Current Service Family
Accommodation (SFA) rules, which allow personnel
who have left the Armed Forces to stay in military
housing for six months, will be extended to 12 months
where availability of accommodation allows.
Defence Secretary said:
Having a place to call home is an important part of
the return to civilian life, but there can sometimes
be a lot to think about when hanging up your uniform
for the last time.
By extending the service family offer we hope to give
families more time to make the transition that much
easier. This is another example of how we continue to
support the brave men and women who have served our
country.
The Government already offers a comprehensive package
of housing support to both veterans and service
personnel transitioning back into civilian life,
including:
-
The Joint Service Housing Advice Office, which
provides housing advice to all personnel and
veterans. Veterans with concerns around housing are
supported by MOD’s Veterans UK agency helpline and
by the Veterans Welfare Service.
-
Under the Armed Forces Covenant, veterans have high
priority access to social housing and a five year
exemption from proving a local connection to
quality for social housing.
-
The Forces Help to Buy Scheme allows Service
personnel to borrow up to 50% of their gross annual
salary (maximum of £25K) to buy their first home.
-
Under the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017, MOD has
a “Duty to Refer” personnel leaving the services
who are at risk of homelessness to a local housing
authority in the UK.
Minister for Defence People and Veterans said:
Behind every person who has served in the Armed
Forces is a family, a unit that has been with them
every step of the way.
We must make sure that their needs are looked after
which is why I am proud to support the new family
accommodation extension, which will give families
more time to make the transition back to civilian
life.
Today’s announcement builds on the huge package of
cross-government employment, healthcare and education
support available to ex-service personnel to help them
and their families transition to civilian life.
The MOD also sub-lets some surplus vacant houses to the
general public to generate income through short term
lets on the private market. The properties are rented
at market rates and are available at 60 sites.
