Give Us Time Welfare Update – Breaks in Scotland and France

 

For further information please visit: www.giveustime.org.uk

Single Service Personnel in SFA or SSFA: You may be entitled to a 25% CILOCT discount

For further information on CILOCT please visit: https://www.pinnacleservicefamilies.co.uk/sfa-charges/

Catterick: Garrison Welfare/Contact House

 Information provided by North HIVE Hub

Grantham: Housing Surgery

Next Housing Surgery at the HIVE Community Centre, Building 162, Thursday 19th February, 1030 - 1230. All welcome!

Information provided by Grantham HIVE

London: Victory Services Club

Experience the inclusive camaraderie of the Victory Services Club. It is the only military members' club in London open to all ranks and all services of the UK Armed Forces, NATO and the Commonwealth and their families. 

Membership to the Victory Services Club is entirely free for serving personnel. For former service personnel and their immediate family, the Club offers membership at affordable and highly competitive rates.

Click HERE for more information.

Information provided by South East HIVE Hub

Service Family Accommodation (SFA) Communications Update - 30 January 2026

New Armed Forces Bill to drive the biggest renewal of Service Family housing in a generation

Service families will benefit from the newly introduced Armed Forces Bill which promises better housing, better services and better protections for our forces and their families.

The Bill will create a new Defence Housing Service, which will have a simple ethos – to put the needs of forces and their families first and drive the biggest improvement in forces accommodation for a generation.

Read the full article on Defence Homes here.

Families First Newsletter

The latest issue of the Families First newsletter, featuring the latest Defence housing news and updates, is now available on the Defence Homes website.

1,000 homes upgraded for military families

Urgent works on 1000 military homes, most in need of refurbishment, have finished ahead of schedule, with a further 250 to be completed by April, 2026. This means that 12 months on from the Consumer Charter launch, we will have increased our initial target by 25%.

Read the full article on Defence Homes here.

Chatham: Vivo Housing Surgery, Tuesday and Thursday mornings

Information provided by South East HIVE Hub

Colerne: Vivo & Pinnacle housing clinic - Thu 29 Jan

 

Information provided by Colerne HIVE

Defence Infrastructure Organisation: Families First Newsletter Issue 34 (21 Jan) Now Published

The latest issue of the Families First newsletter, dated 21 Jan, is now available to view on the Defence Homes website.

Service Family Accommodation (SFA) Communications Update - 16 January 2026

New Armed Forces Bill to drive the biggest renewal of Service Family housing in a generation

Service families will benefit from the newly introduced Armed Forces Bill which promises better housing, better services and better protections for our forces and their families.

The Bill will create a new Defence Housing Service, which will have a simple ethos – to put the needs of forces and their families first and drive the biggest improvement in forces accommodation for a generation.

Read the full article on Defence Homes here.

Scotland: Find your Pinnacle Housing Officer

Find the contact details of your Housing officer here 👉 Your Housing Officer - Pinnacle Service Families

Alternatively you can ring 0800 031 8628 and choose option 4 to get the information over the phone.

Information provided by Leuchars HIVE

Donnington: Family Hubs Armed Forces Coffee afternoons - Venning Barracks

 Information provided by: Central HIVE Hub

Dundee: Scottish Veterans Residences Rosendael

Later this month, we are expecting to have a couple of rooms available for Veterans at our Dundee residence Rosendael, in Broughty Ferry.

If you are a Veteran experiencing or at risk of homelessness, or know of someone in that situation, please get in touch. 

The simplest way to make an accommodation enquiry is using our online form at: https://forms.office.com/e/pq18sjDGtz

Or you can call us on 0300 131 6755.

Information provided by Leuchars HIVE

Blandford: Welfare/contact house short term use accommodation

Click on poster above to enlarge

£40 per night for a minimum of 2 nights.

Weekend rates Friday to Monday morning £100.

Full weeks are £225.

A full review of costs will take place at the end of April.

For booking enquiries and to check availability email:

 BLANDFORDGAR-BGSUWELFARE@mod.gov.uk or call 01258 481938

Information provided by Bovington HIVE via BGSU Welfare team

Civilian Housing Options Briefings – 2026 Dates

To register for a Briefing, and provide your details please visit:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/information-and-guidance-on-civilian-housing

For more information on MoD Veterans Services support for Service Leavers and their families please visit: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/help-and-support-for-service-leavers-and-their-families

The Dual Accommodation Waiver (DAW) to be made permanent from 1 April 2026

The Dual Accommodation Waiver (DAW) to be made permanent from 1 April 2026

From 1 April 2026, the Dual Accommodation Waiver (DAW) will become a permanent waiver for eligible Service personnel (SP) and outdated waivers based on marriage and age will be retired.

First introduced in March 2024 the DAW was designed to support home ownership and replace older SLA waivers. The DAW supports eligible SP to use Single Living Accommodation (SLA) free of charge, providing they maintain a separate home elsewhere in the UK.

What are the key changes from 1 April 2026?

• Enduring Policy: On 1 April 2026 the DAW will go from a temporary waiver to a permanent waiver, ensuring long-term support for eligible Service personnel.

