I am serving personnel: I am seeking or due to leave
Civilian housing options and advice available to serving personnel who are seeking or due to leave service
Introduction
Prior to leaving you should ensure that a HARD FACTS Assessment is completed with your chain of command. HARD FACTS Assessment is a simple checklist of factors, of which the A represents Accommodation. Under each factor there is a list of questions for you and your line manager or unit representative to discuss. These questions have been selected to guide and assist you and your line manager to assess your plan to leave service.
It is encouraged that the HARD FACTS Assessment is part of a broader conversation about life after service and should take place as early as possible. Please ensure you use this conversation to understand your rights and responsibilities as a service leaver with regards to your service accommodation.
Should your HARD FACTS Assessment identify potential concerns about your post-service housing situation, please discuss this further with your chain of command.
If additional specialist advice is required, please ask your chain of command to refer you to Defence Transition Services (DTS). DTS provides information and support for those service leavers and their families who are most likely to face challenges on a range of issues as they leave the Armed Forces and adjust to civilian life.
It is possible to refer yourself to DTS using this form
Sources of civilian housing information
Civilian housing briefings
DTS also provides civilian housing briefings to help inform and guide service personnel and their families about the choices available to them and the need to plan ahead.
Briefings are open to all service personnel and their families, at any stage of their service career.
Please click this link to book onto a DTS Housing Briefing
Service Leavers’ Guide
The MoD’s service leavers’ guide offers information and advice prior to and after leaving regular service. The information in the guide includes information about armed forces pensions, resettlement, reserve liability and where additional statutory and charitable support can be accessed. It also includes a short section on civilian housing.
Please click here to access the guide
Other sources of information
Army - Your unit will provide you with both mandatory and discretionary information with regards to housing as part of the Life Skills Programme. This can be accessed here Transition to civilian life - The British Army (mod.uk)
Royal Navy - information about transitioning from life in the Royal Navy can be accessed here Navy
RAF - information and advice to help you transition from the RAF to civilian life can be accessed here https://www.raf-ff.org.uk/service-personnel/transition
Specific schemes or support for serving personnel
Surplus Service Family Accommodation
Surplus Service Family Accommodation may be allocated to serving personnel who are recently retired or redundant from service, to assist with the transition to civilian life or for the purpose of house hunting, for a maximum period of 12 months at market rates. Please see JSP 464 Vol 1 Part 1 Annex B to Chapter 9, para 20 in the attached link Tri-service accommodation regulations (TSARs) (JSP 464) - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
New build discounts for serving personnel
Some house builders offer criteria based discounts to service personnel for the purchase of new build properties. If you are thinking about buying a new build property, please ask the housebuilder for the details of any discount scheme they might offer.
Adaptations to private accommodation for wounded, injured and sick personnel transitioning out of service
Adaptations to private accommodation may be provided for wounded, injured and sick (WIS) service personnel who are in the process of, or will be transitioning out of service. Please see JSP 464 Vol 1 Part 1, appendix 1 to annex C of Chapter 3 in the attached link Tri-service accommodation regulations (TSARs) (JSP 464) - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Housing options for veterans
Once you leave service there are a number of alternative housing options that might be available to you. Please click this link that will take you through to a page providing general information about housing options for veterans. general housing information