'More power and control' for Royal Navy, Army and RAF families to make changes to military houses
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The government is pushing to reform several aspects of armed forces accommodation
Greater powers and control will be given to military families to make changes to armed forces accommodation.
Personnel and their loved ones will be invited to identify and remove outdated housing rules by the Ministry of Defence (MoD). Defence secretary Wes Streeting announced the new Red Tape Challenge with the aim of breaking down various restrictions.
The Labour MP said: “Service families should not feel that decisions about their homes are being made without them. These reforms are about giving families more power and control, with a stronger voice in shaping housing services and a clear route to challenge things that aren’t working.
“Alongside major investment in defence housing, we are determined to build a service that listens and delivers the standard of housing our Armed Forces and their families deserve.”
National and regional committees will be set up to listen to the experiences of personnel and their families. Their views will influence future decisions about accommodation services.
Tenants will also have a role in signing off on repairs and maintenance to their homes. Previous policies ensured they can have pets in service accommodation, and have greater freedoms to decorate them. A new code of conduct is also being formulated to make sure troops receive a more consistent and respectful service.
The changes are part of the £9.2m Defence Housing Strategy which aims to overhaul military housing. Speaking to the Public Accounts Committee recently, chief executive of the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) Mike Green said several properties have been “neglected” over the years; nine in ten houses need “serious attention” due to poor conditions.
Defence families champion, Tricia Jakeman - who is tasked with listening to military families and considering the challenges they face - said: “Behind every military home is a family whose support is essential to operational life.
“Giving Service families a stronger voice in the decisions that affect them is not only the right thing to do, it is essential if we are to deliver the quality of housing and services they deserve. The changes we’ve seen over the past year show what can be achieved when families are listened to, and this is an important step in ensuring their voices continue to drive positive change.”