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.
Good. Life is hard enough for service personnel and their families without obtuse accommodation rules.
Good, it’s another step towards improving retention.
Great stuff. One of many reforms needed to aid retention.
What absolute bo11ocks. In my 22 years nobody gave a damm what pets you had in UK MQs as long as you weren’t a pain for anyone else.
The only issue was in Germany where your family were required to execute any pets prior to their being evacuated if the GSFG/ 3rd Shock Army were sent across the IGB.
Same here, we had 2 dogs and a cat. The only thing we had to do was register the dogs who had a tool tag issued and had to fix it to the collar. Never served in Germany so don’t know about that.
Bambo, I seem to remember that you had to notify the QM on your MQ application form that you wished to bring a pet, and he reserved the right to turn you down. In Germany I think it was up to the German landlords of Hirings to give permission?
Perhaps some people arrived at a new Quarter with pets that had not been previously declared…and the authorities didn’t find out?
Yup. A friend of mine got into a long term relationship and had to do exactly this when they wanted to get a dog. I’ve rarely heard of permission being withheld, but you still had to ask.
With reference to Dogs,
Are these long lead Items ?
Or am I barking up the wrong Tree ?
So I have heard, single serving personnel can have a dog, or a cat. Hmm increased sale in poo bags?