Housing reforms give military families greater say over their homes

Military families will have a greater say over the homes they live in under a package of reforms designed to cut bureaucracy, strengthen accountability and put residents at the heart of housing services.

A new Red Tape Challenge, announced today by the Defence Secretary Wes Streeting, will invite military families to identify and remove outdated housing rules, while new national and regional committees will ensure their experiences directly influence future decisions about accommodation services and a ground-breaking pilot will give them a role in signing off repairs to their homes.

The measures build on recent changes already introduced by the Ministry of Defence, including ending outdated restrictions on keeping pets and giving families greater freedom to decorate their homes.

They form part of the Government’s £9.2 billion Defence Housing Strategy, which will transform military housing through the new Defence Housing Service, delivering better homes, improved service standards and a stronger focus on the needs of Service personnel and their families.

Defence Secretary, Wes Streeting 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.

A new Code of Conduct will ensure families receive a more consistent and respectful service from everyone representing Defence housing, including contractors across the supply chain.

A new pilot is also being introduced that will give families a greater role in signing off repairs and maintenance work, helping to ensure issues are fully resolved and work is completed to the expected standard before jobs are closed.