New rules give forces families more freedom at home

Thousands of military homes will be transformed into family homes under new measures allowing Armed Forces families greater freedom to keep pets, decorate their homes and run businesses from them.

The reforms, announced on 9 August, form part of the Government’s new Consumer Charter, which Defence Secretary John Healey described as a “key milestone” in delivering a Defence Housing Strategy aimed at “stopping the rot” in military accommodation.

“Our Armed Forces make extraordinary sacrifices to keep us safe every day. But for too long, military families have lived in substandard housing without basic consumer rights,” Healey said. “By introducing greater freedoms, including pet ownership, we are ensuring forces families in Scotland can live and work in homes fit for modern life.”

From this week, service families will be able to keep up to two dogs, cats or smaller pets without needing prior permission, replacing what the MoD called a “lengthy and bureaucratic” approval process. Officials said the change recognises the role pets play in family life and mental wellbeing, particularly for families separated by deployments. Safeguards will remain in place to protect animal welfare.

Minister for Veterans and People Al Carns, a former Royal Marine, welcomed the reforms. “As a dog owner and Royal Marine who served for 24 years, much of it in Service accommodation, I’m delighted to be making it easier for our dedicated personnel to own family pets. Recognising the unique demands of Service family life, it is also right that we make it easier for family members to run businesses from military housing,” he said.

The changes also include streamlined processes for running a business from service family homes, with a named housing officer to support those already operating one. Future measures will allow greater freedom to decorate properties, such as adding wall-mounted lighting or decorative decals.

The investment, say the MOD, is underpinned by more than £7 billion in military accommodation spending this Parliament, including an extra £1.5 billion from the Strategic Defence Review. The Government says this will fund urgent repairs and the long-term renewal of military family housing across the UK, alongside its deal to bring 36,000 homes back into public ownership.