HOUSING

INTERNAL ISSUES

The Armed Forces accepts that married service personnel are happier when accompanied by their family. As service personnel and families may move regularly within Great Britain and overseas, the Armed Forces ensures that accommodation is provided for those families who require it. This accommodation is known as Service Families Accommodation (SFA), although it may also be referred to as Married Quarters (MQs) or Families Quarters (FQs).

The Defence Housing Executive (DHE) (an Agency of the Ministry of Defence) provides SFA in Great Britain and the Armed Forces provides SFA overseas (including Northern Ireland). Accommodation is normally in the form of houses or flats but may also be in the form of accommodation rented from the private sector (known as "hirings").

Furniture can also be provided, if required, according to a pre-determined scale based on the size of the property. Families can choose to have their SFA fully furnished from Armed Forces sources, or it can be partially furnished or unfurnished, depending on how much private furniture the family has. A charge based on the amount of furniture used is added to the basic accommodation charge.

There are occasions when there is not sufficient SFA to meet the needs of all families. In Great Britain, an alternative property, referred to as Substitute Service Families Accommodation (SSFA), will be found from the private market, but occupants will only have to pay equivalent SFA charges. In Northern Ireland an allowance known as excess Rent Allowance (ERA) or overseas known as Overseas Rent Allowance (ORA) is paid to the Serviceperson.

Overall accommodation charges are reviewed annually and set by the Armed Forces Pay Review Body (AFPRB). Charges are based on the Type of house (a classification that reflects the size of the property) and its "Grade". A property is graded according to its condition and proximity to local amenities, such as shops and schools. You can view the latest accommodation charges and rates by clicking here.

Housing entitlements are contained in Tri-Service Housing Regulations (JSP 464). In general terms, SFA is allocated for Officers by rank, while for other ranks it is allocated by size of family. SFA vary considerably in age and condition and the Armed Forces, through the DHE, attaches great importance to the living conditions of its people and houses are subject to continuous improvements and modernisation.

In order to reduce the stress associated with moving out of SFA, families in Great Britain and Germany can now opt-in to a pre-payment scheme for cleaning their SFA (other major Theatres are examining the feasibility of running their own schemes). Exceptionally, families in Northern Ireland are currently in a position to make use of a fully funded cleaning service as part of a 2-year trial due for completion in June 2003. Families occupying SFA in these Theatres can take advantage of an occupant funded opt-in contract-cleaning scheme, which enables them to move out of their SFA having prepared it to a pre-arranged standard. Responsibility for the quarter then passes to the relevant housing authority that will arrange for a contractor to fully clean it.

For more information on Service Families Accommodation, please contact your Defence Housing Executive or Families Office.