MILITARY families will see improved housing after Defence Secretary John Healey vowed to “stop the rot” in their accommodation.
A new Consumer Charter will enhance basic rights for service personnel.
Defence Secretary John Healey vowed to ‘stop the rot’ in military families accommodation[/caption]
The move guarantees “predictable” property standards, more reliable repairs, and a complaints system that works.
The rights will be enshrined in the new charter and backed by public satisfaction data.
Mr Healey said residents will start to benefit by December.
Yesterday’s announcement follows a deal struck by ministers in January to return 36,000 military homes to public ownership.
That reversed a 1996 privatisation that had been costing taxpayers £600,000 a day in rental payments to a private company.
Mr Healey said: “Our Armed Forces serve with extraordinary dedication and courage to keep us safe. It is only right that they and their families live in the homes they deserve.
“For too long, military families have endured substandard housing without the basic consumer rights that any of us should expect in our homes.
“That must end and our new Consumer Charter will begin to stop the rot and put families at the heart of that transformation.”
Former MP Natalie Elphicke will chair an independent panel overseeing the charter.
She said: “Our pride in our Armed Forces must include pride in our military homes.
“Delivering better housing, boosting home ownership opportunities for service personnel and improving the experiences of service families will be at the heart of our work.”
Military families will see improved housing[/caption]