WHAT FAMILIES HAD TO SAY
“I think there should be more encouragement to live in the civilian community and more active encouragement to save for your own home. Service life seems to be getting shorter and all of a sudden people are looking for accommodation at short notice. Possible a saving scheme with benefits could be set up during Service so deposits ready to go to buy a house when leaving.”
“I was made compulsory redundant in the last tranche and will have to reply on social housing for myself and my family. However, the local council have seemed to have found a loop hole in the Covenant by informing soon to become ex-service families that they can source privately rented housing with their pay-outs from Service - making any thoughts of using the pay-out for clearing outstanding debt and improving the welfare of the family null and void. While I do welcome the Covenant, it is clearly not as binding for helping Armed Forces personnel and their families as it makes out to be.”
“I have found that the HomeBuy schemes don’t offer value for money compared to other sectors of the housing market.”
“I believe that local authorities disregard the Covenant and Service personnel are placed on waiting lists along with everyone else.“
“I think the accommodation provided is very good considering the amount we pay. I think the vast majority of occupants will get a big shock when they leave SFA and have to pay a mortgage or rent in Civvy Street. My neighbours constantly complain but do not take any pride in their houses and this in turn makes the estate look rundown. I am so grateful to get a house provided with my husband’s job.”
“Despite the high quality of SLAM, accommodation provisions (including moving entitlements) for single personnel are still very poor, particularly for older personnel. I am 45 years old, divorced and own a substantial amount of furniture etc., yet I am still treated the same as an 18-year-old single officer.”
“The new online system causes problems because of a lack of local knowledge over which SFA is best located for personnel joining specific units on a Stn. I have yet to meet anybody who has been given any of their 3 options of available SFA.”
“The online application process is good, but needs to be accessible via the www. Customer care has all but gone now a faceless process has been introduced. A key aspect is the use of unit SCSOs; they are invaluable in the housing process. Quality of accommodation has not improved. It is now accepted that any offer will be to a substandard property, nevertheless, the costs are very cheap, so it is a marginal but sanguine argument.”
“When applying for SFA I found it to be a completely daunting process and no information was given even when we sought it on how to apply. Our house was given over a month after husband was posted and I feel this needs to change, especially for trainees when they don’t get much notice when they get their first posting. Even though my husband was told where he was going, he still couldn’t apply for housing until it was official and this left us constantly worried about getting a house in time (which we didn’t).”
www.raf-ff.org.uk
15
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28