Housing rights for veterans: what support is available

Leaving the armed forces can be a difficult transition, and housing is one of the biggest challenges many veterans face. Below, we set out the housing rights and support available to veterans in England, including priority for social housing, help with homelessness, and support with private rented accommodation.

Do veterans get priority for social housing?

Yes, in certain circumstances. Local councils in England must give "reasonable preference" when allocating social housing to:

• People who are homeless
• People living in unsatisfactory housing conditions
• People who need to move for medical or welfare reasons

The Armed Forces Covenant requires that veterans are not disadvantaged in accessing public services compared to civilians. Most councils' allocation policies include specific provisions for veterans, recognising the difficulties of the transition to civilian life.

In practice, this means:

• A veteran's period of service should be taken into account when assessing their housing need
• Time served should be treated positively when assessing local connection (so a veteran who served elsewhere should not be penalised for not living locally)
• Some councils give additional banding points to veterans

Check your council's allocation policy to see exactly how veterans are treated.

Local connection: a barrier for some veterans

One of the biggest challenges veterans face is the local connection requirement on housing registers. If you served away from your home area, you may not have a local connection to the area where you want to settle.

The Armed Forces Act 2021 strengthened the Armed Forces Covenant. Local authorities must now have regard to the covenant when making decisions about housing. This means local connection rules should not unfairly disadvantage veterans, and a period of service should be treated as a form of local connection in many areas.

If you feel a council is applying local connection rules in a way that unfairly disadvantages you because of your service history, you can ask them to review the decision and can seek advice from a housing charity.

What if I am homeless after leaving the forces?

If you become homeless after leaving the armed forces, you should contact your local council's housing team immediately. Veterans are a priority need group for homelessness assistance in certain circumstances.

Under the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017, councils must take "reasonable steps" to prevent homelessness for anyone at risk, and must give personalised housing plans.

Veterans in England can also access:

• Veterans' Gate (previously SPACES), a referral pathway for homeless veterans
• SSAFA (Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association), free advice and practical help
• Royal British Legion, welfare support and housing advice
• Walking With The Wounded, employment and wellbeing support including housing

What about leaving service accommodation?

When you leave the forces, you will leave service family accommodation. You should be given adequate notice and assistance through your service's Substitute Service Family Accommodation scheme and resettlement support.

If you are at risk of becoming homeless as a result of leaving service accommodation, approach your local council before you leave, this is especially important if you have a family.

Veterans with mental health needs and housing

Some veterans experience mental health difficulties following service, including post-traumatic stress. If mental health conditions are affecting your ability to secure or maintain housing, there are specialist services available:

• Op COURAGE, NHS Veterans' Mental Health and Wellbeing Service, which can provide evidence supporting housing applications
• Combat Stress, specialist mental health support for veterans

A letter from a mental health professional can support an application for higher priority on the housing register on medical grounds.

Private rented housing: knowing your rights

Veterans living in private rented housing have exactly the same rights as any other tenant, including:

• The right to a home in a habitable condition
• The right to have repairs carried out by the landlord
• Protection from illegal eviction

If your rented home is in disrepair and your landlord is not fixing it, you may have a housing disrepair claim regardless of your veteran status.

When should I contact Support for Tenants?

If your rented home has disrepair that your landlord has failed to fix, you may have a claim for compensation. This applies whether you are in private rented accommodation or housing association housing.

Call us on 0800 030 4669. No upfront cost. You only pay if you win, and the fee comes out of the compensation, not your pocket. If you don't win, you pay nothing.

Sources

• Armed Forces Act 2021 (Armed Forces Covenant) (legislation.gov.uk)
• Housing Act 1996, Part 6 (allocation of housing accommodation) (legislation.gov.uk)
• Homelessness Reduction Act 2017 (legislation.gov.uk)

Related articles

• Homelessness application, what happens next
• Free housing legal advice in England, where to get it