Thursday 10th January 2019
The Ministry of Defence is seeking views on proposals for new statutory guidance for local authorities to improve access to social housing for members of the Armed Forces community. The consultation will run until 8 March 2019 and you can respond by completing an online survey, you can post in your written responses or email them to [email protected].
Survey introduction
The Armed Forces Covenant, created by virtue of the Armed Forces Act 2011, is a promise from the nation to those who serve in the Armed Forces, whether Regular or Reserve, and those who have served in the past, and their families. It commits that they should face no disadvantage compared to other citizens in the provision of public services. It also recognises that special consideration is appropriate in some cases, especially for those who have the given most such as the injured and bereaved.
In the Armed Forces Covenant Annual Report 2017 the MOD gave a commitment to consult on new statutory guidance for local authorities to ensure that divorced and separated spouses and civil partners of Service personnel who are required to leave military accommodation are not disadvantaged by local connection requirements when applying for social housing.
Commander Susie Thompson, Senior Engagement of the Armed Forces Covenant Team said:
“The beginning of 2019 sees the fruitful outcome of discussions the Covenant team and other interested parties have had with officials in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government with the launch of the consultation process on improving access to social housing for members of the Armed Forces community. The consultation sets out proposals for new statutory guidance for local authorities to assist members of the Armed Forces, veterans, and their families, to access social housing.”
Written responses should be sent to:
Social Housing Division Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
Floor 3 NW Fry Building
2 Marsham Street
London
SW1P 4DF
Further information and downloadable documents are available on GOV.UK.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
