xplained Scale Upper Middle Lower Location Urban Intermediate Remote
This leads to 9 different charging bands. The start of the banding (top charge – Band A) is set at Decent Homes Plus (DH+) for Condition, Upper Scale and Urban Location. The top charge band for each type of SFA, Band A, is recommended by the AFPRB annually. The combined result of the assessment of each factor calculates the overall Rental Band for individual SFA in
accordance with the Table below; Condition has double weighting for rental discount compared with Scale and Location (iaw NEM evidence collection). n
The Combined Accommodation Assessment System is replacing the current 4 Tier Grading System on 1 Apr 16. Lets take a look at the detail:
3. Remote (more than 40 minutes).
on accessibility a pan-UK ividual erty will be e or Remote
e accessibility ht
Broadband Accessibility The government target for all properties to have a basic 2 Mbits/s was considered, but it was agreed a fairer measure was the national average to base any discount on. The national average broadband speed (currently 17.8 Mbits/s), using Ofcom data; properties not meeting this standard will be downgraded by one CAAS Band (may be in consideration with other weighting factors).
oint on
Deprivation Where a property is located in one of the ten areas identified by government as the most deprived in Britain, the property will be downgraded by one category.
nsport/walking, t accessibility esholds:
s travel); and 40
The measures of average accessibility, the broadband availability, and the indices of multiple deprivation are used to identify properties that are affected by one or more of the location factors to produce an overall CAAS classification. A rental discount will be applied to properties by adjusting the property to a lower rent category, with the starting level set at the Urban category (no discount), and the lowest rent level capped at the Remote category. n
Calculating the CAAS Band The table below shows how the relationship between the outcomes for each of the three factors (Condition, Scale and Location) combine to produce an overall CAAS Band. As an example, where Condition is deemed to be Decent
Homes standard, Scale is Upper and Location is classified as Remote, the resulting CAAS Band is E. n
Location 4TG Scale A £298 £298 (Grade 1) DH+
Upper AB C Middle BC D Lower CD E
DH
Upper CD E Middle DE F Lower EF G
DH-
Upper EF G Middle FG H Lower GH I
£221 (Grade 2) £135 (Grade 3) £79 (Grade 4)
B £268 C £238
Apr 2016
D £208 E £179
F £149 G £119
H £89 I £59
Apr 2018
CAAS
Howcharges will change on transition to the newsystem To illustrate what might happen, the table belowshows hypothetical monthly charges for a three-bed home (Type C) under the old 4TG system and the newCAAS. If a home was undergraded under the 4TG system, the charge will rise gradually over a number of years until it reaches the correct level. Note that these are today’s prices, not the exact figures that will apply in 2016.n
Apr 2017
Myth Busters
Howwillmycharge be set? The Armed Forces Pay ReviewBody (AFPRB) will continue to independently recommend the top rate – band A – with an overall spread of charges that is broadly equivalent to the current system. Because CAAS uses newcriteria, almost everyone’s charge will change. Charges are expected to increase for about three-quarters of occupants and decrease for the other quarter. All rises will be capped to a set amount each year. The cap will vary according to rank and house size, but will
be around £40 a month for junior officers and £20-30 for other ranks. For the majority of properties, the total change to the monthly charge, staggered over several years, will be between £50 to £75 a month from its current level. This removes the unequal discount between property types under the current 4TG system, to provide a simple and uniformdiscount that is equal and fair to all.
So this is just a money making exercise? No, CAAS seeks to both modernise the charging system as a replacement of 4TG, and rebalance the current inaccuracies in
4TG to meet the charge income levels that 4TG should have produced if it was maintained properly. The Deaprtment has committed to re-investing the extra income generated from correcting 4TG into Service accommodation. Charges are expected to rise on average, but this is because
the old 4TG system wasn’t being applied properly. The changes will ensure that a fair charge is paid for good quality properties – if you are in a property that is smaller, of lower condition or more remote, the charge will still be discounted.
If you’re reinvesting the money, howwill the standard of accommodation improve? The newsystem will use the Decent Homes Standard which generally sets a higher bar than the current 4TG system. From April 2016, you will not be allocated a home that fails to meet this standard. This means, for example, that there will be modern kitchens and bathrooms and minimum standards on mould and damp. The additional funds will also allowus to significantly increase
investment in energy efficiency.We will run a programme that will benefit approximately 8000 service families – by 2019 they will see a direct reduction in their energy bills of up to £500 a year.We will also redesign the Fuel Subsidy Scheme so that
most families in SFA should expect to pay less than the national average energy bill using Energy Performance Certification methodology.
What happens if the charge formy property is due to rise significantly? Any increases will be signposted well in advance. If the charge needs to rise, we will have a protection system that will set a maximum cap for the increase in any single year. Any large increases will be staggered over a number of years ( 1 x CAAS Band per year).
If I have been undercharged in the past, are you expecting to recover the costs fromme? No, we won’t be correcting errors under the old 4TG system, even where occupants have been undercharged.
If I end up paying less under the newsystem, can I expect a refund? No. Charges based on the 4TG system were assessed on different criteria and may not reflect any improvements made to your property. But where your charge needs to be reduced, this will be implemented in full in April 2016. n
Further info go to:
www.gov.uk/new-employment-model
p 15 - Feb 16: CAAS band and transition SFA. Appeal available
Apr 16: New charge for SFA under CAAS staged incrementally each year until the final CAAS band has been reached. Decreases will take effect immediately from Apr 16.
Houses vacated after Apr 16, that do not meet the DH standard will not be allocated until this standard has been reached.
Remote Intermediate Urban
Condition
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 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56