Housing

Hi. Partner is currently in training for the army. We have a 2 year old. I’m wondering how the houses are? I know it will depend on where you go and everything but heard some of the houses are falling apart but not sure how true it is. Also we aren’t married does that make a big difference to getting a house. Partner has said it’ll not make too much of a difference but I feel like it would x

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It is true some of the houses aren’t great but if you join groups on Facebook when you know where you are going people post pictures of there houses so you can see it.If you aren’t married you have to prove you have been in a long term relationship on JPA

We weren’t married when we got our first army pad and won’t lie it was difficult. Had to provide so much proof (a lot we didn’t have as we didn’t live together like utility bills/council tax) but did provide dated pictures of us together, flight boarding passes for us both, opened a joint bank account too.. we were only given one option too for housing as we were surplus. I believe it’s changed recently and now LTR (long term relationship) can apply for SFA at entitlement rather than surplus now, which is much better!

Me and my partner just had to prove we were in a Long term relationship with our tenancy agreement and utility bills but it made it so much easier when I fell pregnant with our daughter accepted us straight away and our house is okay it's not great but it's not falling apart x

We were unsuccessful getting housing whilst in a LTR (only got a house assigned once married). We sat on the waiting list for a year but I know it’s different if you have children and the location has an influence as it depends on what’s available. The houses aren’t great, but the low cost makes up for it, especially when having a family.

We personally had to get married whilst I was pregnant to get our pad ! Got it literally a month after our service. But I know some can get LTR pads easily with proof x The quality of our house is good tbh, 2 bed fair space. Just have to put up with horrible kitchen floors and magnolia walls lol

Can you do much with the houses like paint etc? I’ve been told different things some saying no others saying do whatever as long as it’s back to the same as it was when you hand it back

@Lucy it has to be the same as you got it when you give it back a lot of people don’t change anything depends on how long you are posted at that unit

https://aff.org.uk/advice/housing/applying-sfa-ssfa/ section 7 is all about long term relationships We've been in 2 houses so far and they've both been nice but other people where I live have had 1 or 2 problems. We've painted one room (thought we would be here for 2 years but moving again soon) as long as the house is back to what it was like when you moved in it's fine

We’ve been in Plymouth and helensburgh and in both had brand new ovens and in helensburgh had all brand new carpets! They’ve both been lovely.

My partner has just finished his training, we aren’t married but due to having a baby they prioritise it. My advice would be as soon as he gets to his base set up meetings with his sergeant to discuss how to get a house. Feel free to message me if you are ever needing advice x

He is in the RAF so it might be different but yes they do prioritise married couples over families but there is still accommodation available x