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27 Nov 24. Easier access to social housing for veterans confirmed.
New regulations to remove a local connection requirement for veterans to access social housing.
- New regulations to further support UK Armed Forces Veterans in housing need
- Removal of five-year local connection link removed for our heroes looking for social housing
- Changes build on government’s commitment to honour the sacrifices made by veterans and ensuring homes will be there for heroes
Veterans will have greater access to social housing thanks to the removal of a local connection requirement made by the government today.
The new changes, made by the Housing Minister in Parliament today, exempt all former UK Armed Forces Veterans from rules that restrict access to social housing for those that do not have a connection to the local area. This will make sure veterans across the country have access to the housing support they need and can find a place to call home.
The changes apply to councils with local connection or residency tests determining who can currently qualify for social housing. This will ensure veterans cannot be unfairly penalised where such requirements are in place, recognising the unique challenges they face in trying to build up a connection in a specific local area.
Housing and Planning Minister, Matthew Pennycook said:
“Those who put their lives on the line in the service of their country should have access to the housing support they need – this government is making sure they do.
“We will continue to do all we can to ensure homes are there for heroes, as part of our commitment to delivering the biggest increase in social and affordable housebuilding in a generation.”
Minister for Veterans and People, Alistair Carns OBE MC MP said: “This is a government that is committed to renewing the nation’s contract with those who serve and have served and today is an important step forward in delivering on our promise that homes will be there for heroes.
“Today’s action shows our government is delivering our manifesto commitment to strengthen support for our Armed Forces communities and to ensure veterans have access to the housing support they need.”
The Deputy Prime Minister has previously written to local councils reminding them of their obligation to prioritise veterans for social housing and the guidance is being updated to reflect these changes.
Wider government support is also in place to help more veterans into secure and permanent accommodation. This includes a further £3.5 m to the Reducing Veteran Homelessness Programme and Op FORTITUDE, which is the single referral pathway for veterans at risk of homelessness.
Alongside these changes, the government has already given councils greater flexibility to use Right to Buy receipts to build and buy more homes and provided an additional £450 m for councils to secure homes for families, including veterans, at risk of homelessness.
Government investment in housing will also increase to £5 bn for next year and this includes an extra £500 m in new funding for the Affordable Homes Programme to deliver tens of thousands of new affordable and social homes across the country. In turn, supporting the government’s commitment of delivering 1.5 m homes by the next Parliament and generating economic growth.
Further information
- The government’s written ministerial statement confirming today’s changes is available here.
- The regulations will come into force on Wednesday 18 December.
- On 24 September, the Prime Minister also set out his ambition to improve access to social housing for young care leavers and victims of domestic abuse. Ministers will convene roundtables to explore the detail of these exemptions and bring forward further regulations in due course.
Veterans’ Access to Social Housing
Statement made on 27 November 2024
Statement UIN HCWS255
Statement made by
Matthew Pennycook
Minister of State for Housing and Planning
Labour
Greenwich and Woolwich
Commons
Statement
As we set out in our manifesto and the Prime Minister reiterated in his conference speech on 24 September, this Government is committed to supporting our armed forces communities and ensuring veterans have access to the housing support they need.
To honour that commitment and facilitate access to social housing for veterans, I am today laying regulations to exempt all former members of the regular armed forces from any local connection tests for social housing applied by local councils in England.
Having a connection to an area should not be a barrier to housing for those who put their lives on the line for our country.
The regulations laid today will ensure that no veteran of the regular armed forces will need to meet a local connection test for social housing regardless of when they last served.
The Deputy Prime Minister has already written to local councils to remind them of the guidance and flexibilities to facilitate access of veterans to social housing.
Statutory guidance will be updated to reflect these changes. This includes specific guidance on improving access to social housing for members of the Armed Forces with examples of ways in which councils can ensure that Service Personnel and their families are given appropriate priority for social housing. We know that councils use the flexibilities available to them, but we must ensure that no veteran is unfairly penalised.
In addition to these measures, the government has committed a further £3.5 m to the Reducing Veteran Homelessness Programme. This includes Op FORTITUDE, the single referral pathway for veterans at risk of, or experiencing, homelessness.
We will continue to work with the sector to deliver affordable homes to meet the needs of veterans as part of our broader commitment to deliver the biggest increase in social and affordable housebuilding in a generation, and in the development of our long-term housing strategy.
Veterans represent the very best of our country. The Government is committed to honouring their sacrifices and ensuring homes will be there for heroes across the UK.
(Source: https://www.gov.uk/)
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SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity, has been providing lifelong support to our Forces and their families since 1885. In 2020, our teams of volunteers and employees helped more than 79,000 people in need, the
currently serving (both regulars and reserves), veterans from the Second World War and those who have served in more recent conflicts, as well as their families. SSAFA understands that behind every uniform is a person. And we are here for that person – any time they need us, in any way they need us, for as long as they need us.
https://www.ssafa.org.uk/about-us
https://www.ssafa.org.uk/support-us
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