Guidance

MOD referral scheme (updated April 2020)

Updated 16 September 2020

This guidance was withdrawn on 8 March 2023

This publication is withdrawn as it is no longer current.

Please access Information and guidance on civilian housing

The MOD recognised that some Service leavers have difficulty in accessing social and affordable housing. The MOD Referral Scheme is managed by the Joint Service Housing Advice Office (JSHAO). The aim is to, where possible; support Service Leavers and their families by providing information and guidance regarding their Social Housing applications following a discharge notification from the Armed Forces and where meeting applicable criteria.

The benefits

Through this scheme some Housing Associations support those who would otherwise have problems being prioritised high enough to have a realistic chance of being housed by Local Authorities.

Applicants must be Armed Forces personnel within 6 months of their discharge date and currently occupying Service accommodation, the Services Cotswold Centre or temporary accommodation. Applications for the scheme can be accepted from married or single personnel. Separated spouses who are living in Service Families accommodation (SFA) may also apply. Single personnel are eligible until 6 months post date. Personnel in SFA are eligible until they leave the Service accommodation.

Single Service Leavers or couples without children sometimes experience difficulty in gaining direct access to social housing. On the MOD Referral Scheme, singles and couples have equal status, as all applicants are administered by the same criteria and eligibility.

If JSHAO is notified of a potential vacant property the most suitable applicant will be contacted, and if interested in the property their details will be forwarded to the donating Housing Association. Applicants are then considered by priority of housing need as set out by the Local Authorities housing policy.

Tenancy agreements are between the nominated tenant and the Housing Association. JSHAO and the MOD take no responsibility for the tenancy.

All applicants are strongly advised to contact their Local Authority Housing department and other Housing Associations and register for social housing

The JSHAO is reliant on the Housing Associations and therefore cannot guarantee that all applicants will be housed through the scheme. JSHAO are also unable to estimate how many properties they will be offered, when they will be offered or where they will be located.

Eligibility

Applicants will be considered if they meet any of the following criteria:

• armed forces personnel occupying Single or Families Service Accommodation and within 6 months prior to the discharge date
• armed forces personnel and their families in Substitute SFA (6 months prior to discharge only)
• veterans and their families, up to 6 months’ post discharge - still in Service Accommodation
• single service leavers up to 6 months’ post discharge in hostel or temporary accommodation
• separated spouses occupying SSAFA or Services Cotswold Centre accommodation.

Any applicants who do not meet the criteria above should contact:

Veterans UK on 0808 1914 2 18 or visit the Veterans UK website

Veterans Gateway on 0808 802 1212 or visit the Veterans gateway website.

If you own or part-own a property you cannot be considered for housing through the scheme. Similarly, if you have enough capital, including savings (circa £16k+) to buy or rent a property you are unlikely to be housed. Pensions and expected gratuities will also be considered.

Household pets are not necessarily accepted by all Housing Associations. Please bear this in mind as this may affect your housing choice.

Non-European Economic Area Applicants who are considering making the UK their permanent residence will need to ensure that they have applied for and obtained either an ‘Indefinite Leave to Remain’ or ‘Indefinite Right to Enter’ status (as applicable) for themselves and all relevant family members, as there is no entitlement to any benefits or the right to rent residential accommodation in the UK without the correct status applied, and neither will Housing Authorities consider any applications.

All applicants are restricted to one offer through the scheme.

The application

The application form includes discharge guidance and the relevant eligibility criteria, but you need to include evidence of the date on which you are required to leave your service accommodation. Guidance and the application form can be found at the MOD Referral Scheme: a guide.

All completed applications should be sent to the Joint Service Housing Advice Office (JSHAO) email address given on the form. Your application will be acknowledged by e-mail and you will be added to the database.

To be considered, individuals are to complete the application form which can be obtained by contacting JSHAO via:

Address:

JSHAO Floor 2, Zone 2 Montgomery House Queens Avenue Aldershot Hampshire GU11 2JN

Email: RC-PERS-JSHAO-0mailbox@mod.gov.uk.

Tel: 01252 787635 (Civ); 94222 7635 (Mil)

Working relationship with stoll

Stoll run the Veterans Nomination Scheme (through organisations such as RBL or SSAFA by referral only). The relationship between JSHAO’s MOD Referral Scheme and Stoll’s Veterans Nomination Scheme is to ensure that any void properties made available through either scheme within the Social Housing sector are filled. Applicants’ details that are passed to Stoll will then have their suitability for housing assessed via a transition team embedded within Stoll before nominating to a housing provider.

For more information about Stoll and the Veterans Nomination Scheme, visit the stoll webiste.

Contact the Joint Service Housing Advice Office on the Civilian number: 01252 787574 and Military number: 94222 7574. You can also email the office on rc-pers-jshao-0mailbox@mod.gov.uk.