Guidance

What you need to know about the Future Accommodation Model

Updated 30 March 2020

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/future-accommodation-model-what-you-need-to-know/what-you-need-to-know-about-fam

FAM pilot overview

Watch An Introduction to FAM: Your Accommodation, Your Choice for more information.

An Introduction to FAM: Your Accommodation, Your Choice

Also, see FAM: A step-by-step guide for detailed information.

FAM: A step-by-step guide

Watch the story of the first service personnel on FAM.

The first service personnel on FAM video.

Information for personnel who have received an assignment order to a FAM pilot site

Before duty date

If you’re assigned to a pilot site with a report for duty date before that site goes live then you will be allocated accommodation in line with current policy.

Once at the FAM pilot site you will have the option to make a different choice once FAM goes live, along with everyone else on that pilot site.

On or after report duty date

If you’re assigned with a report for duty date on or after FAM go-live at that site then you will need to make your choice about what kind of accommodation you want to receive. This means that you will be able to plan and move in smoothly in advance of your start date.

FAM go-live dates

  • HMNB Clyde 30 September 2019
  • Aldershot Garrison 31 January 2020
  • RAF Wittering 1 June 2020

A summary of the steps you will need to take are listed below. Detailed information on these steps is provided in the sections that follow:

  1. Consider your options. Watch the FAM video to learn more, or read up on the individual options.

  2. Submit your Accommodation Preference Form in JPA. This is available now for HMNB Clyde and Aldershot Garrison will be available from:

    • 1 March for those with a report for duty date at RAF Wittering on or after 1 June

Once your accommodation type is confirmed, you’ll be informed of the steps you’ll need to follow.

If you have questions about what to do, you can email the FAM Cell at the pilot site you are joining:

You can also talk to your chain of command, to the local Army HIVE, RAF HIVE or Naval Service Family and People Support (NS-FPS) at the FAM pilot site you are joining.

If you are already assigned to a FAM pilot site and are happy with your current accommodation choice, then you do not need to do anything. If you wish to apply to change your current accommodation read on to find further information on what to do, and the support available.

What is happening as part of the FAM pilot

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has been looking at how it can improve the accommodation offer for service personnel (SP), to make it fairer and more flexible, whilst keeping it affordable for the MOD. Starting from September 2019, the MOD has decided to pilot a new way of providing living accommodation to personnel and their families. The FAM pilot will test the new policy that has been developed, the way it is delivered to personnel, and what accommodation options they prefer. A decision will be made about whether to roll out FAM across the UK after the pilot is complete.

The current accommodation system was developed many years ago and we know it works well for some people. However, there are a number of reasons why we think it needs to change:

  • the current accommodation model does not support how some personnel want to live, meaning that some have no choice but to opt out of subsidised accommodation
  • the current system is based in part on rank, rather than need, for example, the size of a service person’s family
  • the current accommodation system has large overheads and an increasing need for repairs. It is also inefficient, as large numbers of houses have to be kept empty to allow personnel to move around

The FAM pilot will:

  • provide more choice to more personnel over where, how, and with whom you live
  • provide you with an accommodation subsidy based on your need, rather than rank or relationship status
  • enable you to remain mobile, while also providing support if you want greater stability for yourself and/or your family

A decision will be taken around 2023 about whether to extend FAM across the rest of the UK. If a decision is taken to develop a different accommodation policy to FAM, there will be continuity for personnel who are already receiving FAM accommodation allowances. Personnel on the pilot will receive allowances for an additional three years, or until they are assigned from the pilot site (whichever is the sooner). Thereafter SP will be informed of future accommodation policy.

Sites piloting FAM

The FAM pilot will take place across 3 sites in the UK with a limited number of personnel and units invited to take part. The pilot will enable the MOD to test the proposed policy and gather feedback from personnel so that improvements can be made to the final policy.

The FAM pilot launched on 30 September and will run for approximately 3 years. The sites taking part in the pilot have been selected by the front-line commands (FLCs) and endorsed by their boards.

  • HMNB Clyde 30 September 2019
  • Aldershot Garrison 31 January 2020
  • RAF Wittering 1 June 2020

What you need to do

If you are already based at a FAM pilot site

If you are already assigned to a FAM pilot site and are happy with your current current Single Living Accommodation (SLA) or Service Families Accommodation (SFA) accommodation choice, then you do not need to do anything.You will continue to receive and pay for your current accommodation as you do today.

If you are considering changing your accommodation choice, or if you already rent in the private sector, there are steps you will need to take. Detailed information on these steps is provided in the sections that follow.

  1. Confirm you are eligible for FAM.

  2. Consider your accommodation options and transitional protection status, if relevant.

  3. Submit your accommodation preference form, if you want to change to SFA, SLA, want to rent in the private market or already rent.

Once your accommodation preference is confirmed, you will be informed of the steps you need to follow.

