Modernised Accommodation Offer (Previously New Accommodation Offer)
Source: gov.uk (2025-01-28)

Starting from March 2024, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) will begin introducing a new accommodation offer for our armed forces.

Overview

Starting from March 2024, the MOD will modernise accommodation entitlements, improve the standard of Single Living Accommodation (SLA), provide support for home ownership and update the overseas accommodation offer.

What is happening as part of the Modernised Accommodation Offer

Support for weekly commuters

From March 2024 until March 2026, SLA waiver of charges are available to all Service personnel with dual accommodation, i.e. Service personnel living in SLA during the week with a privately-maintained property or retained SFA away from their duty station.

Personnel can benefit regardless of age, Service, or relationship status. This decision has been made to provide continuity while the MOD develops a fair and sustainable payment scheme to support Service personnel who maintain a main home away from their assigned location.

Full policy details can be found in JSP 464: Vol 3 Part 1 (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/jsp-464-tri-service-accommodation-regulations-tsars). Service personnel benefitting from waivers listed elsewhere in this JSP will continue to receive that benefit in accordance with policy.

New standards in Single Living Accommodation

A minimum standard for SLA has been agreed, and we have been assessing the entire SLA estate to understand where rooms are currently failing to meet this. This is now informing where investment is needed.

Increased support to buy a home

Forces Help to Buy is now a permanent part of the Defence accommodation policy (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/defence-accommodation-policy). From March 2024, further support is being provided to Service personnel who are required to move accommodation on a new assignment and are buying a first home, refunding up to £1,500 of their legal expenses. Full details can be found in JSP 464: Vol 1 (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/jsp-464-tri-service-accommodation-regulations-tsars).

Improving the overseas accommodation offer

The Established Long-Term Relationship (LTR(E)) overseas pilot has been running successfully in Forces Cyprus (BFC) since January 2024. It has now been extended to run until the end of March 2027. New pilot sites have also been added, including BATUS (Canada) and other selected locations across the Global Defense Network (GDN).

JSP 464: Vol 4 (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/jsp-464-tri-service-accommodation-regulations-tsars) provides details for the overseas accommodation LTR(E) pilot. Additional policy for overseas accommodation can be found in JSP 464: Vol 5 (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/jsp-464-tri-service-accommodation-regulations-tsars).

Although every effort is made to align overseas accommodation policy with the offer in the UK, there is no ‘one size fits all’ model for overseas Service, as each deployment differs in structure and relationships with partner nations.

What do you need to do

Consult Joint Service Policy regarding eligibility and entitlements:
- JSP 464: Vol 1 to 3 (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/jsp-464-tri-service-accommodation-regulations-tsars) - UK accommodation policy has been updated to incorporate the MAO changes to policy, including the Dual Accommodation Waiver and Refund of Legal Fees (New Buyer)
- JSP 464: Vol 4 (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/jsp-464-tri-service-accommodation-regulations-tsars) - provides details of the FAM Pilot, WAELL for UK and the overseas pilot
- JSP 464: Vol 5 (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/jsp-464-tri-service-accommodation-regulations-tsars) - provides overseas accommodation policy
Related information

Defence accommodation policy (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/defence-accommodation-policy)

Contact

For more information, email: xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx)