Service Family Accommodation: Maintenance

Opened the debate

The MP highlighted the poor condition of accommodation provided for service families at RAF Shawbury and Tern Hill in her constituency. She cited numerous examples of inadequate repairs, including blocked chimneys leading to crow invasions, severe damp and mould issues causing health problems for children, and unheated houses during winter. The issue worsened after a contract restructuring in April 2022. Morgan emphasised the financial burden on families paying rent for unsuitable housing and highlighted declining satisfaction rates among service families with accommodation conditions and maintenance services. She stressed that these conditions are affecting military retention due to strain on family life.

Government Response

The Minister acknowledged the long-standing issues with service family accommodation and noted significant investment by the MOD, including a £173 million capital purchase of family homes in the UK. He highlighted improvements in customer satisfaction but admitted there are still challenges, particularly regarding damp, mould, heating and maintenance. The new Future Defence Infrastructure Services (FDIS) contract was introduced to improve response times and standards, although some difficulties have been encountered during its implementation. The MOD has taken measures such as establishing a dedicated hotline for specific concerns and improving triage processes. He announced further steps to address backlogs in gas and electrical safety certificates through an accelerated renewal process. Recent data shows significant progress with maintenance backlogs and complaint levels reducing significantly, although sustained performance is still required. The Minister emphasised the MOD's commitment to hold contractors accountable and improve conditions for service families.