Blandford: Garrison housing issues - drop in sessions

Following the success of their Drop-in Sessions, Pinnacle have arranged for twice monthly drop in sessions, commencing April 2025.

If you have any issues regarding your Service Family Accommodation and would like to speak to someone face-to-face, pop along, no appointment necessary.

They will take place 1st & 3rd Wednesday of every month, 0900-1200hrs, commencing April 2025. At the Pinnacle Office located in the Estates Building, Murdos Road, Blandford Camp.

Information provided by Bovington HIVE

Haverfordwest: Free Tenancy Support & Advice Drop-In Sessions - Every Mon

Information provided by Wales HIVE Hub.

Lichfield: A message from the Military Housing Liaison Officer

A message from the Military Housing Liaison Officer:

Standard of SFA Move Outs:

Move out fails are currently increasing and exceeding move out passes.

SP/Occupant have a responsibility to present their SFA at move Out Standard. This to allow DIO/IP to turn SFA around for future occupancy in good time. When SP move out of their home, it is highly likely a new family will be moving in very soon after. SP/Occupants must leave their home in accordance with the DIO/Pinnacle move-out standard. CM-clean-RD-Revised-Move-in-and-out-specification-FINAL-Dec-24-002-1.1.pdf. These standards have been developed by all stakeholders involved in providing your Service Family Accommodation and are in line with the Government Decent Homes Standard. Pinnacle move out checklist: Handy moving home checklist - Pinnacle Service Families

To help you understand what you need to do, your Pinnacle Housing Officer will go through everything with you at the pre-move out. It is really important you take action on any work required of you, or you may be charged. To avoid being charged when you move out you must follow the advice set by your Housing Officer at the pre-move out appointment. You will have at least 28 days between your pre-move out and move out appointments to make changes.
Remember to always check your home against the full move out standards and complete the list of work agreed with your Housing Officer at your pre-move out appointment.

SP may challenge/dispute charges raised on move out - Charges for damages to Service Family Accommodation (SFA) and Substitute Service Family Accommodation (SSFA) and 2025DIN01-031-Charges for Damage and Deficiencies for Service Family Accommodation (SFA) and Substitute SFA (SSFA).docx
Please Note: Personnel will have 14 days from receipt of notification to lodge a Stage 1 dispute which must include details of the efforts made to resolve the dispute at the time of move out and photographic evidence wherever possible. If no dispute is lodged within 14 calendar days the charge will be taken direct from pay (through Joint Personnel Administration (JPA)

Information provided by: Central HIVE Hub

Stafford: Housing surgery MoD Stafford Beacon Barracks Welfare Office Wednesday 7th May 2025 13.00 - 14.00hrs

Information provided by Stafford HIVE

Bovington: Garrison contact houses for short term accommodation use

click on image to enlarge

To check availability, call during office hours on 01929 402239 or access the online booking form via this link https://forms.office.com/r/sZfRNqXDnL

Please note recent changes to bookings.
Bookings for 7 x nights can be booked at any time.
Bookings for 5+ nights can be booked 3 months in advance.
Bookings less than 5 x nights can be booked 2 months in advance.

For all bookings, a £50 deposit will be required within 7 days of making the booking and the full balance is to be paid 28 days prior to stay. The rate is set at £50 per night for the first three nights, then £25 per night thereafter.

Information provided by Bovington HIVE

Blandford: Welfare/contact house short term use accommodation

Click on poster above to enlarge

Information provided by Bovington HIVE via BGSU Welfare team

Bovington: Garrison coffee morning and DIO housing surgery Wed 7th May

If you have any housing issues or concerns, please use this opportunity to come along and speak in person to a housing representative from Pinnacle/Vivo

Information provided by Bovington HIVE 

 

DIO Families First newsletter – issue 25

To read this issue (and previous issues) in full online, please click the following link: Service Family Accommodation - GOV.UK

St Athan: Pinnacle Housing - Open Office - Tuesday 08 April 25

Click poster to enlarge. 

Pinnacle Housing Open Office for any SFA enquiries - Tuesday 8th April at 6 Kingfisher Square, St Athan.

Maria Stevens

Housing Officer - St Athan

Tel: 07467 835542

Email: maria.stevens@pinnaclefamilies.co.uk 

Information provided by Wales HIVE Hub.

Service Family Accommodation (SFA) communications update - 26 March 25

 

Reduce the risk of lead in drinking water

Lead pipes may still exist in Service Family Accommodation built before 1970, but DIO and our repairs contractors are committed to removing them during modernisation.

