Have your say on new-build SFA homes

AS THE last edition of Army&You revealed, the MOD is developing a range of new homes in Bulford, Wiltshire, that will help shape the future of SFA across the UK. Family feedback is at the heart of this p...

Families are at the heart of housing

WHEN TRISH Jakeman was appointed Defence Families Champion for the MOD, she took on the role determined to make sure the voices of service families are heard. “I’m humbled to have been appointed Defence Fami...

Your home: tackling damp and mould

DIO has told AFF that tackling damp and mould across the SFA estate continues to be a critical priority for the organisation and its contractors. DIO acknowledges that repeatedly removing surface mould is no...

Should I stay or should I go?

Here at AFF, families often ask us how they can retain their Service Family Accommodation (SFA) when posted. It’s only available for very specific reasons such as for public exams, a short-notice posting, mov...

Shuffling the surplus

AFF Housing Specialist Cat Calder provides a timely reminder on the sublet programme and how it works… There are currently approximately 11,400 empty SFA in the UK – many are being held for the last remain...

‘No-one should move into a dirty home’

AFF receives a significant number of enquiries about move-in matters – especially around cleanliness. Last year move-in/move-out issues accounted for 15 per cent of all of the housing enquiries we received. Ca...

The letter of the law

Army&You quizzed Andrew Garvie (pictured below), of JMW Solicitors, about conveyancing – the legal side to buying a house... What role does a solicitor have in the conveyancing process? Your solic...

Rent charges: the new grading system

As many of you may be aware the next big shake up in housing is to the grading system. Many of you have already expressed your concerns on our Facebook page and are naturally worried about your family budgets. ...

Where the heart is?

AFF recently commissioned a report by researcher Anna Verey to help us understand more about geographically dispersed Army families. We specifically wanted to know the reasons you choose to live unaccompanied ...

Business as usual… for now

For those of us living in Service Families Accommodation in the UK, it’s business as usual for any maintenance and repairs needed. However, later this year CarillionAmey will take over the contact. Cat Calder, ...