Defence accommodation policy

Defence accommodation policy governs the provision of subsidised accommodation and the substitute equivalents to Service personnel and their families on a worldwide basis. This does not include accommodation in operational theatres and temporary accommodation at training areas, where separate single Service arrangements will apply.

JSP 464 is the policy for the provision of service family accommodation, single living accommodation and the substitute equivalents.

Overview

We recognise the importance of homes and families to the wellbeing of Service Personnel, especially when making such extraordinary sacrifices in the UK and overseas.

Defence continues to consider how we best support our people and ensuring that they have access to high quality subsidised accommodation in line with modern living standards and the support that meets their varied needs, health, and wellbeing.

The concept of ‘family’ and ‘modern home’ has changed over time, and we need to reflect this in the accommodation we provide.

We are committed to improve the fairness with which accommodation is allocated, the quality of that accommodation, the way that we make best use of our accommodation to ensure best value for money, and its sustainability.

We continue to gather and use data to improve the information that we have about our Service personnel, how they use Defence accommodation and what their expectations are in order to support our future strategy, decision-making and policy development.

Defence must ensure that all Service personnel have access to accommodation which supports them, not only in the execution of their duties, but also in their private lives.

From 1 January 2023, The Forces Help to Buy Scheme became an enduring policy, ensuring its availability to all service personnel now and in the future. The scheme enables service personnel to borrow up to 50% of their salary, and up to a maximum of £25,000 interest-free towards the purchase of a property.

The Defence Estate Optimisation Programme (DEOP)(DEOP) will deliver a more modern and right-sized estate, enabling new investment and improvements in quality and maintenance as well as a reduction in the number of non-compliant facilities.

There has been significant investment in Single Living Accommodation (SLA)(SLA) which has led to improvements on multiple sites. This is reflected in the Defence Accommodation Strategy.

The need for targeted improvements and consistency of approach is recognised across Defence and for SLA is guided by the recommendations of the National Audit Office and Public Accounts Committee. This has led to the introduction of the Defence Minimum Standards for SLA (DMS)(DMS) and subsequent work on SLA aspirational standards.

It is more important than ever that Defence accommodation policy and spending focuses on what matters most to our people. We need to iterate and further develop accommodation policy with the operational work to rationalise our accommodation portfolio, improve its condition and standards, and target investment where it is most needed to modernise and take greater consideration of sustainability.

Continual development of our estate must give value for money, which, in a world of rising costs, means a period of significant challenge. As the homes we supply for service personnel are heavily subsidised in comparison to the private market, any improvements to the estate will need to be reflected in costs going forward.

The Defence Accommodation Strategy and outcome from the Future Accommodation Model pilot must reflect modern lifestyles, working patterns and support the wellbeing of our forces and their families in the execution of their duties and in their private lives. The accommodation offer also needs to be agile and flexible to ensure that Defence can respond to emerging priorities and take into account the Department’s Net Zero commitment.

It’s important to make sure that policy, programmes and projects work together well; and that the delivery of existing accommodation is also well managed. This will maximise efficiency while also allowing policy to develop and improveimprove.

New standards articulated in the Defence Accommodation Strategy set a baseline from which we can continue to improve the quality of our accommodation, alongside bespoke delivery plans to ensure we can achieve our commitments to meet the needs of our people.

Latest news on Defence accommodation

Update on the Modernised Accommodation Offer (Previously New Accommodation Offer) for Armed Forces personnel personnel serving in the UK

Our Armed Forces personnel make extraordinary sacrifices to protect our nation. Defence’s Modernised Accommodation Offer (MAO)(MAO) aims to puts fairness firstfirst. andThe willMAO injectwas £200mannounced ofin furtherSeptember investment2023 forand accommodation.  

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The MAO was designed collaboratively with the single Services. Lessons have been implemented from a variety of sources, including the FAM pilot and research undertaken with Service personnel and families. 

The MAO will improve the standard of Single Living Accommodation (SLA), and waivers of (SLA) charges will be extendedimproved soover thattime moreand Servicein personnelaccordance whowith maintainthe aDefence mainMinimum homeStandard awayat fromAnnex theirA dutyof stationthe canDefence Accommodation benefit,Strategy no matter their age, service or relationship status. (DAS).

TheDetails MAOof willthe alsoMAO provideupdate furthercan supportbe forfound Servicehere: personnelWhat buyingis ahappening firstas homepart at a new assignment, refunding up to £1,500 of theirthe legalModernised expenses. Accommodation Offer.

Defence is still committed to widening entitlement to family accommodation to those Service personnel in established long term relationships andand/or who are parents with non-resident children,children. butThis weremains haveunder listenedreview.

