Research and analysis

FAM pilot surveys - 2021 and 2022 questionnaire

Published 5 November 2024

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/future-accommodation-model-pilot-surveys/fam-pilot-surveys-2021-and-2022-questionnaire

2021 Survey introduction

This survey asks about your views of the current accommodation offer that is available to you and whether you are satisfied or dissatisfied with your current accommodation.

Welcome: We are interested in your opinions whether you are living in accommodation as part of the FAM pilot, have chosen not to move under the FAM pilot or are not eligible for FAM. Your responses are important for shaping the future accommodation offer for the entire Armed Forces. Please answer the survey questions with your current accommodation offer in mind. This is a voluntary survey and your responses will be treated in confidence. No person from your Chain of Command will see your response. This survey should take about 10 minutes to complete.

2022 Survey introduction

This survey asks about your views of the current accommodation offer that is available to you and whether you are satisfied or dissatisfied with your current accommodation.

Welcome: We are interested in your opinions whether you are living in accommodation as part of the FAM pilot, have chosen not to move under the FAM pilot or are not eligible for FAM. Your responses are important for shaping the future accommodation offer for the entire Armed Forces. Please answer the survey questions with your current accommodation in mind. This is a voluntary survey and your responses will be treated in confidence. No person from your Chain of Command will see your response. The survey is structured to ask questions relevant to your current circumstances, therefore should not take any longer than 5 - 10 minutes to complete.

Opening questions

1: In which Service do you serve? [Mandatory]

Please choose only one of the following:

  1. Army
  2. Royal Navy
  3. Royal Marines
  4. Royal Air Force

2: What is your current Rank? [Mandatory] 

Please choose only one of the following:

  1. Seaman, Marine, Private or Aircraftman (OR1-3)
  2. Junior NCO (LS or Cpl) (OR4-5)
  3. Senior NCO (PO or Sgt) (OR6-7)
  4. Warrant Officer (OR8-9)
  5. Officer (Cdr, Lt Col, Wg Cdr or below) (OF1-4)
  6. Senior Officer (RN Capt, Col, Gp Capt or above) (OF5+)

3: What is your Length of Service? [Mandatory]

Please choose only one of the following:

  1. Less than 1 year
  2. 1 year but less than 2 years
  3. 2 years but less than 3 years
  4. 3 years but less than 4 years
  5. 4 years or over

4: Do you have 6 months (was 12 months in 2021) or more left on your assignment at the pilot site? [Mandatory]

Please choose only one of the following:

  1. Yes
  2. No

5: Are you either a Regular or Full Time Reserve Service (Full Commitment)? [Mandatory]

Please choose only one of the following:

  1. Yes
  2. No

6: Please select the Future Accommodation Model (FAM) pilot site you are assigned to. [Mandatory]

Please choose only one of the following:

  1. HMNB Clyde (Faslane)
  2. Aldershot Garrison
  3. RAF Wittering
  4. Other

7: Are you serving in or assigned to a unit at a pilot site that is eligible for FAM? [Mandatory]

Please choose only one of the following:

  1. Yes
  2. No
  3. Don’t know

8: Are you currently living in accommodation as part of the FAM pilot?

To be living in accommodation as part of the FAM pilot you will have completed an Accommodation Preference Form (APF) and/or be in receipt of Core Payment in respect of maintaining own home.

Please choose only one of the following:

  1. Yes
  2. No

Questions asked to respondents who had selected ‘Yes’ in question 8.

9: What accommodation route do you live in under FAM? [Mandatory]

Please choose only one of the following:

  1. Service Family Accommodation (SFA)
  2. Single Living Accommodation (SLA)
  3. Property I own (within 50 miles of work address)
  4. Property I own (over 50 miles of work address)
  5. Property I own (over 50 miles of work address) and SLA
  6. Privately rented accommodation (within 50 miles of work address)
  7. Privately rented accommodation (over 50 miles of work address)
  8. Privately rented accommodation (over 50 miles of work address) and SLA
  9. Other

10: Do you receive a Core Payment for maintaining your own home? [Mandatory]

To receive a Core Payment, you must live in a property you own or rent over 50 miles of work address or have purchased a property within 50 miles of the pilot site during the pilot.

