In January 2025, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) completed the buy-back of Service Family Accommodation (SFA) from Annington Homes.
Following this major milestone, the Secretary of State established a dedicated review team to explore ways to improve existing SFA, build new homes, and enhance the home ownership offer for Service families.
Cat Calder, AFF Housing Specialist, was invited to join the team, representing all three Families Federations. Her role was to ensure voices of Service personnel and families from all three Services were central to the recommendations.
The team commissioned a questionnaire, led by AFF, to inform decisions on the future of defence housing, which would reflect your needs and preferences. More than 6,300 people took part, so thank you to everyone who took the time to share their thoughts.
Questionnaire key findings
Home upgrades were important to you, with around half of respondents saying that modernised kitchens and bathrooms would make the most positive difference. Increased thermal efficiency was also mentioned. In recognition of this, the recently published Defence Housing Strategy recommends these improvements are prioritised, with all upgraded properties meeting a minimum Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) C rating (and B wherever possible), resulting in lower energy bills and a reduced carbon footprint.
You also expressed a desire for housing stability, with 70% of respondents wanting the option to retain their homes if moving within a 20-mile radius. As a result of this, the report recommends that the current 10-mile maximum distance between homes and duty stations should be extended to 20 miles, and 50 miles by choice. This should provide greater choice of homes and reduce the number of moves.
As a result of your feedback on the current condition of homes, the strategy calls for the immediate start of a 10-year refurbishment programme of military homes. More than 40,000 will be modernised or rebuilt to meet new, higher standards, with damp and mould tackled as a priority.
What’s already changing
Some of your suggestions have already influenced the implementation of aspects of the new Consumer Charter, which is driving improvements to current housing services. They include:
- More photos and floorplans on the SFA application form.
- Updates to the move-in standard.
- Easier processes for owning pets or applying to run a business from your SFA.
- Allowing personalisation of your home like painting walls or making changes that don’t need to be reversed on move-out.
- An improved complaints process.
- The Home Hub portal trial has been completed and full roll out is expected by the end of the year.
Change takes time
Some of these changes may be visible quickly. Larger improvements, such as building new SFA or implementing policy shifts, will take more time to come to fruition.
This means that although everyone will see some positive developments, not all families will feel a significant impact immediately. AFF will continue to advocate for consistent progress and keep you informed as things evolve.
Your voice is important
If you’re invited to respond to questions, take part in consultations on the future of defence housing, or help shape project designs, please take part.
Don’t assume that someone else will speak on your behalf. Through this process your voice can influence real change. Every contribution helps ensure future housing reflects the needs and preferences of families who live in it now and in the future.
Key themes from the questionnaire results
Next steps
Those of you who provided contact details may be invited to share more insights in the future as the review team decide which areas they would like to focus on for future research. A full report of the questionnaire result is available here.
Thank you again for making your voice heard. Your input is helping to shape the future of military accommodation for generations to come.