Please note that when you choose to change your accommodation due to personal preference and are not required by the MOD to move, any costs incurred including removals, will need to be met by you. This applies if you decide to change your current accommodation at the start of the FAM pilot, this would be considered a mid-tour move and you would therefore not be eligible for MOD funding (unless you are already based at the pilot site and opt to purchase your own home during the pilot).

If you are assigned to a FAM pilot site

Please refer to Information for personnel who have received an assignment order to a FAM pilot site for details on your options and what to do next.

Check if FAM applies to you

Eligibility for the FAM pilot

You are eligible for FAM if all of the following apply to you:

  • you are in regular or full time reserve service (full commitment) and are in or assigned to an eligible unit based at a pilot site (eligible UIN list is available on the Defence Intranet)
  • you have a report for duty date after FAM go-live at that pilot site. This will be shown on your assignment order
  • you have 4 years of service with the military
  • you have 12 months or more left on your posting at that pilot site

Available accommodation options

The table below provides a high level summary of the accommodation options available under the FAM pilot. Further detail on each option is provided in the sections below.

Single Living Accommodation (SLA) Service Family Accommodation (SFA) Private Rental Sector (PRS) Home Ownership
Available to all SP. No change to existing policies and charging. Availability will vary by location. You will be charged as per existing policies and processes. Your individual circumstances determine SFA eligibility. Availability will vary by location. You will receive a rental payment to enable you to rent a property equivalent to the SFA you need, at broadly the same cost. The rental payment you receive will depend on individual circumstances. You can also get a loan from MOD to cover deposit and expenses related to finding a property if you are moving into the PRS, or moving property within the PRS. You may receive financial support towards maintaining your own home depending on eligibility. You might receive a payment towards your regular mortgage payments, and could receive other support (such as refund of legal expenses). You can also make use of Forces Help to Buy. If you currently rent your home you may also be eligible for support, depending how far from the pilot site your home is. Note: If you buy a home under the FAM pilot, you do not need to submit an Accommodation Preference form, instead take your legal paperwork to Unit HR.

Your choice of preferred accommodation option might be affected by one or more of the following:

Long term relationships

Under the FAM pilot, personnel in an established long term relationship (LTR(E)) will be entitled to, rather than eligible for, subsidised accommodation. In other areas, that are not part of the pilot, the entitlement extends to surplus accommodation only.

In line with current policy, you will need to register your LTR(E) on JPA and have it verified by unit HR for it to be approved. This will enable your FAM payments to be calculated correctly. Details of what a qualifying LTR is can be found in JSP 464, Volume 1, Part 1, Chapter 1.

Entitled children

If you are eligible for accommodation at a FAM pilot site and have children living with either you or an LTR(E) partner that are under 18 years old or 24 years or under and in full-time education at a school, college or university, and are resident with you for over 80 nights per calendar year, then you may be entitled to additional accommodation support. Full details on the eligibility of child dependants can be found in JSP 464, Volume 4, Chapter 1, Section III.

Whilst personnel are still allowed to have nannies or au-pairs, they will not qualify as dependants under FAM, meaning you would need to contribute extra to cover the additional bedroom(s) required .

You will need to register your qualifying dependants on JPA for them to be recognised and included in your FAM payments. This should be done prior to submitting an accommodation preference form (APF).

Adaptations

If you require physical adaptations, adapted SFA and SLA will always be provided as an option under the FAM pilot. These adaptions will be made at a cost to MOD, as per current policy.

If you choose to live in the PRS, physical adaptation requirements will not be funded by the MOD and will be your responsibility to source through the local authority or other organisation. You should therefore be mindful of the adaptations you require and search for a property that supports your needs.

Single Living Accommodation (SLA)

SLA will continue to be available for all personnel eligible under JSP 464. If you are already based at a pilot site and already live in SLA, you do not need to take any further action. To apply for SLA you will need to fill out an APF. In the event that there is no available SLA at your FAM pilot site, you will be offered Substitute Service Single Accommodation (SSSA).

If you currently own or rent your own home or plan to purchase a house under the pilot and are in receipt of Get You Home (Travel) (GYH(T)), you will receive a ‘core payment’ in place of your SLA waiver for SLA in the working week.

Note that there are exceptions to this, please refer to JSP 464 Volume 4, Chapter II, Section IV for further details.

Service Family Accommodation (SFA)

If you are already based at a pilot site and already live in SFA, you do not need to take any further action and can continue living there during the pilot.

If you are moving to a FAM pilot site and wish to express a preference for SFA (removals and disturbance paid for), or if you are already at a pilot site and wish to move from your current accommodation into SFA (at your own expense) you will be required to fill in an APF selecting SFA as your preference. If your SFA preference is assessed and confirmed by your local FAM Cell you will then be able to request an SFA property at, above, or below eligibility in line with current accommodation policy for SFA.

The following rules apply when requesting SFA as part of the pilot:

  • if under current policy you are entitled to SFA, you can request SFA under the FAM pilot by completing an APF and the existing accommodation policy (JSP 464 Volume 1, Part 1, Chapter III) rules will apply
  • if you are single but have entitled children you are eligible to request SFA
  • if you are single (not in an established long-term relationship) with no entitled children you are not eligible to request SFA

Please see JSP 464, Volume 4, Annex G for further information on eligibility for those in LTR(E)s to SFA.

If you select SFA as your preference on your APF and the type of SFA you require:

  • is available; you SFA choice will be confirmed by the local FAM cell. You may also request SFA 1-up, or 1-down, dependent on availability
  • has limited availability; your preference will be confirmed on a case-by-case basis, in consultation with the current SFA allocation team as per the current process
  • not available; you will be directed to look for accommodation in the private rental sector

Transitional protection (TP)

Under FAM, accommodation will be provided according to your need, rather than relationship status or rank. As a result, some personnel will receive an increase, and some will experience an overall reduction in the accommodation offer they receive.

Personnel experiencing a reduction will be eligible for TP. If this applies to you, you will be eligible for the same type of SFA, where available, at a pilot site in line with current policy. If SFA is not available, you will be eligible for a Rental Payment to enable you to rent a property in the PRS broadly equivalent to your current SFA entitlement.

Please note that TP will only apply if you request SFA or SLA as your preference at a FAM pilot site. If you choose another accommodation type as your preference, TP will not apply and your accommodation subsidy will be based on FAM entitlement levels for that accommodation type.

Further information on eligibility for TP can be found in JSP 464, Volume 4, Chapter 1, Section IV.

The Private Rental Sector (PRS)

Many service personnel have been living in the PRS for years, but now support is available to help them, as well as those who would also like to make this move. Under this option, the MOD will provide a level of financial support to enable you to rent a property that meets your needs which is broadly comparable to SFA.

You can rent a home on your own, with friends, your partner or family.

The payments you will receive will be based on the location of your property, your relationship status, the number of registered entitled children you have and the average cost of housing equivalent to SFA at the location of your pilot site. New renters can also access allowances to help with securing a rental property.

Each pilot site will have a FAM Cell who can provide support. Under special circumstances, for example if you are serving overseas or deployed on operations, further support is available.

Read JSP 464, Volume 4, Chapter II, Section VI for further information.

The following conditions apply when applying for the PRS:

  • in order to be eligible for financial support under the FAM pilot, your PRS property needs approval as a Residence at Work Address (RWA)
  • you can choose where you want to live provided it is in line with home to duty regulations and within a specified distance as set out in the FAM policy. Full details can be found in JSP 464, Volume 4, Chapter 2, Section I
  • you can choose to share a home with someone who does not qualify as partner or dependant under the FAM pilot. However, if you are required to move for duty reasons, MOD will only cover the cost of your share of the tenancy costs, and you will need to make your own arrangements with those you choose to live with when it is time for you to move out (it’s important they are aware of the consequences for them if you are required to move for service reasons).
  • you cannot claim FAM payments for renting a home that you have previously owned whether you owned this alone or with a spouse, civil partner or someone you were in a recognised LTR(E) with
  • you cannot claim FAM payments to rent a room in a property where the landlord is resident. You must have a tenancy agreement with your name on it to claim your FAM payments. This means lodging tenancy agreements and lodging licences are excluded from the FAM policy
  • if you choose to live with another SP then the rental payment will be split between the two of you

Please refer to the PRS section of this website for further information on selecting, living in, and moving out of your home.

Home ownership

Currently own a home

If you currently maintain your own home you may continue to do so under FAM.

The support you are eligible for will depend on how far from the FAM pilot site your home is located. If you are eligible for FAM at your pilot site you will receive a core payment towards maintaining your home if:

  • you are already maintaining your own home, as your selected place of residence which is more than the specified distance, as set out in the FAM policy, from your assigned FAM pilot site. If your home is less than the specified distance then you will not receive a FAM core payment.

If you receive a core payment to maintain your own home this will be in place of any SLA waiver you receive today for the duration of your assignment to the pilot site. Further information on eligibility for the maintain own home option can be found in JSP 464, Volume 4, Chapter 5.

Note: If you already own a home outside the specified distance and want to receive the FAM core payment, you do not need to submit an Accommodation Preference Form, instead take your legal paperwork to Unit HR.

Buying a home after the FAM pilot starts

You have the choice to buy a new home after the FAM pilot starts, whether you are single or in a relationship. If you are eligible for Forces Help to Buy, you can also choose to make use of this scheme in line with current policy.

If you are eligible for FAM at your pilot site you will receive a Core Payment towards your home if:

  • you buy a new home, within 50 miles of the assigned pilot site, as a residence at work address (RWA), after the start date of the FAM pilot
  • you buy a new home, greater than 50 miles away from the pilot site, as a selected place of residence, after the start date of the FAM pilot

If you receive a core payment to maintain your own home this will be in place of any SLA waiver you receive today for the duration of your assignment to the pilot site. Further information on eligibility for the maintain own home option can be found in JSP 464, Volume 4, Chapter 5.

If you choose to buy a home as part of the FAM pilot you do not need to complete and Accommodation Preference Form. Instead, take you legal paperwork to Unit HR to initiate the Core Payment. Talk to your FAM Cell to find out more.

If you choose to buy your own home when you are already living at a pilot site, you will be entitled to a funded move.

If you choose to buy your first home when you have been assigned to a FAM pilot site, you will also be entitled to a payment to help towards the costs of legal expenses and legal fees incurred when buying a home. Refund of legal expenses (new buyer) (RLE (NB)) is a reimbursement payment for actual receipted costs paid to a solicitor or conveyancing legal professional. The payment is capped at £1,500 and can only be claimed on completion of the house purchase.

Submitting your APF and what happens next

Once you know you are eligible for FAM and have decided on your preferred accommodation, or if you are eligible for FAM and are already renting in the private sector, you you will be required to complete and submit an Accommodation Preference Form (APF) via JPA. The form will ask for your preferred accommodation, alongside details of your role, assignment, and personal details that impact your accommodation requirements and eligibility. There will be a free text box to capture any additional support requirements. If you are unsure how to complete this box, please speak to your local Army HIVE, RAF HIVE or NS-FPS.

It’s important that you are accurate and honest in completing this section, the information is needed to make sure that decisions can be made in an informed and fair way. All information provided will be treated in confidence. Your local FAM Cell for the relevant pilot site will then review your details and confirm the outcome within 5 working days. You will be notified of this decision via JPA. This is confirmation of your accommodation preference, for example SLA, SFA, PRS, and is not confirmation of an address. The FAM Cell response will include relevant links and information should you have any questions about the decision, and there is more information on next steps in this section below.

If you highlight a need for additional support, for example welfare needs, the local FAM Cell will verify this with your stated welfare team and/or your chain of command, and will take this into consideration when deciding on the most suitable accommodation to meet your needs, as well as your preferences and any other key factors.

Wherever possible, you will be supported to live in your preferred accommodation, however sometimes your preference may not be available.

Next immediate steps once preference is confirmed:

  • SFA: you will need to complete and submit the SFA application form e1132 as per the current process. You will then receive an offer of a property from DIO via the industry partner within 15 working days in line with current timelines
  • moving to the PRS: you can apply for relevant FAM advances and once you have found a property, will need to bring your signed tenancy agreement to Unit HR to receive your FAM rental payment. Further detail is provided in the payments and advances section
  • already renting in the PRS: you will need to bring your signed tenancy agreement, which pre-dates the start of the FAM pilot at your site, to Unit HR to receive your FAM payment. Further detail is provided in the payments section.
  • SLA: you can apply for SLA through current processes.

If you have chosen to buy a home or you’re currently living in a home you already own, you will not need to submit an accommodation preference form. Speak to your local FAM Cell to confirm your eligibility for FAM payments, find out how you can apply for these, and the documents you will need to provide. You can also read JSP 464, Volume 4, Chapter 5.

Changes in your personal circumstance

If your circumstances change you may be required to complete another APF. You should discuss changes in circumstances with the local FAM Cell as soon as possible to ensure they have up to date information on your accommodation needs and entitlement, and ensure your JPA record is updated to receive all relevant payments. JSP 464, Volume 4, Chapter 2, Section IX provides details on different types of changes in circumstances and whether MOD will fund your move.

Payments and advances

This section outlines the payments and advances available to you. Final payments and allowances provided may vary depending on individual circumstances and eligibility for additional support. If you are ultimately allocated SFA or SLA under the FAM pilot, current charges, payments and allowances will apply.

Payments for the private rental sector

If your preference to live in the private rental sector is confirmed by the FAM Cell, the following payments apply to you:

The FAM rental payment

This is a regular payment towards the cost of your rent, and is made up of two parts:

  • the core payment, this is a standard fixed sum payment made to eligible personnel on pilot sites, all renters will receive the core payment

  • the geographical payment, this varies based on your location and will be adjusted based on the number of eligible children. It also includes an adjustment to reflect the cost of council tax in the area. Renters living within 50 miles of the pilot site will receive this payment too

See JSP 464, Volume 4, Annex I for more detail.

In addition to your FAM rental payment you will need to contribute towards your rent. This is your personal contribution. This will be broadly equivalent to the charge required to live in a comparable SFA property at CAAS Band B.

You can choose a property that costs more than the FAM rental payment you are eligible to receive however, you will have to cover the additional cost yourself through an increased personal contribution. You may also choose a property which has a lower value than the FAM rental payment you are eligible to receive. In this event, both your rental payment and expected personal contribution would be reduced. This is called gainshare which ensures any savings made are shared between you and the MOD.

