Homes To Help Veterans Adapt to Civilian Life Opened

Eight new homes have been built in South West London as part of a ground-breaking housing development for veterans.

The Haig Housing initiative aims to offer a period of stability for soldiers after years of service.

Commissioned by UK Veterans housing charity, the Haig Housing Trust, the development cost £1.4m, which was part of the £14.6m received from the Veterans Accommodation Fund.

With rent fixed at 60% less than the normal market rate, the unique one-bedroom homes in Morden are in high demand.

It’s thought the developments could be seen as an affordable and stable stepping stone for veterans.

The Chief Executive of Haig Housing, James Richardson said: 

"London private housing is just so extraordinarily expensive that most service leavers are priced out the market, they cannot secure incomes big enough to pay rent.

"By offering homes at 50-60% of what the market rent would be just really gives them that leg up to be able to start their transition.”

Veteran of the Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers, Jordan Collings, is one of the lucky recipients of a house, he said:

“It’s almost like a security blanket really, just its somewhere that’s my own little space where I can progress, move on. Especially living in this tight ex forces community, it’s like a half-way house.”

Local amenities also include schools and excellent transport into the city’s capital.