As a result of a deal in January 2025 to buy back 36,000 SFA from Annington, a new Defence Housing Strategy Team was set up to review and propose changes to improve the current stock, build new quarters and improve the home ownership offer to service families.
Cat Calder, AFF Housing Specialist, was invited to be part of this process, representing the three families federations and ensuring that the voices of families and service personnel were included in the recommendations.
The review included the development of a new Consumer Charter, which includes the following:
● Improved information for families ahead of a move, including photographs and floor plans.
● More reliable repairs, and a new online portal for service personnel to manage these.
● Raising the minimum standard of forces family housing with a new programme of works targeted at the worst homes, with up to 1,000 refurbished.
● Clearer communication, including a named Housing Officer for every service family.
● A new, simpler complaints process, which will be backed by the new Armed Forces Commissioner.
● Modernised policies to allow more freedom for families to make improvements.
The assurance is that these improvements will be in place by the one-year anniversary of the announcement to buy back military homes.
The housing survey which ran in June was part of that consultation and thank you to those who took the time to complete it.
The charter will be part of a new Defence Housing Strategy, to be published later this year, which will set out further plans to improve the standard of service family homes across the country.
WHAT HAS ALREADY BEEN DONE?
In June VIVO and Amey started to work to a new improved set of move-in standards which included:
● Hard flooring being used downstairs instead of carpet when replacement is needed.
● White paint inside homes.
● Vinyl flooring in all bathrooms, WCs, kitchens and utility rooms if floor tiles or hard flooring are not already installed when replacement is needed.
● Allowing up to four picture hooks per room to be left at move-out without charges being incurred.
If you have moved over the summer you will hopefully have seen these improvements in your new home.
WHAT IS STILL TO COME?
Work is ongoing to get photos and floor plans in place for all SFA – this has started to filter through but not everyone will have seen these until the next occupancy cycle. By next summer all properties should have them so you can decide where your furniture will go!
MEET YOUR HOUSING OFFICER
The name and contact details of your Housing Officer are now on pinnacleservicefamilies.co.uk so you can contact them directly if you have any issues. They also have a new uniform and branding on their cars – do stop and chat to them.
Houses to be refurbished as part of the planned initial 1,000 have been identified – if your home is part of this you will receive a letter with more information.
GET IN TOUCH
Hopefully you will start to see the benefits in the coming months. AFF would like to hear your thoughts – email housingsupport@aff.org.uk