Defence Minister Al Carns visited Portsmouth military homes alongside local MP Amanda Martin to discuss rapid improvements for thousands of service families across the South East under Labour’s new Consumer Charter.
The Minister for Veterans and People met with serving personnel and families in Hilsea ahead of Labour’s Defence Housing Strategy publication later this year. The visit comes as 14,766 families in military housing across the South East prepare for transformation under the new Consumer Charter, with Defence Secretary John Healey vowing to “stop the rot” in military housing.
Amanda Martin MP previously welcomed the Charter, which introduces fundamental consumer rights for forces families including essential property information, predictable property standards, and access to a robust complaints system. The improvements address years of Conservative underinvestment that left forces accommodation in poor condition.
Under the previous government, satisfaction with Service Family Accommodation fell to record lows in 2023, whilst the Defence Select Committee reported two-thirds of accommodation was “essentially no longer fit for purpose”. The Committee determined housing quality significantly impacted Armed Forces recruitment, retention and morale.
The initiative follows Labour’s landmark deal completed in January, bringing 36,000 military homes back into public ownership and reversing a 1996 sale the Public Accounts Committee described as “disastrous”. The move saves taxpayers £600,000 daily by eliminating rental payments to private companies, including over 600 military family homes in Portsmouth.
The government has committed over £7billion to Defence Housing, alongside announcing historic defence spending reaching 2.5% of GDP by 2027.
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Labour’s Consumer Charter includes several key pledges:
- Strengthened move-in standards ensuring homes are ready, clean and functional on time
- Improved information for families including photographs and floor plans when applying for housing
- More reliable repairs with urgent work completed within set timelines consistent with Awaab’s Law
- New online portal for service personnel to manage repairs
- Refurbishment programme targeting up to 1,000 of the worst homes initially
- Named housing officer for every service family
- Simplified two-stage complaints process aligned with industry best practice
- Modernised policies allowing families greater freedom to make home improvements
Amanda Martin MP commented: “It was fantastic to welcome the Minister back to Portsmouth to meet local families and see military housing in Hilsea. The Minister previously served in Portsmouth and lived in local housing so has a real understanding of what it is like to live in military accommodation and the challenges that brings”.
“For too long, military families have endured substandard housing without the basic consumer rights that any of us should expect in our homes. That must end – Labour’s new Consumer Charter will begin to stop the rot and put forces families at the heart of that transformation”.
Veterans and People Minister Al Carns MP said: “For too long, military families have endured substandard housing with limited investment and a lack of a plan for change. That ends now”.
“We cannot turn around years of failure on forces housing overnight, but by bringing 36,000 military homes back into public ownership, we’ve already taken greater control and are working at pace to drive up standards. This is about providing homes fit for the heroes who serve our nation”.
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The improvements will be implemented by the one-year anniversary of December’s announcement to buy back military homes, with final details outlined in the Defence Housing Strategy following consultation with military personnel and families.
An independent review team will drive the Defence Housing Strategy, chaired by former MP and housing expert Natalie Elphicke Ross OBE. The Strategy will also accelerate development of surplus military land, creating Armed Forces homeownership opportunities and supporting affordable housing delivery across Britain.