For more information on how the FAM rental payment is calculated and gainshare, read JSP 464, Volume 4, Chapter 2, Section III.

In order to receive the FAM rental payment, you will need to provide unit HR at the FAM pilot site with a copy of your signed tenancy agreement. Unit HR may also wish to see evidence that are covered by transitional protection, if relevant for example a copy of your APF. Unit HR will then update JPA and confirm the rental payment you will receive. Your monthly salary will be adjusted to include this rental payment value. You are responsible for paying your landlord, the monies will not be deducted from your pay.

The MOD has developed a FAM section of the Discover My Benefits (DMB) website that will help you estimate your total FAM rental payment based on your individual circumstances.

Advances for the private rental sector

There are also financial advances available to help you with the upfront costs of securing a property. . These advances are available if you are moving into the PRS for the first time, or once you are in the PRS if you are moving from one PRS property to another. The Discover My Benefits (DMB) tool can also be used to estimate the total advance amount you may receive.

Deposit and 1 month’s rent advance (repaid at end of tenancy)

It is normal to pay a deposit for a property in the PRS in order to secure it. This is generally equal to between 5 and 8 weeks rent. In addition, the first month’s rent may be requested before the move in date. These payments are required before, or when, the tenancy agreement is signed.

If you believe you may need financial support to meet these upfront cost , and you are moving into the PRS for the first time or moving property within the PRS, you can apply for a deposit and 1 month’s rent advance from the MOD before beginning your new property search. This will ensure that you have the funds available to secure a property at the earliest opportunity. A deposit and 1 month’s rent advance is available in the form of a salary advance given to cover the cost of your rental deposit and 1 month’s rent because you will apply for and receive this advance before you find a property:

  • you may be given more money than you end up needing to cover the final deposit amount. If this happens, once you have paid your deposit and first months rent any extra amount will be recovered through payroll

  • you may request less than you end up needing. You’ll be responsible for covering the shortfall upfront, but this shortfall will be addressed by an additional deposit and one month’s rent amount delivered through payroll

The Discover My Benefits Tool can help you in estimating the amount of deposit and upfront rent you are likely to need. We know that working out the amount of advance to apply for isn’t easy. Your FAM Cell can help advise how much to apply for based on the local area. If you take more than you need, be aware that you will need to pay this back.

Once your iExpense request for a deposit and 1 month’s rent advance has been processed, you will receive your advance within 3 working days and can begin your property search. You will have a 90 days within which to find accommodation, and once you have secured a property you will need to take your tenancy agreement to unit HR which will provide details on the final deposit requirements. At this point, unit HR will update JPA with the exact details of the deposit, and, if relevant, immediately recover any excess amount paid to you via payroll.

If you request and receive a deposit and 1 month’s rent advance and have not presented a tenancy agreement to unit HR within a 3 month time frame, the full amount you received will be recovered. If you have extenuating circumstances that have prevented you from securing a property within this time frame, please ensure you speak to your local FAM Cell as soon as possible so appropriate action can be taken.

If you find yourself in a position where you have to pay rent for 2 different properties for a period of time, and therefore experience an overlap in rental accommodation cost, you will be permitted to request a second deposit and 1 month’s rent advance for the second PRS property.

The amount that you paid your landlord/agency for deposit and first month’s rent will be recovered from you by MOD at the end of your tenancy, once you have received your deposit back. You have the option to repay this earlier if you wish, talk to unit HR to find out more.

Rental advance (repaid monthly)

You can apply for a rental advance in addition to your deposit and 1 month’s rent advance, if you are moving into the PRS for the first time, or moving property within the PRS. You can apply for a rental advance for up to 6 months’ rent in advance to help secure your rental property. This may be for reasons such as, but not limited to; short notice assignments, JPA processing times, payroll submission deadlines which would result in the rental payment not reaching you in time to commence payment of rent. If you are unable to secure a tenancy agreement without a guarantor you can also request a rental advance in lieu of a guarantor, subject to this being accepted by their landlord or rental agency.

Your tenancy agreement will provide information on the start date of your tenancy and your monthly rental amount which will inform the rental advance you are eligible for. Once approved, your rental advance will be processed via JPA and you will receive the full rental advance within 3 working days.

The rental advance amount will be repaid to the MOD from your monthly pay. The recovery process will be deferred until 3 months after the date you applied for the rental advance.The monthly amount deducted from your pay will be subject to minimum drawing rate regulations and will be a maximum of 1 month’s rent; for example, if you ask for 3 months advance, you will repay the sum borrowed over 3 months. You have the option to repay this earlier if you wish, talk to your unit HR to find out more.

Expenses relating to sourcing a property

You are entitled to up to 7 days leave when sourcing a property in the PRS, if you are moving into the PRS for the first time. In this instance you can also claim reasonable expenses incurred, for example travel and subsistence when searching for your property for 4 of these 7 days. Transaction costs payable for each qualifying move are limited. For more detail on sourcing costs, including which moves qualify for this provision, please see JSP 464, Volume 4, Chapter 2, Section V.

