SAC0037
Written evidence submitted anonymously
HCDC Call for Evidence-Service Accommodation
I have had several negative experiences with Service Single Living Accomodation (SLA), as a serviceperson without my own home I lived in SLA 7 days a week (not a weekend commuter like many).
Key Issues:
Size of rooms – Too small for all issued equipment and a reasonable amount of personal effects.
Weekend commuting personnel holding the larger rooms than personnel living on unit 7 days a week.
On arrival at RAF Benson I was assigned a room approximately 10x7ft which had a fitted sink, this was barely able to fit the bed and standard wardrobe let alone the TV most personnel would bring and the cupboard space isn’t able to store all the issued kit for personnel held at Readiness. This size of room and lack of space for personal effects had a strongly negative impact on my happiness and morale, it made me question whether I wanted to continue to serve in the armed forces. Junior female personnel straight from Phase 2 training were always given a room 2-3 times the size due to segregation rules and the unwillingness of Stn Services to place simplex locks on shower room/WC facilities to allow mixed genders in the same corridor (using separate facilities).
When posted to MOD Stafford I was given a room approx. 9x7ft which was fitted with a sink, we had multiple baggage rooms to store kit/possessions but these were just empty rooms with simplex locks that all personnel in the block had access to, these allowed us to store all the issued equipment or personal possessions, newer accom provides personnel with their own kit cages/lockers so valuable/attractive items are locked away only accessible to the owner. There were larger rooms that were assigned to personnel living out locally in town but kept the room to store their kit/get changed in or to personnel who would commute Monday Morning and Friday Afternoon whereas individuals like myself who occupied the room 7 nights a week would be in a room half the size.
Across all rooms in my career there has been a general theme of them being dated and the furniture being old and tired.
23 October 2023