Housing plan ‘risks driving soldiers out of Armed Forces’

MAKING soldiers move into private rental housing will drive people away from the military, a new report warns.

The Royal United Services Institute said the Government could drive people away from the Armed Forces unless a “coherent and detailed” housing strategy was developed.

The report says the Mod’s planned housing strategy, known as the Future Accommodation Model (FAM), is “short on detail and methods of delivery”. The Home Front: The Future Accommodation Model For The UK Armed Forces report warns that “any shortcomings in accommodation provision weaken the overall employment package”.

FAM is expected to recommend families rely on the private rental sector, but service families worry such a move will “have a hugely negative effect”.

The institute also criticises the sale and leaseback of more than 55,000 service family homes to Annington Property Limited in 1996. The National Audit Office said the sale “represented poor value for money” and left the MOD up to £4.2billion worse off.

Armed Forces personnel over 18 years of age are entitled to housing within barracks, or family accommodation for those married or in a civil partnership. Single personnel with permanent custody of children are similarly entitled.

A senior MOD official said accommodation concerns were the prime reason for many personnel deciding to leave the forces. Sara Baade, chief executive of the Army Families Federation, said: “Seventy-six per cent of respondents to our survey on FAM said they would definitely leave or consider leaving the Army if FAM is introduced”.

The institute suggested service personnel’s pension benefits could be earmarked for purpose-built investment funds as a way of making home ownership affordable.