Civilian Housing
On this page:
Applying for a mortgage - have you been disadvantaged by being in the military?
The MOD Referral Scheme
New Home Ownership Scheme Moves Armed Forces Up The Property Ladder
Improved Social Housing Support for Service Personnel and their Families
Applying for a mortgage - have you been disadvantaged by being in the military?
As part of the consultation on the Armed Forces Covenant, AFF has recently been included in discussions with ministers regarding improving access for Service personnel to housing, both private and social, for those leaving the Services or for those who simply do not wish to live in military provided accommodation.
The Housing Minister, Grant Shapps, said; '.......until now we've had a mad situation where living on a base or serving abroad has disadvantaged people in the Armed Forces applying for a mortgage. So the Government will also be working with credit reference agencies and Royal Mail to ensure that this is no longer the case.'
We would like to hear from families who have experienced difficulties in obtaining a mortgage because of a poor credit history due to credit reference agencies failing to recognise BFPO addresses abroad, or because of constant changes of address on posting. Please email any feedback to AFF at us@aff.org.uk.
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The MOD Referral Scheme
The MOD Referral Scheme operates a service which tries to help Service Leavers who are discharged from the Armed Forces, and are in need of housing, find a place through Social Housing.
Unlike local Authority policies, the scheme is beneficial because it does not demand that you have a local connection with the area in which you are applying. You may apply for a reasonable number of areas by listing the locations or counties in which you would like to live. However, the scheme is wholly dependent on the goodwill of Housing Associations, and it is reliant on their provision of vacant properties in which they are unable to fill. As a result of this, The Joint Service Housing Advice Office (JSHAO) and the Referral Scheme cannot estimate how many offers they might receive. All applicants are strongly encouraged to consider alternative housing options as there are no guarantees of being housed through the scheme.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must be Armed Forces personnel within six months of their discharge date and currently occupying Service Accommodation.
Or
Applications for the Scheme can be accepted from Service Leavers, married or single, and from separated spouses living in married quarters or hostel accommodation provided by SSAFA Forces Help and the Services Cotswold Centre.
And
It is important to note that while personnel in Single Living Accommodation (SLA) are eligible until six months post discharge date, those in Service Families Accommodation (SFA) are eligible until they leave that Service property.
Do Not Apply
If you are married ex-Service or Single and beyond the six months after your discharge date.
Or
If you own or part-own a property or are privately renting, you will not be considered for housing through the Scheme.
Similarly,
If you have sufficient capital to buy a property you are unlikely to be housed. Pensions and expected gratuities will also be taken into account when processing your application.
Completing an Application Form
If you are eligible, you will need to complete an application form. This form can be downloaded from the MOD website. To ensure your application is processed quickly and without complications you must ensure that you include all the relevant information required. For instance, you will need to include evidence of the date on which you are required to leave your Service Accommodation; you will also need to include a copy of your ‘Notice to Vacate’ or ‘Certificate of Cessation of Entitlement to Occupy’. Further requirement details are available when you download your application.
Your application will be acknowledge in writing and you will be added to the database for consideration when properties become available. Each property offer is assessed by its appropriate allocation such as family size, location etc. With the most eligible and highly prioritised applicants details being forwarded to the Housing Association. Be aware that applicants are restricted to ONE off through the scheme.
For more information Tel: 00 44 1980 618925 or Mil: 94344 8925 Fax: 00 44 1980 618068 or Mil: 94344 8068
To ensure your application is processed quickly and without complications you must fill the following criteria:
You must be Armed Forces personnel and be within six months of your discharge date but still currently occupy Service Accommodation
Or
You must be a separated Spouse living in Service Accommodation (SFA) or hostel accommodation provided by SSAFA Forces Help or the Services Cotswold Centre.
Or
You must be a single Service Leaver and be within six months of your discharge date and be occupying Single Living Accommodation (SLA), or a single Service Leaver within six months post-exit date.
