Packing up and moving home is probably one of the most stressful things about family life in the army, so AFF Housing Specialist Cat Calder has put together a checklist to help you get through your SFA move as smoothly as possible…
If you have a new assignment order, you will need to inform Pinnacle within 14 days. Even if you’re just changing desks in the same office, they need to update your details.
Applications for SFA will not be reviewed until four months out, but you must apply within two months of your new start date to ensure that housing can be allocated and prepared in time.
STAYING PUT
If you want to remain in your SFA, you must request this officially by completing an RMAT form (found in JSP 464 vol 1 part 1). Your welfare team or unit admin will be able to assist you. Retention is only for specific reasons as set out in JSP 464 and it’s granted for the minimum necessary period but up to a maximum of 12 months where required.
If you don’t meet retention criteria, you can request to remain in the SFA on a surplus licence, but this is dependent on availability of SFA in the local area and in many areas it’s not being offered. Being in surplus accommodation may impact your allowances – CEA in particular – so check with your unit admin team.
Those of you in long-term relationships should know that unless you have preserved rights, for example if you were entitled to SFA under the Future Accommodation Model (FAM) pilot, you’re currently only eligible for surplus SFA where availability permits and within a 50-mile radius. In some places you may need to look at private rental.
APPLYING FOR SFA
The service person will need to use an MOD computer to apply for SFA via the e1132 form. It will show available SFA at your entitlement within a 10-mile radius.
While you can submit preferences, your entitlement is to SFA at your duty station as per your JPA assignment order. But please make sure you include any relevant information in the free text box if you have any specific requests for your move adviser to consider.
The team has 15 working days to make an offer against entitled applications. Those who are eligible or applying for a personal transfer have no timescales as to when an allocation will be made.
You’re allowed to refuse your first offer, but do think carefully about this because if nothing else is available you could be offered your original allocation again.
A second refusal will need to go through your chain of command and then the housing colonel for them to consider if a third allocation would be supported and could significantly delay your move.
If you or an entitled family member requires adaptations, make sure you tick the box and again include all relevant information.
MOVE-IN/MOVE-OUT APPOINTMENTS
- Book your pre move-out appointment. This is compulsory and allows the team to identify if any particular work needs to be done before another family moves in. The more time they have to prepare, the more likely they are to be able to get the work done for the next family – and that includes you.
- Book your move-in appointment. If possible, try to organise this for a day before your removals arrive so that if there are any issues you don’t feel pressurised with the removals team, children and dogs cranking up the tension on the day.
- Book your removals via Agility in plenty of time and remember removals insurance.
- Book your move-out appointment and ensure that the SFA meets the move-out standards or you may be charged.
- Make sure you have a copy of the move-in standards (available on the Pinnacle website) with you at your move-in and go through it as you walk round the property. Ensure any issues like cleanliness, stains on carpets, curtains not matching or dripping taps are included on the paperwork before you sign. Do not be persuaded to simply add issues you identify at this appointment to your 14-day report.
- Book your 14-day visit/report at your move-in appointment. This is an opportunity to record any issues that aren’t repairs but you want to ensure you aren’t charged for at move-out. If you find any issues that need repairs, they should be logged with Pinnacle.