The risk of exposure to lead is very low but the following steps can help to reduce lead levels in drinking water in older properties:Only drink water from the mains supply in your kitchen.
Before you drink, cook or clean your teeth, run the cold taps first thing in the morning (the amount to fill a washing up bowl should be sufficient) to flush out water that has been standing in pipes overnight.
If you have been away from your home for a long period, run hot and cold taps for at least 5 minutes to prevent legionella.

The UK has a very safe water system, but these precautions will help to lower the risk. For more information visit the Drinking Water Inspectorate’s website

Reporting Sewerage Spills

Should you notice a sewage spillage or leak, please report this directly to the Pinnacle Helpdesk on 0800 031 8628 and follow Option 1 for Repairs.

SFA Roadshows

Edinburgh & Dundee: Scottish Veterans Residences (SVR) currently have spaces for new residents in Dundee and Edinburgh

We currently have spaces for new residents in Dundee and Edinburgh.

Our purpose as a charity is to provide a safety net for ex-Services men and women from all over the UK who are in need or experiencing homelessness, by providing a roof over their head and support for as long as they need it. If you are a Veteran who is experiencing homelessness, or is in need - or know someone who is - please get in touch and we will do all we can to try and provide accommodation and support at Scottish Veterans Residences (SVR).

Simply fill visit www.svronline.org or fill out the accommodation enquiry form using the direct link here: https://forms.office.com/e/pq18sjDGtz

Or alternatively, give us a call on 0300 131 6755 (24 hours) and our team will start the process as soon as they can.

Information provided by Leuchars HIVE

Grantham: Housing Surgery

Next Housing Surgery at the HIVE Community Centre, Building 162, Thursday 17th April, 1030 - 1230. All welcome!

Information provided by Grantham HIVE

 

Boscombe Down: SFA Roadshow - Thursday 3rd April

Information provided by South West HIVE Hub
 

Chatham: Neighbourhood Watch, Catching Nuisance Vehicles

 

With the warmer weather comes an increase in nuisance vehicles on our green spaces and off-road areas. 

Neighbourhood Watch did a lot of work on off road vehicles last summer in the Chatham area and we found that the most effective and efficient way of dealing with this nuisance is to gather evidence, identify offenders and surprise them at their homes.

Often people will call us and tell us there are off road bikes with a limited description. What would really help us would be?

Any clear picture or videos of offenders (but don’t put yourself at any risk getting them)

Licence plate numbers (if vehicles have them)

Accompanying vehicles – often nuisance bikes travel to off road areas in vans or on trailers. Tell us the registrations of the accompanying vehicles!

Is it your neighbour? Are your neighbours or the family across the road always going out on these bikes but you don’t say as you don’t want to fall out with them? 

 

Read more

Information provided by South East HIVE Hub

Aldershot: Pinnacle Service Families Aldershot Garrison Hub Wednesday 11:30 - 1500hrs Come in Were Open

 

Information provided by South East HIVE Hub

Service Family Accommodation (SFA) communications update - 12 March 25

 

HCDC Update

Last month, the House of Commons Defence Committee (HCDC) published its report following an inquiry into Service accommodation that took place last year.  This outlined a number of recommendations made by the Committee that we have considered carefully.

HCDC has now published our response to the report which outlines the steps we are taking to improve our service to you.

DIO remains committed to improving the quality of housing for you and your families and we will continue to work closely with our suppliers to deliver against the actions outlined.


Radio Teleswitch (RTS) electricity meters

The technology that supports RTS electricity meters will switch off nationally from 30 June 2025.

If you have one of these meters, you will receive a letter from your electricity supplier informing you that they are required to switch you to a smart meter. Not switching meters before this time could result in disruption to your electricity supply. You can read more about this here.

Whether you pay for your own electricity or your fuel is supplied by the MOD, if you have an RTS meter, you should expect a letter to arrange an appointment.

If you have any questions or would like to confirm if you have an RTS meter, you can contact your electricity supplier directly.

Have Your Say: Accompanied Established Long-Term Relationship Overseas Pilot Survey open until 14 Apr

 
To take part in the Accompanied LTR(E) Overseas Pilot Survey please click HERE (survey open from 08 Jan 25).

More information is available on Sway HERE.

Lichfield: Pinnacle/Amey Housing Surgery - The Postbox - Tuesday 11 March 2025

 

Next Housing Surgery at the The Postbox is Tuesday 11 February 1130 - 1230. All welcome!

Information provided by: Central HIVE Hub

DIO Families First newsletter – issue 24

 

This issue and previous issues can be read online at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/defence-infrastructure-organisation-service-family-accommodation

Aldershot: Open Office with Pinnacle

 

Information provided by South East HIVE Hub