effect this week, involves
streamlining processes for service family members running a
business from their home, ensuring a standardised approach across
the UK. Those already running a business will also benefit from a
named housing officer, who can offer advice and support on
processes, delivering on another promise set out in the Consumer
Charter.
In the future, families will also have more freedom to decorate
their houses. This could include adding wireless wall lamps and
decorative decals for creative wall designs or borders.
Improvements to housing are underpinned by an investment of more
than £7 billion this Parliament in military accommodation, which
includes an extra £1.5 billion through the Strategic Defence
Review to support urgent repairs and the long-term renewal of
military family homes across the UK. This record investment
follows the Government's landmark deal to bring back 36,000
military homes into public ownership, as part of the Prime
Minister's pledge to deliver homes fit for heroes.