Please choose only one of the following:

  1. Yes
  2. No

11: Prior to joining FAM, what RWA accommodation did you live in? [Mandatory]

Residence at Work Address (RWA): the definition of an RWA is a residence occupied by a Service person from which they commute to and from their place of duty on a daily basis. 

Please choose only one of the following:

  1. Service Family Accommodation (SFA)
  2. Single Living Accommodation (SLA)
  3. Property I own (within 50 miles of work address)
  4. Property I own (over 50 miles of work address)
  5. Property I own (over 50 miles of work address) and SLA
  6. Privately rented accommodation (within 50 miles of work address)
  7. Privately rented accommodation (over 50 miles of work address)
  8. Privately rented accommodation (over 50 miles of work address) and SLA
  9. Other

12: Why did you choose your FAM accommodation route?

Please number each box in order of preference from 1 to 15

  1. Proximity to work
  2. Proximity to partner’s work
  3. Proximity to schools/catchment area
  4. Size of property
  5. Range of properties
  6. Affordability
  7. Preparing to leave the Service
  8. Geographic stability for family
  9. Special needs/adaptations
  10. Community support
  11. Ease of securing property
  12. Long term financial considerations
  13. Operational need
  14. Access to Service welfare support
  15. Other

13: ‘My FAM choice of accommodation meets my personal housing requirements (e.g. location, size, facilities, etc).’

To what extent do you agree or disagree with the above statement?

Please choose only one of the following:

  1. Strongly agree
  2. Agree
  3. Neither agree nor disagree
  4. Disagree
  5. Strongly disagree

14: In relation to your current FAM accommodation, how satisfied or dissatisfied are you with each of the following? [Mandatory]

Please choose the appropriate response for each item:

  1. The overall standard
  2. The value for money
  3. The speed with which you can obtain accommodation
  4. The response to requests for maintenance/repair
  5. Security of the property
  6. The quality of maintenance/repair
  7. How fairly the accommodation is allocated
  8. Ability to keep pets

Answered using the following options:

  1. Very satisfied
  2. Satisfied
  3. Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied
  4. Dissatisfied
  5. Very dissatisfied
  6. N/A / Don’t know

15: ‘My current FAM choice of accommodation has a positive impact on my ability to deliver the requirements of my job.’

To what extent do you agree or disagree with the above statement?

Please choose only one of the following:

  1. Strongly agree
  2. Agree
  3. Neither agree nor disagree
  4. Disagree
  5. Strongly disagree

16: How does the FAM offer (SLA, SFA, PRS, etc) impact your intention to stay or leave the Armed Forces? [Mandatory]

Please choose only one of the following:

  1. Strongly increases my intention to stay
  2. Increases my intention to stay
  3. Has no effect on my intention to stay or leave
  4. Increases my intention to leave
  5. Strongly increases my intention to leave
  6. Don’t know

17: How much do you know about the Forces Help to Buy Scheme? [Mandatory]

Please choose only one of the following:

  1. A great deal
  2. Some
  3. Very little
  4. Not heard of it

18: If you own your own home, did you use any of these schemes/allowances to purchase the property? [Mandatory]

Please choose all that apply:

  1. Forces Help to Buy
  2. Armed Forces Home Ownership Scheme
  3. Long Service Advance of Pay (LSAP)
  4. Government Help to Buy Equality Loan
  5. Government Help to Buy ISA
  6. Shared Ownership Scheme
  7. Refund of Legal Expenses
  8. None of the above

19: Are you the sole occupant of your FAM accommodation? [Mandatory]

Please choose only one of the following:

  1. Yes
  2. No

20: Which of the options below best describes the relationship to the person/persons who occupy your FAM accommodation with you? [Mandatory]

Established Long Term Relationship (LTR(E)): Service personnel living with a partner who is not their legal spouse/civil partner can obtain LTR(E) status by: 

Registering a Long-Term Relationship (R) and completing 365-day period of registration 

Or

Providing evidence of an existing relationship that has endured for a period of 365 days or more.

