BFG Rebasing Bulletin
Your complete guide to Housing Part 1 This is the second edition of the Rebasing (RB) and Drawdown (DD) Bulletin and will focus on housing options when returning to the UK. We aim to provide you with initial information on initiatives that will either be of interest to you, or will affect you as service families in the future. This includes the Forces Help to Buy Scheme, changes to UK SFA charges (CAAS) and the Future Accommodation Model (FAM) which will provide service families with greater flexibility and choice, introducing private rental and altering eligibility for those in longterm relationships. I would like to assure you that we are working closely with support organisations within BFG, particularly the Army Families Federation, to track concerns and questions raised with them. Through doing this, we are introducing a questions and answers section in our rebasing Comms to try and provide as much information as possible. I therefore urge you to raise queries through your Unit Welfare Officer or a support organisation within BFG, so that we can track these and respond accordingly. I hope you find this Rebasing Bulletin useful.
Commander BFG
BFGnet.de @BFGnet (Fb)
AFF have provided some questions that they are frequently asked, specific to rebasing moves from Germany to the UK. Hopefully these will answer some of your questions too. 1. CAAS
4. Move-Out Standards
Yes, the Combined Accommodation Assessment System (CAAS) includes the right for an occupant to challenge the band if they do not agree with the assessment made by DIO.
It is not yet clear what the MO Standards will be for the rebasing moves in Summer 2019. We expect to be able to include clear guidance in the Rebasing Booklet due for distribution in October 2018, and the December 2018 Monthly Rebasing Bulletin. Rest assured it will also be covered in detail at your pre-MO.
We’re worried about CAAS banding and the potentially increased cost of living in the UK, can we appeal our banding if we think it’s wrong?
The Challenge and Appeal is a two stage process. The Challenge and Appeal must be done within three months. The Challenge is Stage 1 and the Appeal is Stage 2, both must be done in writing. Details to explain how CAAS is calculated Condition, Scale and Location are included below.
2. Move-Out Dates
Will we still be expected to meet the standards of move-out that were in place a year ago?
5. SFA Move-In Standards
If a family moves out and the SFA fails to meet the minimum standard expected, will it all be sorted before the next family moves in?
Will I be able to change my Move-Out (MO) dates next Summer?
There are resources in place to ensure that emergency work and cleaning can be conducted between residents. This will ensure that the SFA will be ready for your MI.
There will be minimal flexibility to adjust MOs and this will be managed by units. Dates will be fixed some time towards the end of March 2019.
6. SFA Size Entitlements
3. Proxy Move-Out and Move-In What if I need to do a proxy MO?
The best way to make the process run smoothly is for the occupant, to whom the SFA is allocated, to attend the handover/takeover of the property. If that is not possible then they will need to appoint a ‘proxy’. A ‘proxy’ is someone who has authority to handover/takeover the property on your behalf. A proxy may be either another serving person, or the occupant’s spouse or civil partner. Your proxy will act with full authority and any subsequent disputes will be harder to resolve if the ‘proxy’ has signed. For service personnel, damages/deficiencies that require billing will automatically be taken from the serving individuals JPA. Units are receiving training to enable them to fully support families with the Move-In (MI) process.
I’ve got three children, will I be entitled to a four bedroomed house? The type of property you are entitled to is usually dependant of your rank for officers and family size for other ranks. When you apply for SFA, the CarillionAmey Occupancy Services Team will allocate you a property using the preferences you have expressed and based on your entitlement or eligibility, competing requirements, and service agreements. You will find more details on your SFA entitlement at: aff.org.uk/wp/wp-content/upload/2018/03/SFAentitlement-table.pdf
7. SFA Choices
At the moment people moving back to the UK get three choices of housing, as more and more people move back to the UK will this remain in place? The level of choice that you will be given will depend on the area that you are moving back to. Due to the number of families moving to the Salisbury Plain area, no choice will be given. Allocation of SFA will be done via an allocation panel, supported by unit welfare offices and in line with entitlement, which will take place in January 2019. More details on how the allocation panels will work will be covered in our December Bulletin.
9. Home Ownership and SFA Entitlement
We own our own house, will we still be entitled to SFA if it is outside the 50 mile radius? If your own home is over 50 miles or 1 hour 30 min away from your duty station then you will be entitled to SFA. Only if you have purchased a home using the Long Service Advance of Pay (LSAP) or Forces Help to Buy (FHTB) schemes and the property is within a 50 mile radius or 1hour 30 min from your place of work will you be disqualified from SFA / Substitute Services Families Accommodation.
10. Condition of SFA at MI
8. SFA Allocations
Who do we report issues to if we aren’t happy with the cleanliness or condition of our SFA?
Can I change my housing allocation in the UK? The information that you give your Unit Welfare Officer at the start of the allocation process will be used to determine your allocation. If your situation changes then make sure you highlight these changes to your welfare team, as early as possible, to allow them to help you.
