Military families will be able to make themselves more at home in their service accommodation as ministers tear up red tape. Troops will have more freedom to keep pets and decorate their homes as Defence Secretary John Healey vows to “stop the rot” in military housing.
From this week, military families will be able to keep up to two dogs, cats or smaller pets without needing permission. Previously, service families faced a lengthy and bureaucratic approval process to own pets. Veterans Minister Al Carns said: “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.”
The Ministry of Defence says it recognises the role pets can play in family life and mental wellbeing, especially their companionship when a parent is away from home on deployment.
It’s part of a new Consumer Chart, announced in April, which aims to raise the standard of service accommodation.
As part of the changes, families will also be able to decorate their homes more freely.
A streamlined process will make it easier for family members to run a business from their home.
Mr Healey said: “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.
“These new measures are a key milestone as we deliver on our Consumer Charter to stop the rot in military accommodation and ensure our heroes and their loved ones live in houses they can truly call home.
“By introducing greater freedoms, including pet ownership, we are ensuring forces families up and down the UK can live and work in homes fit for modern life.”
The state of military housing, which has had issues including mould and damp, leaky roofs and broken boilers in recent years, has significantly contributed to the retention crisis that has engulfed the forces.
Labour has pledged to invest more than £7 billion into military accommodation this parliament, and the upcoming Defence Housing Strategy is expected to focus on building new self-sufficient homes.
The Government has also restored 36,000 military homes to public ownership in an effort to reduce costs and improve standards.
The £6 billion deal, which started under the Tories, ends the £230 million annual rental cost of the properties.