• Removal of outdated Waivers: Waivers for SLA charges based on marital status and age will be retired, promoting fairness and consistency. Regular and Full Time Reserve Services Full Commitment (FTRS FC) Service Personnel receiving outdated waivers will automatically go onto DAW – no action needed.

• Updated Eligibility Criteria: To ensure efficient use of SLA, eligibility rules have been updated. Service personnel must maintain a UK home outside daily commuting distance, and provide annual evidence to HR.

• New Applicants: If you are not currently using DAW but believe you are eligible, please contact your Unit HR directly.

• Full eligibility details are set out in latest news on Defence accommodation policy - GOV.UK

Service Family Accommodation (SFA) Communications Update - 04 December 25

Tackling Damp and Mould 

Over the last few years we have made substantial progress in tackling damp and mould that has been reported to us. Condensation is usually the biggest cause of damp within homes, and we know this often increases in colder months of the year. There are 4 key steps that you can take to prevent condensation, damp and mould in your home. 

Please read our helpful guide to preventing condensation, damp and mould in your homes here. 

 

Report it  

If you discover damp and mould, including any recurring issues, please report it straight away so that we can resolve the issue promptly. You can do this in the following ways:  

 

• Complete the dedicated Damp and Mould report form on the Pinnacle website.  

• Call Pinnacle on 0800 0318628, selecting option 1, then option 4.  

• Chat to Pinnacle online, you can do this by selecting the chat option on Pinnacle website.  

 

Our commitment   

Awaab’s Law, which took effect in October 2025, requires social landlords to address all damp and mould hazards within fixed timeframes. While we are not bound by this legislation, DIO has voluntarily committed to upholding the standards expected of a responsible landlord and our response times to damp and mould reports in UK SFA have been adjusted.  

 

When you contact Pinnacle, our teams will assess the severity of the problem, on a scale from level 1 to 5, with 5 considered the most severe. Pinnacle will then coordinate with Amey/VIVO to begin their investigation to address the issue.  

 

• Levels 1-3: Amey/VIVO will respond within 10 working days.  
• Levels 4-5 (highest priority): Amey/VIVO will respond within 48 hours, and families will be offered temporary accommodation during the investigation.  

 

If we cannot fully complete the required work after investigation, we will provide the family with a written summary within three days, outlining completed tasks and any remaining work.  

If you have any queries related to damp and mould, please contact Pinnacle on 0800 031 8628. You can find further information about seasonal safety advice on Defence Homes.   

MHLO West Midlands and Staffordshire: JSP 464 Confirmation: Process for Leaving/Moving Out of SFA:

3.6.1.1 Pre-move out advisory visit. It is a mandatory requirement that a pre-move out advisory visit takes place up to 2 months before the expected date of vacation.

In order to provide sufficient time for families to prepare for the Move Out appointment, and to allow the Industry Partner the opportunity to schedule enhanced works that may be required, it is essential recommended that the visit is at least 30 working days before a booked or potential Move Out. It is the Service Licensee’s responsibility to arrange the date of the visit with the IPHD. The IPHD is to seek assistance from the Local Service Commander in cases where it proves difficult for Service reasons to arrange a visit.

Please find guidance for best practice :SP/Families are to Communicate early with Pinnacle (Visa/Versa) to secure Pre-Move Out bookings. (As soon as your SP receives new assignment order / Pinnacle receive an application to move – prompt to book PMO)
Please see JSP464 policy for more information.

SP/Pinnacle attempt resolution by adjusting move-in or securing an earlier PMO.
If unresolved, book the earliest appointment outside 30 working days.

Concerns about dual charges: you can challenge charges once received or submit a complaint via Customer Solutions (CS). 

Information provided: Central HIVE Hub

DIO Families First Newsletter for SFA Occupants – Issue 32 Out Now

Issue 32 of DIO’s Families First newsletter, dated 28 Nov, is now available to view online or download on the Defence Homes website. Previous issues can also be accessed via the same link.

Service Family Accommodation (SFA) Communications Update - 01 December 25

Rapid Refurbishments to Service Family Accommodation

Service families’ homes across the UK are being upgraded as part of improvement works to rapidly raise the standards of military accommodation. DIO is on track to deliver on our commitment to carry out targeted renovations to 1,000 homes before the end of 2025.

Refurbishment and upgrade works are already well underway at many locations across the UK including over 100 homes in Wales, over 50 in Scotland and over 150 in Northern Ireland, with immediate priority being given to the homes most in need.

Refurbishment works will vary from site-to-site but will focus on fixing unreliable boilers and heating systems, repairing leaky roofs, eliminating damp and mould, and upgrading electrics and plumbing.

These upgrades form part of the delivery of commitments made in the SFA Consumer Charter earlier this year. This is only the beginning of a decade- long improvement in military accommodation that has been set out in the recently published Defence Housing Strategy. With over £9bn worth of investment in the next ten years, more than 40,000 service family homes will be modernised, refurbished or rebuilt.

View the heatmap of some of the locations where upgrades are taking place across the UK and hear more about the impact of works already underway here.