1st Report – Service Accommodation

The government is improving the quality and extent of photographs and floor plans available for housing applications, collaborating with Pinnacle to enhance these. Approximately 50% of properties have had updated photographs, with an acknowledgment that security considerations prevent all properties from being photographed.

The MOD accepts the recommendation and commits to providing an update on the funding and completion status of new-build SLA projects following the release of the Strategic Defence Review.

The MOD accepts the recommendation and details existing tools for measuring SLA improvements, including the SLAMIS system, Facilities Condition Management data, and annual Armed Forces Continuous Attitude and SLA Surveys. It commits to using these to track performance and expects improvements in conditions to enhance personnel retention and morale.

The MOD accepts the conclusion and states the DIO continues to drive improved performance, monitors monthly, conducts reviews, and commissioned audits. The DIO is also conducting a Year 3 review until June 2025, will launch a website for transparency, and is carrying out an independent review of the estate.

The MOD accepts the recommendation, stating the DIO is conducting multiple reviews and audits, including a Year 3 review until June 2025, and will launch a new website to ensure transparency of assurance processes.

The government accepts the recommendation and is working to identify performance measures aligned with service families' aspirations. It will launch a new website by Spring 2025 to publish self-assessments and quarterly data, and is establishing Collaborative Joint Area Offices by January 2025.

The government committed to launching a new website by Spring 2025 to publish SFA quality metrics biannually and quarterly assessments. It is also establishing collaborative Joint Area Offices, with plans for one in every area by the end of January 2025, to improve transparency and customer experience.

The government committed to launching the Home Hub portal to a closed user group in Spring 2025, with full access for all Service Personnel and their families after user testing is complete. A roadmap for its future development has been established.

The government committed to launching the Home Hub portal to a closed user group in Spring 2025, with full access for all Service Personnel and their families after user testing is complete. A roadmap for its future development has been established.

The government committed to reviewing the effectiveness of the Housing Officer role with Pinnacle and devising a new two-stage complaints process to shorten resolution times, though this process is not yet finalised. Joint Area Offices are also being established across the UK.

The government committed to devising a new two-stage complaints process, accepting that the current system is inefficient, to provide quicker resolution for Service Personnel and their families. This new process is currently being developed and is not yet finalised.

The government is improving the quality and extent of photographs and floor plans available for housing applications, collaborating with Pinnacle to enhance these. Approximately 50% of properties have had updated photographs since the start of FDIS Accommodation contracts.

The government partially accepted the conclusion, detailing how additional funding was spent on upgrades and damp/mould remediation in 2023/24. For winter 2024/25, DIO undertook extensive planning, agreeing a range of activities with IPs that commenced in October 2024, with positive performance reported so far.

The MOD accepts the conclusion, noting that challenges with damp and mould persist despite efforts. It states its DIO policy is not to allocate homes with known issues, and its Damp & Mould Taskforce established in 2023 has already provided works to over 9,000 families, reducing case severity. The MOD plans to replace the worst housing stock through regeneration following the Annington deal as part of a wider housing strategy.

The MOD accepts the recommendation and has already implemented measures following a Learning from Experience exercise in Autumn 2023. These measures include aligning notification processes, transferring 'red card' access control to contractors, and engaging the chain of command, resulting in 99.4% LGSI and 99.9% EICR compliance.

The MOD accepts the recommendation, confirming that a report on the lessons learned from gas and electrical safety inspections, which was shared with Ministers on January 31, 2024, will be sent to the Committee with this response.

The MOD accepts the recommendation and is committed to developing a new Enhanced Target Standard. To review standards and the assessment process, a stock condition survey has been initiated to provide independent verification of the estate's condition, with findings to be reported by April 30, 2025. This will inform the Defence Housing Strategy, planned for publication later this year.

The MOD agrees that SLA accommodation is a crucial factor affecting recruitment and retention. It notes that over 90% of SLA meets the Defence Minimum Standard (DMS) and states that significant investment is underway to improve conditions for the remainder to ensure all SLA meets or exceeds the DMS.

The MOD agrees with the conclusion, affirming its SLA Programmatic Approach will use modular construction techniques to deliver new-build accommodation faster and with energy-efficient designs to future-proof for Net Zero carbon measures.

The MOD agrees with the conclusion, stating that an investment programme and monitoring tools are in place to address serious failures against the new Defence Minimum Standard (DMS) and ensure all SLA is maintained at or exceeds the DMS.

The MOD acknowledges housing issues and committed to fixing them by completing a landmark deal to buy back Armed Forces housing from Annington Homes in December 2024. Specific actions include submitting planning applications for new houses at RAF Brize Norton and Catterick Garrison (Spring 2025) and building 176 modern homes at Imjin Barracks.