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The ofwidened accommodation entitlement (limited locations) policy (WAE(LL)) launched on 31 October 2023 as a first step in delivering the elementscommitment ofmade in the policy Defence relatedAccommodation Strategy  (2022) to Serviceallocate Familyaccommodation Accommodation,to includingpersonnel in long-term relationships on the movesame tobasis needs-basedas allocationthose and,who are married.

The pilot closed to new applicants in theMarch short-term,2024 thepending wideninga review of entitlement.  both the pilot data, and the MAO.

WAE(LL) Preserved Rights

AFollowing newthe launchend dateof forthe changesWAE(LL) pilot on 11 March 2024, Service personnel who gained entitlement to subsidised family accommodation entitlementsand willwere besuccessfully confirmedaccommodated induring duethe course. 

Widenedpilot  accommodationperiod will retain this entitlement (limiteduntil locations)

The31 widenedMarch 2025 as WAE(LL) Preserved Rights (PR) for continuity of accommodation support.

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Accompanied toEstablished allocateLong-Term Relationship (LTR(E)) overseas pilot

Improving the overseas accommodation tooffer.

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Defence Accommodation Strategy

On 20 October 2022, Minister for Defence People, Veterans and Service Families Sarah Atherton launched the UK Armed Forces Defence Accommodation Strategy (DAS)(DAS) from Combermere Barracks in Windsor, setting out the roadmap to improve the accommodation across Defence.

The DAS focuses on ensuring the quality of accommodation, that it is allocated fairly, and the way the accommodation is used to ensure best value for money whilst ensuring environmental sustainability.

The DAS sets out principles committing to:

• continuing support for Service personnel through subsidised accommodation and access to the housing market, including looking at making Forces Help to Buy an enduring scheme
• increasing fairness across the allocation of subsidised allocation
• improving the quality of our accommodation offer, with the introduction of a new SLA Minimum Standard
• improving the use of our accommodation estate, ensuring we use data to make best use of properties
• improving the sustainability of the accommodation estate and helping Service personnel to use their properties in a sustainable way

Future Accommodation Model Pilotpilot

The Future Accommodation Model (FAM) willpilot resultran infrom an2019 to 31 March 2023 to gather information on lived experiences and seek improvement to the accommodation offered to our Service personnelpersonnel. suchFind asout amore wideningabout ofthe entitlementFAM forpilot.

Service establishedpersonnel longwho termgained relationshipsentitlement to cohabitsubsidised in Service Familyfamily Accommodationaccommodation (SFA).

Theduring the pilot willperiod, comeor towere anstill in receipt of FAM payments at the end 31of Marchthe 2023.pilot Ifmay youretain arethis assignedentitlement tountil or31 consideringMarch one2026 ofas theFAM pilot sites,Preserved findRights out(PR). Full moredetails aboutcan thebe FAMfound in  JSP 464: volume 4..)

Forces Help to Buy

Regular armedArmed forcesForces personnel can benefit from a £200-million scheme to help them get on the property ladder. The Forces Help to Buy scheme enables Service personnel to borrow up to 50% of their salary, interest free, to buy their first home or move to another property on assignment or as their family’s needs change.

The pilot scheme, which launched in April 20142014, has now been made permanent,permanent and aims to address the low rate of home ownership in the armedArmed forces.Forces.

Forces Help to Buy: help to get on the property ladderladder.

Tri-service accommodation regulations

Tri-service accommodation regulations (TSARs) (JSP 464)464). is the definitive policy for the provision of service family accommodation, single living accommodation and the substitute equivalents.

Research and evidence

Learn more about our latest research on topics relevant to Defence accommodation.

Defence accommodation: research and analysisanalysis.

Service Accommodation complaints

Stagecomplaints, 1challenges complaintsand should be submitted to either the IP or substitute contractor.

appeals

StageJSP 2464: shouldvolume be submitted to DIO accommodation.1

Stage 3provides complaints should be submitted to the accommodation complaint review Secretariat (ACRP) where it is believed that accommodation policy hasand beenprocess misinterpreted or misapplied at stages 1 or 2 of the complaints process.

The Special to Typefollow complaintsfor processAccommodation mustComplaints, beCAAS completedChallenges beforeand aAppeals, serviceand complaintPolicy onChallenges theregarding matterService isFamily submitted,Accommodation this(SFA), maySingle beLiving afterAccommodation stage(SLA) 2 or stage 3 of process, depending on the circumstances of the complaint.

JSP 464 Vol 1 Part 1 from para 0634 fully details the submission process for each stage of complaints. As each stage has a separate contact point and submissionsubstitute format.accommodation.

Stage 3 complaints have a 28-day response deadline from the ACRP.

Related content

DIO serviceService familyFamily Accommodation.

JSP 464, Tri-service accommodation regulations.

JSP 752, regulations for expenses and allowancesallowances.

Armed Forces Pay Review Body Report 20222022.