SAC0047
Written evidence submitted by Mrs Katie Singleton
Re: Call for Evidence for Service Accommodation
I wish to respond to your call for evidence regarding Service Accommodation. As the spouse of a serving military member, I am writing this to you from within my SFA (Service Families Accommodation) in Paisley, Glasgow. My husband is a Major, and thus we were eligible for a type IV house, of 4 bedrooms which is what we were allocated. This is our second military house, the first being during our posting to Kenya (BATUK). I am aware that housing while aboard is managed differently, with different local standards and stock available. My responses to the questions below will be in regards to my experiences on the UK side, which have been mostly positive. It is important that the ‘good’ is able to come out as part of the evidence.
As a user of the Pinnacle Service Families website and services for the March In and general maintenance I have, generally, no complaints. It is easy to raise a fault, it is easy to speak to someone (although the suppliers and complexity of bureaucracy mean answers are not always easy to come by), and generally all appointments have been attended, and the job fixed. There is no way to prioritise an issue (such as no hot water to bathe the baby) despite the comments section. There have also been long (6 works days) wait for what should be urgent appointments (ref hot water). The workmen attending have been briefed on the issue, come prepared and are polite and friendly.
Unable to comment on Value for Money or effectiveness.
We have been lucky as the standard of house we have moved into is very high, with new carpets and decorating throughout. However, I have previously been in other SFAs of friends where the houses are very tired. This is a combination of very high turnover; rental houses should have 1 move every 5-10 years, not up to 5 as would be in service accommodation; and a cheapest/fastest fix on fail rather than maintain provision to facilities.
IIt is difficult running a house, and having to do it alone while partners are deployed for many nights a year is tough. Dealing with substandard housing after a long day is depressing. Being able to provide good homes, not just walls and a roof, with fast repairs on persistent issues like leaks, mould, heating etc will be the biggest trust builder in the service accommodation. Families do not want a gold standard, but they don’t want to have to ‘make do’.
The houses provided in the Paisley Patch (for APC) are of a good standard and quality. They are on a mixed patch with civilian owned houses around. This is a good example.
Unable to comment on Annington Homes.
Unable to answer this question. However, the NAM as being rolled out offers a large change in how housing stock is managed and allocated. This has created a lot of noise in the wider community, as it is such a large change, but it is a forward thinking and new approach to housing stock.
Unable to comment on the FAM Pilot as not involved. As a recipient of the changes under the New Accommodation offer there are no benefits to our family, even with the introduction of increased option for private rental. There are major disadvantages including reduction in size of house (from 4 bed to 3 bed); mixed rank patches and, if forced to rent privately, increased complexity and cost of private rentals in a saturated and competitive market.
Unable to comment
Unable to comment.
27 October 2023