Child Dependents: Should be aged 0 to 18, or up to 24 if in full time education, or a child who is over the age of 18 but is certified by a medical authority to have a physical or mental infirmity requiring long term or permanent care.

Please choose all that apply:

  1. Married
  2. Civil Partnership
  3. Long Term Relationship (Established)
  4. Long Term Relationship (Registered)
  5. Long Term Relationship
  6. Dependent entitled child/children
  7. Non-entitled child/children
  8. Prefer not to say
  9. Other

[The ‘Other’ option was only asked on the 2022 Survey]

21: Do the children reside with you? [Mandatory]

Please choose only one of the following:

  1. Permanently
  2. Over 80 nights per annum

22: Are you currently living in your preferred accommodation? [Mandatory]

Please choose only one of the following:

  1. Yes
  2. No

[This question was only asked on the 2022 Survey]

23: If not, why are you not living in your preferred accommodation? [Mandatory]

Please choose all that apply:

  1. Not Eligible/Entitled
  2. Affordability
  3. Location of Work
  4. Availability
  5. Other:

[This question was only asked on the 2022 Survey]

24: Has your accommodation been allocated under Transitional Protection? [Mandatory]

Transitional Protection (TP): there will be some SP who may experience a reduction in entitlement under FAM. To protect from any sudden changes in the accommodation offer, these SP are eligible for TP. This protection preserves the existing level of entitlement for the duration of the FAM pilot.

Please choose only one of the following:

  1. Yes
  2. No
  3. Don’t know

25: Would you recommend FAM to other Service colleagues? [Mandatory]

Please choose only one of the following:

  1. Yes
  2. No
  3. Don’t know

26: Please explain you answer

Please write your answer here:

Questions asked to respondents who had selected ‘No’ in question 8.

27: What RWA choice of accommodation route do you currently live in? [Mandatory]

Residence at Work Address (RWA): the definition of an RWA is a residence occupied by a Service person from which they commute to and from their place of duty on a daily basis. 

Please choose only one of the following:

  1. Service Family Accommodation (SFA)
  2. Single Living Accommodation (SLA)
  3. Property I own (within 50 miles of work address)
  4. Property I own (over 50 miles of work address)
  5. Property I own (over 50 miles of work address) and SLA
  6. Privately rented accommodation (within 50 miles of work address)
  7. Privately rented accommodation (over 50 miles of work address)
  8. Privately rented accommodation (over 50 miles of work address) and SLA
  9. Other

28: ‘My current RWA choice of accommodation meets my personal housing requirements (e.g. location, size, facilities, etc.).’

To what extent do you agree or disagree with the above statement?

Please choose only one of the following:

  1. Strongly agree
  2. Agree
  3. Neither agree nor disagree
  4. Disagree
  5. Strongly disagree

29: In relation to your current RWA choice of accommodation, how satisfied or dissatisfied are you with each of the following? [Mandatory]

Please choose the appropriate response for each item:

  1. The overall standard
  2. The value for money
  3. The speed with which you can obtain accommodation
  4. The response to requests for maintenance/repair
  5. Security of the property
  6. The quality of maintenance/repair
  7. How fairly the accommodation is allocated
  8. Ability to keep pets

Answered using the following options:

  1. Very satisfied
  2. Satisfied
  3. Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied
  4. Dissatisfied
  5. Very dissatisfied
  6. N/A / Don’t know

30: ‘My current RWA choice of accommodation has a positive impact on my ability to deliver the requirements of my job.’

To what extent do you agree or disagree with the above statement?

