Safeguarding Army Housing 4 July 2011 at 8:36AM edited 22 July 2011 at 1:43PM in UK armed forces MoneySaving 1 reply 1.1K views

AFF_company_representative

46,000 Army families live in Service Family Accommodation (SFA). We need families and Service personnel to help us to provide evidence on the importance of SFA.

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The survey is confidential and anonymous.

The New Employment Model (NEM) seeks to provide Terms and Conditions of Service (including career structure, pay, pensions, allowances and accommodation options) that better balance the expectations of Service personnel and the demands placed on them and their families. One specific aim will be to improve domestic stability, which benefits spouses' employment and children's education. The NEM will recognise that, where mobility is required for Service reasons, appropriate support and compensation should be available. Policy changes will be implemented from 2014 over a period of about ten years. The NEM programme will seek to maximise stability and reduce dependency on publicly supported accommodation. The Future Accommodation Project (FAP) will develop options for a different approach to the provision of accommodation, which will better meet future needs for affordable and good quality living accommodation. This accommodation survey will assist the FAP team with their deliberations.

AFF View: Army housing is likely to face significant changes as the MOD encourages military families to use privately rented or owned accommodation as opposed to living in Service Family Accommodation (quarters) as their mobility decreases. Some of the options being considered include increasing rents to market rates and limiting the use of SFA to the early years of Service. Changes could dramatically alter the way Army families live their lives in both positive and negative ways. AFF is aware that changes may be met with significant opposition from families but this is also an opportunity to ensure that the Defence Estate is fit for purpose and meets the needs of the modern Army family. This survey gives families the opportunity to ensure that their aspirations and requirements are clear to the Future Accommodation Project team. AFF will use the results of this survey to ensure that the views of families are properly considered.

The project will consider the definition of a family and so those not currently entitled to accommodation should also complete this survey. There is an assumption that accommodation will continue to be provided for the most mobile personnel and for those overseas. If you are based overseas it is still vital that you complete this survey.

Single Army personnel are invited to complete the survey as it also affects their future if they plan to stay in the Army.

The survey is live until the end of August

AFF_company_representative

AFF has extended the deadline for the Housing Survey submissions to the end of August.