Early Surrender Relief

Early Surrender Relief (ESR) covers any contractual rental costs you incur, whether you are already renting or new to the PRS, when:

  • you are given an assignment order which doesn’t give you enough time to inform your landlord or agency within the notice period required by your tenancy agreement
  • the assignment date falls within the month and you are required to make a full month’s payment for that month

You can apply for ESR via an iExpense. For more information on ESR please see JSP 464, Volume 4, Chapter 2, Section V.

Accommodation cost overlap

You are eligible for accommodation cost overlap, whether you are already renting or new to the PRS, if you receive an assignment order requiring you to move and are you are unable to:

  • align the termination of your existing tenancy agreement with the start of a tenancy agreement on a new property
  • align the move in date of SFA at the new location

Accommodation cost overlap is provided to enable service personnel to maintain 2 PRS properties for a period of up to 1 month (or up to 3 months for schooling requirements). accommodation cost overlap is not provided if you choose to move from the PRS into a home you have purchased. You may require chain of command approval to receive accommodation cost overlap.

For more information on Accommodation Cost Overlap please see JSP 464, Volume 4, Chapter 2, Section V.

Payments and advances for home ownership

If you currently own a home, or want to rent a home, more than 50 miles from your FAM pilot site, you are eligible for the core payment. This is a standard fixed sum payment made to eligible personnel on pilot sites. If you currently own a home, you will receive the core payment instead of your SLA waiver.

If you choose to buy a home anywhere in the UK after the FAM pilot has begun, you are also eligible for the core payment. Additionally if you are a New Buyer (NB), you will be entitled to a payment to help towards the costs of legal expenses and legal fees incurred when buying a home. RLE (NB) is a reimbursement payment for actual receipted costs paid to a solicitor or conveyancing legal professional. The payment is capped at £1,500 and can only be claimed on completion of the house purchase.

If you are an existing home owner within the specified distance from your FAM pilot site, you will not qualify for the core payment.

Using the Discover My Benefits (DMB) tool

The Discover My Benefits (DMB) tool provides information on the extensive range of other benefits, allowances and support that service personnel are entitled to.

There is a section within this tool that deals with the FAM pilot. You can access the DMB tool to find out what payments you might be eligible for under the FAM pilot if your preference to rent is confirmed by your FAM Cell.

To access the DMB tool, choose your service:

Please read the step-by-step guide to using the DMB tool

Tax exemptions

The following payments are exempt from UK income tax under the FAM pilot tax exemption regulations:

  • core payment
  • geographic payment
  • transaction costs
  • accommodation cost overlap

Early surrender relief and refund of legal expenses (FAM) are also tax exempt but under existing relocation exemption legislation (providing criteria are met).

The rental advance and deposit and 1 month’s rent advance are tax exempt under the existing benefit in kind legislation providing the sum outstanding during the tax year does not exceed £10,000. Where the balance does exceed £10,000 there is the potential of a personal tax liability on the whole sum outstanding.

A guide to the private rental sector (PRS)

Selecting a property

When you enter into the private rental sector (PRS), there are a number of things to think about before selecting a home or room to rent for example, tenancy factors such as rent and bills, which you will be required to pay directly, and properties suitable for pets, or other factors such as the security of the area, local amenities and schools. You can speak to the local Army HIVE, RAF HIVE or NS-FPS to find out more.You can view the how to rent: the checklist for renting in England for additional guidance on renting in general.

If schools are an important factor for you, you can contact your local authority to find schools in your area, and visit the schools admission section of the gov.uk website for further guidance on applying to schools. You are eligible for a payment called the accommodation cost overlap for up to 3 months to minimise disruption to education during term time or to help you secure an address in advance of a school term.

Once you’ve found a property or room you like, try to find out as much about it as possible before you apply. If you’ve never rented privately before, or are looking for advice on this, there is also further information available on the private rental gov.uk website.

These sources will provide additional information on:

  • providing evidence for renting
  • tenancy agreements
  • credit scores
  • getting a guarantor
  • protecting your deposit
  • rent increases, disputes and arrears
  • multiple occupancy
  • anti-social behaviour

When you rent a property you become a tenant, and with this comes a number of responsibilities. Your landlord also has a number of responsibilities. Specific tenant and landlord responsibilities may vary depending on the details in your tenancy agreement, however an outline of what is usually expected is given below.