HOW IS MY SFA CHARGE CALCULATED? COMBINED ACCOMMODATION ASSESSMENT SYSTEM (CAAS)
If you have issues at MI, make sure that you note ALL repairs and cleanliness problems – no matter how small – on your move in paperwork BEFORE you sign it. Carilion Amey then has 24 hours to rectify these issues. AFF have a checklist on their website that gives you a comprehensive list of things to check during MI. Why not print it off and take it with you? Remember, if you have any stains on the carpets, chips on woodwork etc. you must record them on your 14-day report to ensure that you won’t be charged for them on MO.
CAAS was introduced in April 2016 to replace 4TG system for calculating SFA charges. It covers condition, scale and location.
SCALE
Upper/Middle/ Lower
LOCATION
CONDITION DH+/DH/DH-
Urban/ Intermediate/ Remote
FUTURE ACCOMODATION MODEL (FAM)
HE
FAM is designing how the MOD will provide you with living accommodation over the next 50+ years A pilot is expected to launch in December 2018. The pilot will operate at a few selected sites and will test parts of the new FAM policy. The pilot is expected to run for a few years to allow the policy to be refined before launch. The pilot will be open to Regular personnel and those serving on a Full Time Reserve Service (Full Commitment) contract. We expect confirmation of where the pilot sites will be in the near future. FAM will give you more choice in where, how and with who you choose to live. You will be able to choose to live in……… • Single Living Accommodation • Service Families Accommodation • Privately Rented Accommodation • A Home you’ve choosen to buy
If you are thinking of buyin Buy (FHTB) scheme might personnel get on the prope of capital t Be aware that the FHTB schem
2. How to get it?
FAM will also widen accommodation entitlement beyond the system that we have today. Not only will the MOD support personnel who are married or in a civil partnership, they will also provide support to those who are in a long term relationship.
1. Who can apply for the scheme?
You can apply for the loan online through the Joint Personnel Administration system (JPA).
4. Can Accom
3. How much can I borr To apply for the scheme you must: • Be in Regular service he scheme allows you • Have completed 2 years service borrow up to 50% of (from enlistment date) and be on trained strength annual salary to a ma (completed Phase 2 Training) £25,000. This can be used • Have at least 6 months left to serve a deposit and other costs (at the time of application) solicitor’s and estate agen • Not have owned or currently own a property within 50 miles of the proposed house in the last 12 months (there are some exceptions to this) • You must meet the right medical requirements
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SPTA NEW Soldier Type D
Work is progressing at quite a pace into in Summer 2019. This includes b across Salisbury Plain Training Area ( at Ludgershall and 227 at Bulford. In from a commercial development in Tid land in Tidworth
To give you an idea of what the new plans for the different
Further details on the housing option the Local Authorities and Welfar 6/7 September 2018 Soldier Type C
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Housing Brief
FORCES ELP TO BUY (FHTB)
If you want to find out more and have questions that you want answered then make sure you attend the next Housing Brief delivered by the Joint Service Housing Advice Service. The next brief in BFG will take place on 12 September 2018 at 0900hrs, Building 85, Normandy Bks. Keep an eye out for more details nearer the time.
ng your own home then the Forces Help to be for you. Aimed at helping armed forces erty ladder, this could prove a helpful source towards your own property. me and CEA allowance do not work together!
Advice on Buying your own house For advice on buying your own home visit the following link: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/wales/housing/movingand-improving-your-home/buying-a-home/
I still apply for Service mmodation?
row?
u to f your aximum of d towards such as nt’s fees.
If you buy a property using funds from the FHTB scheme and the property is within 50 miles of your current assignment location then you will not be eligible for either SFA or SLA during your current assignment. You may choose to buy a property more than 50 miles from your current assignment location (or next location, if you already know what it is and it starts within 6 months). In this case your family will have to live in that property in the first instance – you will be eligible to use SLA (or Substitute Services Families Accommodation) but not SFA for that assignment.
The Joint Service Housing Advice Service also publish an annual magazine full of advice and opportunities aimed at the Service community. For the latest magazine: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/housingmatters-magazine-2018
5. Can I let my property if I am posted elsewhere in the UK or overseas? Your home purchase must be occupied, in the first instance by you and / or your immediate family. However, in subsequent postings where you have your entitlement to SFA reinstated, you can apply to your Commanding Officer and Mortgage provider to let out your property. In this case the Long Service Advance of Pay interest rates will be applied (currently 2.5%).
W BUILD UPDATE
to ensure quality homes are ready for you to move building 917 Service Families Accommodation (SFA) (SPTA).The breakdown of SFA is 444 at Larkhill, 246 addition a further 100 homes have been purchased dworth and the MOD is building 322 homes on MOD h known as the Ashdown Estate.
w homes will look like we have included some floor types of SFA for soldiers and officers.
ns that are available around SPTA will be covered at re Briefing Day from Subject Matter Experts on 8. More details to follow nearer the time.
out the boards around welfare offices, where ation on the area your are moving to will be yed, including what to expect from SFA.
Officer Type V
Officer Type IV
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CONTACT US: BFGnet.de @BFGnet We are keen to hear your feedback. Please send comments to scs@bfgnet.info