Housing for service personnel and veterans: The options available

Whether you are currently serving in the Armed Forces, or in the process of leaving, it can often be overwhelming to think about where you might live and what the best option is for you. This blog looks at the accommodation options available to both those actively serving and veterans.

Accommodation for serving personnel

Single Living Accommodation

Single Living Accommodation (SLA) is offered to single and unaccompanied service personnel. SLA is generally located within barracks and takes the form of a single room with communal areas. If no appropriate SLA is available, you may be offered alternative housing.

Service Family Accommodation

Service Family Accommodation (SFA) is offered to serving personnel who are married or have children, this is generally dependent on rank and family size. SFA will be allocated within a reasonable distance from your duty station, which is generally 10 miles. When SFA is not available, families may be offered substitute service family accommodation (SSFA) which is leased by the Ministry of Defence and allocated to qualifying personnel.

Members of the armed forces who are unmarried but cohabiting are not entitled to service family accommodation. But, if there are unoccupied properties, they can often be offered surplus SFA.

Forces Help to Buy Scheme

The Forces Help to Buy Scheme (FHTB) allows service personnel to borrow up to 50% of their salary interest free, up to a maximum of £25,000, towards the purchase of a property. To be entitled to the FHTB scheme, you must:

• Have completed the pre-requisite length of service;
• Not be a reservist or a member of the Military Provost Guard Service;
• Have more than six months left to serve at the time you apply;
• Meet the right medical categories.

You can find more information on the FHTB here. (hyperlink:

Accommodation for veterans

If you are thinking of moving out of service accommodation, or are in the process of leaving service, there are various schemes that can help you. The Defence Transition Service (DTS) provides a wide range of facilities for those wanting to move into civilian accommodation at any point in their career.

The DTS also provides annual civilian housing briefings to service personnel and their families. The briefs are designed to provide guidance and help you make the best choices for you, and covers various areas including:

• House purchase (including the Forces Help to Buy Scheme);
• Independent financial advice;
• Affordable home ownership schemes.

Service personnel and service leavers (within 12 months of discharge) also have priority status for government affordable housing initiatives. The Ministry of Defence referral scheme has links with local authorities and housing associations that have housing designed to be specifically allocated to service personnel.

Where to get help with housing as a veteran

There are various services which can provide you with support and advice for finding accommodation once you leave service. This includes:

• Defence Transition Services: For advice and information on the housing options available when leaving service.
• Veterans’ Gateway: Provides 24 hours assistance and can provide support with homelessness and housing issues, alongside other important matters such as finances and mental and physical health.
• Op Fortitude: Supports veterans who are homeless, or at risk of homelessness, by helping them sustain a tenancy or providing referrals supporting housing.
• Haig Housing Trust: A housing provider for veterans in the UK. They offer affordable housing and advice to those in need.