Your responsibilities

As a tenant you should:

  • pay the rent on time. If you don’t, you could lose your home because you have broken your tenancy agreement. If you have problems, gov.uk has links to further advice. Including these practical steps for paying your rent on time. You are responsible for paying your landlord directly, the MOD will not do this on your behalf
  • pay any other bills that you are responsible for on time, such as council tax, gas, electricity and water bills, which you will have to pay directly from your own bank account. If you pay the gas or electricity bills, you can choose your own energy supplier
  • look after the property. Get your landlord’s permission before attempting repairs or decorating. It’s strongly advised that you get contents insurance to cover your possessions too, because the landlord’s insurance won’t cover your things
  • be considerate to the neighbours. You could be evicted for anti-social behaviour if you aren’t
  • not take in a lodger or sub-let without checking whether you need permission from your landlord

It is also worth:

  • making sure you know how to operate the boiler and other appliances, and know where the stopcock, fuse box and any meters are located
  • regularly testing your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors, at least once a month
  • reporting any need for repairs to your landlord. There will be a risk to your deposit if a minor repair turns into a major problem because you did not report it
  • registering to vote and registering your family to a GP. You can compare GP practices according to facilities, services, access and performance before you decide

If you would like some help and advice on money management to support you in living in your home, the following sources are available:

Your landlord’s responsibilities

A landlord is generally expected to:

  • maintain the structure and exterior of the property and keep the property you live in safe and free from health hazards
  • fit smoke alarms on every floor and carbon monoxide alarms in rooms with appliances using solid fuels, such as coal and wood, and make sure they are working at the start of your tenancy. If they are not there, ask your landlord to install them
  • deal with any problems with the water, electricity and gas supply
  • maintain any appliances and furniture they have supplied
  • carry out most repairs. If something is not working, report it to your landlord or agent as soon as you can
  • arrange an annual gas safety check by a gas safe engineer where there are any gas appliances
  • get a licence for the property if it is a licensable property
  • insure the building to cover the costs of any damage from flood or fire

Landlord grievance

If you enter the PRS, you will have the same legal protection that civilians currently have. The agreement you have between you and your landlord is a private agreement, and disputes would be considered a private matter and should be dealt with accordingly. If you have a problem with your landlord, or agency, dependent on your tenancy agreement, you should follow these steps:

  1. Complain to your landlord or agency, they should have a complaints policy that you can follow.

  2. Make a complaint to a designated person such as your MP, a local councillor or a tenant panel if you can’t resolve the problem with your landlord.

  3. Contact your council or local authority if you and your landlord still can’t resolve the problem.

In order to solve a residential property dispute you can apply to the first tier tribunal (property chamber residential property). The cases you can apply for include rent increases for ‘fair’ or ‘market’ rates, leasehold disputes, for example variable service charges, recognising a tenants’ association, management disputes, financial penalties, rent repayment orders.

The tribunal is independent of government and will listen to both sides of the argument before making a decision.

You may want to get help and advice before you apply. Contact Leasehold Advisory Service or Citizens Advice. Speak to Forces Law or you can also find a lawyer.

Moving out of your home

You may be required to move out of your home for one of the following reasons:

Depending on the reason you are moving out of your home, you will need to follow certain steps and may be entitled to support.

If you choose to leave your property midway through your assignment for anything other than service reasons or qualifying change of circumstances as per JSP 464, Volume 4, Chapter 2, Section IX, then a mid-assignment move will not be supported.

Moving out of your home for service reasons

There will be no change to the process of moving from your own home, SFA or SLA under the FAM pilot.

If you have chosen to rent in the private sector, in addition to the financial support for rent, you may be eligible for other payments (transaction costs) to any early termination fees. Payments would be provided when you are required to move before the end of your tenancy agreement in the PRS for service reasons, but not when self motivated.

Early surrender relief (ESR) covers any contractual rental costs you incur when you are given insufficient notice of assignment to inform the landlord or agency, or the assignment date falls within the month and you are required to make a full month’s payment for that month. This will cover the remaining lease term up to a maximum of 6 months from the point at which you are notified of the requirement to relocate. You can apply for ESR via an iExpense. For more information on ESR please see JSP 464, Volume 4, Chapter 2, Section V. For further details on how ESR applies when sharing in the Private Rental Sector please see JSP 464, Volume 4, Chapter 2, Section IV.

If you are assigned away from a FAM pilot site to a non-FAM location, your eligibility to accommodation under the FAM pilot may continue, and be transferrable to the non-FAM site. This retained entitlement is referred to as preserved rights. For more information and eligibility on preserved rights please see JSP 464, Volume 4, Chapter 6, Section I.

Moving out of your home due to an eviction / notice to vacate/ notice to quit

If you are evicted or are given a notice to quit from your PRS property, you are required to inform your local FAM Cell as soon as possible under FAM pilot policy. It should be noted that each eviction or notice to vacate or notice to quit case will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. Depending on the type of eviction, fault or non-fault, costs may be recovered from you as deemed appropriate for this move.

If you do receive an eviction notice, it may be worth consulting your tenancy agreement to ensure the eviction is in line with the landlord’s rights. If not, this may be something that you choose to challenge through your landlord or letting agent.

You may be considering leaving your home at the end of your fixed tenancy agreement, or the landlord may choose to exercise their right to end your tenancy agreement at another time in line with your tenancy agreement. If the landlord refuses to renew a tenancy whilst you are mid-assignment, this will be deemed to be a non-fault eviction, and you will be given support in line with this.

