Personnel in long-term relationships entitled to overseas housing in new pilot scheme

Couples in long-term relationships are now entitled to a military house overseas just like those who are married or in civil partnerships under a pilot scheme that is running in Cyprus and the Falklands.

The trial was launched to give service personnel in established long-term relationships access to Service Family Accommodation (SFA) in the Falkland Islands and Sovereign Base Areas Cyprus – where over a third of personnel assigned overseas are based.

"It's about making sure that we remove any unintended barriers to service overseas and we attract the widest talent," people operations specialist Wing Commander Jackie Wren told Forces News.

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Wg Cdr Wren added: "The same as all applications for housing here in Cyprus which is rank-driven, but we're reflecting on family needs, if there is a family requirement which is bigger than the standard allocation then that would be addressed.

"We anticipate at the moment likely something in the region of 45-50 applicants this year. We are confident that we can meet most applications, but it is entirely dependent on stock availability.

"It is critical that their partners are registered on JPA [an intranet-based personnel administration system] and their relationship is registered on JPA, and any children in that relationship."

There are several criteria applicants have to meet – most notably they have to have been together for at least a year and show a financial link.

Improving the overseas offer

If this scheme is successful, it could improve the overseas offer for those in relationships, taking away the strain of maintaining a long-distance relationship or having to get married to be entitled to live with each other.

The Army Families Association said: "All service personnel who are already on assignment or who receive an assignment to the Falkland Islands or SBA Cyprus who are in an LTR(E) and who meet the criteria will be entitled to SFA."

The pilot initially runs until 31 March 2025.