Please choose only one of the following:

  1. Strongly agree
  2. Agree
  3. Neither agree nor disagree
  4. Disagree
  5. Strongly disagree

31: How does your current accommodation offer (SLA, SFA, etc.) impact your intention to stay or leave the Armed Forces? [Mandatory]

Please choose only one of the following:

  1. Strongly increases my intention to stay
  2. Increases my intention to stay
  3. Has no effect on my intention to stay or leave
  4. Increases my intention to leave
  5. Strongly increases my intention to leave
  6. Don’t know

32: How much do you know about the Forces Help to Buy Scheme? [Mandatory]

Please choose only one of the following:

  1. A great deal
  2. Some
  3. Very little
  4. Not heard of it

33: If you own your own home, did you use any of these schemes/allowances to purchase the property? [Mandatory]

Please choose all that apply:

  1. Forces Help to Buy
  2. Armed Forces Home Ownership Scheme
  3. Long Service Advance of Pay (LSAP)
  4. Government Help to Buy Equality Loan
  5. Government Help to Buy ISA
  6. Shared Ownership Scheme
  7. Refund of Legal Expenses
  8. None of the above

34: Are you the sole occupant of your RWA accommodation? [Mandatory]

Please choose only one of the following:

  1. Yes
  2. No

35: Which of the options below best describes the relationship to the person/persons who occupy your RWA accommodation with you? [Mandatory]

Established Long Term Relationship (LTR(E): Service personnel living with a partner who is not their legal spouse/civil partner can obtain LTR(E) status by: 

Registering a Long-Term Relationship (R) and completing 365-day period of registration 

Or

Providing evidence of an existing relationship that has endured for a period of 365 days or more.

Child Dependents: Should be aged 0-18, or up to 24 if in full time education, or a child who is over the age of 18 but is certified by a medical authority to have a physical or mental infirmity requiring long term or permanent care.

Please choose all that apply:

  1. Married
  2. Civil Partnership
  3. Long Term Relationship (Established)
  4. Long Term Relationship (Registered)
  5. Long Term Relationship
  6. Dependent entitled child/children
  7. Non-entitled child/children
  8. Prefer not to say
  9. Other

[This question was only asked on the 2022 Survey]

36: Do the children reside with you? [Mandatory]

Please choose only one of the following:

  1. Permanently
  2. Over 80 nights per annum

37: Are you currently living in your preferred accommodation? [Mandatory]

Please choose only one of the following:

  1. Yes
  2. No

38: If not, why are you not living in your preferred accommodation? [Mandatory]

Please choose all that apply:

  1. Not Eligible/Entitled
  2. Affordability
  3. Location of Work
  4. Availability
  5. Other:

39: What RWA accommodation route would you prefer to live in?

Please choose only one of the following:

  1. Service Family Accommodation (SFA)
  2. Single Living Accommodation (SLA)
  3. Property I own (within 50 miles of work address)
  4. Property I own (over 50 miles of work address)
  5. Property I own (over 50 miles of work address) and SLA
  6. Privately rented accommodation (within 50 miles of work address)
  7. Privately rented accommodation (over 50 miles of work address)
  8. Privately rented accommodation (over 50 miles of work address) and SLA
  9. Other

40: Why is this your preferred accommodation choice?

Please number each box in order of preference from 1 to 15

  1. Proximity to work
  2. Proximity to partner’s work
  3. Proximity to schools/catchment area
  4. Size of property
  5. Range of properties
  6. Affordability
  7. Preparing to leave the Service
  8. Geographic stability for family
  9. Special needs/adaptations
  10. Community support
  11. Ease of securing property
  12. Long term financial considerations
  13. Operational need
  14. Access to Service welfare support
  15. Other

41: How satisfied are you with the current number of RWA accommodation routes (SLA, SFA, etc.) available to you? [Mandatory]

Please choose only one of the following:

  1. Very satisfied
  2. Satisfied
  3. Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied
  4. Dissatisfied
  5. Very dissatisfied

42: Why have you not taken up the FAM offer? [Mandatory]

Please choose all that apply:

  1. Not eligible
  2. I am a homeowner who is not eligible for the Core Payment
  3. FAM would have reduced my accommodation subsidy (e.g. smaller SFA)
  4. FAM would have increased my costs of my accommodation
  5. Non entitlement to disturbance allowance and moving costs (mid-term move)
  6. Familiarity and ease of current accommodation offer
  7. Want stability for my family
  8. Prefer to live in a military community
  9. Uncertainty due to Covid-19 pandemic
  10. Affordability
  11. Unclear on FAM options
  12. Other:
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