You should submit a new accommodation preference form to enable you to find your next property, and then apply for the relevant advances.

Upon ending your tenancy, there are a number of expectations of both landlords and tenants. If the landlord chooses to end your tenancy, they must provide sufficient notice in line with the terms of your tenancy agreement. As a vacating tenant, you are responsible for ensuring all bills are paid and that the property is left in a satisfactory state in line with the terms of your tenancy agreement. This is necessary in order to receive your deposit back in full from the landlord or agency. If you do not receive the full amount back you will have to pay the difference when costs are recovered from you. To fully understand and comply with your responsibilities, you should consult your tenancy agreement to ensure you have met all terms of the contract before vacating.

Visit gov.uk guidance for more information on the matters outlined above, and for links to support if you have any problems during the tenancy.

Renewing your tenancy agreement

At the end of a fixed tenancy, you may decide you want to stay in your home and therefore sign a new fixed term contract. In this situation, you should review the terms and conditions of the new contract, for example, additional costs for renewal and increased rent before deciding to continue your tenancy agreement. If you do choose to sign a new tenancy agreement, you must bring a copy of this into Unit HR so they can update JPA in line with your new agreement, and ensure you are provided with the relevant financial support that you are eligible for. See JSP 464, Volume 4, Chapter 2, Section IV for more detail.

Additional information

FAM pilot policy

All FAM pilot related policy can be found in JSP 464 Volume 4.

Additional FAM learning materials

Additional learning materials in the form of e-learning modules are available to you, via the Defence Learning Environment.

E-learning modules:

  • my options and eligibility
  • making my accommodation preference
  • payments and advances
  • Private rental sector (PRS)

Step by step through the Discover My Benefits tool

To access the Discover My Benefits (DMB) tool, click on the link below for your service:

  1. Once you have opened the link, you will need scroll down and click on the Future Accommodation Model (FAM) tile.

  2. You will be directed to the FAM page, which will provide a short overview of the FAM pilot, and provides a box telling you to ‘click here to see what support you can get through FAM’ and a button which you should click on to proceed. You will then see a button saying ‘FAM Calculator’ click to proceed.

  3. Once you have selected ‘FAM calculator’, you will be taken to a page which summarises eligibility for the FAM pilot. You should ensure you are eligible for the FAM pilot before moving forward, further details can be found in JSP 464, Volume 4, Chapter 1, Section II.

  4. Once you have confirmed your eligibility, you should click on the ‘calculate my FAM support’ button or the ‘Calculate my TP support’ button as appropriate. This will take you through to the next stage where you will provide the information needed to calculate what financial support you may eligible for.

  5. You will be asked to confirm whether you are considering renting a property near work in the PRS, and if you select ‘yes’ you will be asked for your FAM pilot site location and number of entitled children. Based on this information, a benchmark rental cost will be shown. This is an assessment of the local rent that would be expected based on your location and property size.

This amount is broken down into 4 parts:

  1. Core payment

  2. Geographical payment

  3. FAM rental payment

  4. Your personal contribution

Alternatively, if you scroll down the page below these amounts, you can enter an amount that you would like or expect to pay in rent, for example if you have found a property you like and want to see what it would cost you. The 4 amounts will then be calculated again, based what you have entered.

Below this, at the bottom of the page, you will also see a section called ‘additional financial support for the renting process’. Underneath this title, there is the option to click on ‘deposit calculator’ or ‘rental calculator’, allowances that are available to those entering the PRS for the first time, or moving property within the PRS.

Completing the information in the deposit calculator section will give you an indication of how much deposit and 1 month’s rent advance you might need based on the expected rental costs and deposit amount. You will need to provide an amount for the rent you expect to pay each month, and an amount for the total rental deposit for your property.

Completing the information in the rental advance calculator will give you an indication of how much advance you might receive if you requested a 3 month advance based on expected rental cost. You will need to provide an amount for the rent you expect to pay each month on your property, and confirm the date that your rental contract will start.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding financial support for living in the PRS, please speak with your local FAM Cell.

Local FAM pilot site information

Each FAM pilot site will have a local FAM Cell who provide advice on all aspects of FAM, and manage the responses to your accommodation preference forms.

For specific service support, the following is available:

Queries

In the event you have any queries or concerns contact your local FAM Cell in the first instance.

All formal complaints arising from the interpretation of FAM policy are to be made in accordance with JSP 464, Volume 4, Chapter 8. The process has 2 stages.

  1. Is administered by the pilot site FAM Cell. If the complainant is not happy with the decision, they can apply for the decision to be reviewed by the FAM complaints review panel.

  2. After both stages are complete, if the complainant is still unsatisfied, a service complaint can be initiated in accordance with JSP 831, part 1. If you have a complaint that relates specifically to FAM please contact your local FAM cell in the first instance.

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