The Ministry of Defence has provided a detailed update on its plans to transform military family accommodation, confirming that a full Defence Housing Strategy and a new Consumer Charter will be published later in 2025.
The information was shared in a series of written responses to questions from Ben Obese-Jecty MP (Conservative – Huntingdon) on 30 April 2025, following the Government’s recent announcement titled Homes Fit for Heroes, which introduced a raft of new housing measures for service personnel and their families.
Veterans Minister Al Carns and Defence Minister Maria Eagle laid out the framework of the Defence Housing Strategy, which they described as a “generational renewal” of military accommodation.
Eagle confirmed that the Ministry would prioritise the 1,000 worst-condition homes for urgent renovation, with work due to begin in summer 2025 and be completed by the end of the year. Homes will be assessed using a wide set of criteria, including condition, age, safety, thermal efficiency, and modernity, alongside whether the property meets the Ministry’s long-term requirements. Geographic distribution and rank mix (Officer and Other Rank housing) will also influence prioritisation.
Eagle explained: “A combination of factors will be considered when selecting Service Family homes for renovation under the new Consumer Charter.” She added that the Charter and Strategy are intended to deliver not just improved housing stock, but also a better experience for families living in service accommodation.
This includes the appointment of a named Housing Officer for every military family. Carns stated that “Service families will know who their Housing Officer is and how to contact them, either by telephone and email, or through local initiatives such as housing surgeries, open offices, online consultations and community walks.” Work is already underway to review and reform the Housing Officer role through workshops and internal consultation.
In addition to improving accommodation standards, the MoD is also focusing on unlocking the development potential of surplus military land. Carns said the Ministry is “working in partnership with Homes England to accelerate the release of public land,” and confirmed collaboration with local authorities on securing planning allocations and undertaking public consultation as part of master planning efforts. A new cross-departmental taskforce—including the Ministry of Defence, HM Treasury, and the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities—has been established to support this ambition and drive the delivery of thousands of new civilian homes on former defence land.
However, full costings for the Defence Housing Strategy remain under review. Carns noted that the strategy “will set out a roadmap to deliver a generational renewal of military accommodation; the projected costs of which are under review.” No specific financial breakdown has yet been provided for the next five years. He did, however, confirm that both the Consumer Charter and the Housing Strategy are scheduled to be published later in 2025 following further consultation with military personnel and their families.
