MP calls for a new housing association to help solve military accommodation issues

A former Armed Forces Minister has called for a Forces Housing Association to be set up to look after military accommodation.

It comes after three companies, responsible for repairing military homes, face mounting criticism for failing to do so.

Mark Francois, a Conservative MP, first set out the idea in a report to the Prime Minister in 2020, but it was not taken forward.

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He told Forces News: "We concluded it didn't make sense to bring in the sort of facilities management companies and people like that, in order to manage service families accommodation.

"When you've got housing associations who've been managing social housing for decades. There's a great deal of experience".

Mr Francois added: "Now there are some good and bad housing associations for the record. But there are good ones.

"There are much better examples of managing these houses. So our argument was, why don't you take advantage of that expertise and create a housing association whose sole aim was to provide high-quality accommodation for service personnel and their families at a reasonable cost."

At present, three companies have the contracts to look after military accommodation: Pinnacle, who personnel can call when there is a problem, and VIVO and Amey who would be tasked with fixing any issues.

However, after multiple failings, with Armed Forces personnel sharing their problems on social media, the Government has called on the firms to improve or face fines.

The Government also says £350m has been allocated by the Ministry of Defence to improve the condition of military housing and hopefully reduce the likelihood of issues when people are living there.