Other rules that you must comply with are:
You should not own or part-own a property
You should not be privately renting
You should not have sufficient capital to buy or rent privately
You need to include evidence of the date on which you are required to leave your Service Accommodation:
SFA occupants – a copy of my ‘Notice to Vacate’ or ‘Certificate of Cessation of Entitlement to Occupy’ (provided by DIO Ops Accommodation within six months of discharge)
Or
SLA occupants – a copy of my MOD Form 1166 (available from Unit Admin Office)
Or
Overseas applicants – a copy of my ‘Certificate of Cessation of Entitlement to Occupy’ (available from the Station Staff Officer)
Or
Applicants following marital separation – a copy of my ‘Notice to Vacate’ or ‘Certificate of Cessation of Right to Occupy’ (provided by Defence Estates at the start of the 93 day notice period)
The Advantages
Unlike Local Authority policies, the Scheme is beneficial because it does not demand that you have a local connection with the area for which you are applying. You may apply for a (reasonable) number of areas by listing the locations or counties where you would like to live. A member of the team will then get in contact to discuss the options available in those areas. You are not restricted by where you now live, where your family live, or where you will work, so the Scheme is particularly beneficial for those struggling with the local connection policy.
Single Service Leavers and couples without children may also find it difficult to access housing provided by the Council. On the MOD Referral Scheme, singles and couples are just as likely to be housed as families because applicants are chosen by their suitability for the type of property offered by the Housing Association. The JSHAO and the MOD Referral Scheme have no housing stock, no internal connections with Local Authorities and unfortunately there is no guarantee that applicants will be housed through the Scheme. We cannot estimate how many offers we might receive, when we will receive them or where the properties will be located. This means that while nothing may be available suitable to your needs or in your area of choice, it is equally possible that, for example, a number of one bed flats may become available which would only be suitable for singles or couples.
Nevertheless, all applicants are strongly advised to contact their Local Authority and consider alternative housing options, in addition to applying for the Scheme, in order to maximise the chances of being housed. The Scheme attempts to provide another route into Social Housing, not replace such actions as directly contacting Local Authorities.
Service Leavers with families and separated spouses with children may also wish to contact the Services Cotswold Centre, which offers temporary accommodation. Information, advice and hostel accommodation is also available from the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association (SSAFA) Forces Help. Single Service Leavers should contact SPACES (Single Persons Accommodation Centre for the Ex-Services), who may also be able to help. Details for these Associations can be found on our website.
Additionally, for those who would benefit from adapted and sheltered (both supported and unsupported) accommodation, this type of housing is accessible through the Scheme. Please contact the Scheme Coordinator for more information.
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New Home Ownership Scheme Moves Armed Forces Up The Property Ladder
Members of the Armed Forces looking to buy their own home could benefit from a new home ownership scheme launched by the MOD and DCLG.
Under the pilot scheme, the Government will provide members of the Armed Forces with up to 50 per cent of a property’s value. Unlike similar schemes, personnel will be allowed to purchase properties anywhere in England through a single service provider, in order to meet the needs of the Armed Forces’ mobile workforce.
In addition, applicants can sub-let their properties and will not normally pay any fees on the equity while they remain serving members of the Armed Forces.
The scheme builds on the good work that the Government has already undertaken to ensure that members of the Armed Forces are not disadvantaged by the demands of service life.
The £20 million pilot will initially run until Spring 2013 and will be funded by the MOD and managed and delivered by the Homes and Communities Agency.
Regular members of the Armed Forces who have served between four to six years and could not otherwise afford to get their foot on the ladder will be eligible to apply.
Lindsay Todd, Chief Executive of Radian said: "We are delighted to be working with the Ministry of Defence to deliver this exciting new scheme. We have a strong track record in providing affordable homes, and a great deal of experience in successfully delivering Low Cost Home Ownership schemes to key workers, including Armed Forces personnel and others. We look forward to working with the Ministry of Defence to help even more members of the forces to buy their first home."
Swaythling Housing Society has set up a new website for the scheme at www.afhos.co.uk which includes further information and details of how to apply.
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Improved Social Housing Support for Service Personnel and their Families
Parliament has amended the Housing Act in favour of Service Personnel who are now entitled to establish a local connection in the same way as civilians do. This will benefit individuals and their families for the purposes of applying for homelessness assistance or social housing in England. Previously, being stationed in an area did not count for the purpose of establishing a local connection with that area.
The change took effect on 1 December, 2008 and is most likely to benefit those about to leave the Forces, those who have recently left, separated partners, and their families. Click here to read the Government letter to local authorities about this.
Although the Government’s letter only refers to ‘someone serving in the Armed Forces’, we have received assurances that the amendment extends to estranged spouses and civil partners.
The Joint Service Housing Advice Office (JSHAO) have produced a comprehensive Question and Answer section on the topic of Local Connection Rules in their latest edition of ‘Housing Matters’. Click here and go to page two to read more.
