MOD’s Families Hub is now in its second year – have you used it yet?

Link to the Families Hub: https://discovermybenefits.mod.gov.uk/families/ 

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

FamCAS 2026: SFA Satisfaction Continues to Improve

The Tri-Service Families Continuous Attitude Survey (FamCAS) 2026 has been published today, providing valuable insight into the experiences of Service families and the issues that matter most to them, including housing.

This year’s results show a continued improvement in satisfaction among families living in SFA, building on the positive progress seen in recent years. Overall satisfaction has increased from 44% in 2023 to 53% in 2026, while levels of dissatisfaction have fallen over a number of key areas. Families have reported seeing the strongest improvements in maintenance and repairs, reflecting the continued work to improve the quality of homes and the support provided to Service families.

For further information, see the full article on Defence Homes here.

Keeping Communal Areas Clear

Residents are reminded not to leave rubbish, personal belongings, bicycles, Electric Powered Personal Vehicles (EPPVs), or any other items in communal corridors, stairways, landings, or access routes. Items left in these areas can create significant safety hazards, obstruct access and escape routes, and hinder emergency services during a fire or other emergency incident.

Where storage is required, residents should contact their local Housing Officer to check whether suitable storage facilities are available for items such as bicycles or Electric Powered Personal Vehicles.

Thank you for your support in helping to keep communal areas clear, safe, and accessible for all residents.

Hose Pipe Ban for areas across the UK

Following a period of intense summer heatwaves and record-breaking temperatures, water demand has increased significantly across parts of the UK. As a result, a number of water companies have introduced temporary hosepipe bans. Please check with your water provider to find out whether restrictions apply in your area.

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

Service Family Accommodation (SFA) Communications Update - 08 July 2026

Welcome to Housing Matters Podcast

DIO are excited to launch Housing Matters, our new podcast created for military families. This podcast lifts the lid on military housing and the issues that matter most to Service Personnel and their families.

Co-presenters Defence Families Champion, Trish Jakeman, and DIO Operations Manager South, Sebastian O’Hara, will be joined by special guests each week sharing their unique perspectives, experiences and expertise on all things military housing.

In episode one, we take a closer look at what the Defence Housing Strategy really means for those living in SFA. Our guests are DIO Chief Operating Officer, David Brewer, who played a key role in the development of the Strategy, and Chris Keen, a military spouse who has lived in 11 different SFA properties. The discussion goes beyond the headlines to explore the investment, ambition and real-world impact behind the Strategy.

You can watch episode one on Defence Homes.

The five-part Housing Matters series will continue with a new episode released fortnightly on a Wednesday. Upcoming episodes include an honest conversation about damp and mould with our suppliers, a deeper look at the unique challenges military families face and how their housing works, the importance of building strong communities on patch and the new freedoms military families have to personalise their military house to feel like a home.

So grab a cup of tea, press play and join us each week for Housing Matters.

DIO Update: Publication of NAO Report on the repurchase of the Defence SFA Estate

The National Audit Office (NAO) has today published its report into the MOD’s buy-back of 36,000 homes.  

DIO: Families First Issue 39 Published

 

To read this issue online, and any back issues, please go to: Families First newsletter – Defence Homes

 

Don’t forget that you can also sign up to receive Families First and other email updates from DIO Defence Homes, direct to your own inbox – please go to this link to subscribe: https://defencehomes.mod.gov.uk/newsletter-landing-page/

DIO: Subscribe to receive Defence Homes email updates

 

Defence Infrastructure Organisation are pleased to share that the Defence Homes website now offers a subscriber service, delivering Families First newsletter and the latest housing news updates straight to your inbox.

 

DIO are keen to keep Service personnel and their families connected with everything happening across Defence Homes.

 

Follow this link to sign up today.

 

MOD’s Families Hub is now in its second year – have you used it yet?

 

Victory Services Club - Monthly Newsletter & Digital Magazine

Victory Services Club have published their latest newsletter and also their digital magazine.

To read the latest ‘Club Life’ newsletter, please click here: Club Life Newsletter - May 2026

To view the digital magazine, please click here: [you’ll need to upload the PDF to Google Drive and link here]

For more information about the Victory Services Club, please go to: Home - Victory Services Club

DIO Service Family Accommodation (SFA) Communications Update - 29 May 2026

 Following the recent downtime, there has been some updates on how you access HomeHub and an extra security step has been added. This means you may be asked by GOV.UK One Login to prove your identity when you log in. You may have already done this when using other government services, such as:

• Renewing a passport

• Updating a driving licence

• Using some HMRC services

DIO Families First Newsletter, published 29 May

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

Pinnacle Update

HomeHub reaches 2,000 families
HomeHub – the new online platform designed to support Service families in reporting and tracking housing repairs – has now reached over 2,000 registrations.
To register for HomeHub, families will first need to register for a One Login account. They can do this on the Government’s One Login Website. Every member of the household will need to register for a One Login account and HomeHub account using their own personal details.

For further information visit www.pinnacleservicefamilies.co.uk/homehub
*Please note that the HomeHub is unavailable 20–26 May while Pinnacle carry out updates. During this time, you can still report or track logged repairs via Pinnacle
Tel : 0800 031 8628
Contact Us - Pinnacle Service Families

IMPORTANT UPDATE TO ALLOWANCES LISTED: REAMPLIFICATION REQUEST: 20260507 - Long-term relationships: Closing the gap on allowances

Long-term relationships: Closing the gap on allowances
If you’re in a long-term relationship, a range of allowances and support are now available to you – the same as your married or civil-partnered colleagues.

What’s changed?
Many allowances were only available to Service Personnel who were married or in a civil partnership. That wasn’t fair – not everyone wants to get married, even when they’re in a committed relationship.

From 1 May 2026, if you are in a Long-Term Relationship (Established) – known as an LTR(E) – you can claim allowances and provisions that were previously unavailable to you, just like your married colleagues.

Sarah Houghton, Director Armed Forces People Policy said:
“This is a real step forward for our people and their families. Around 20,000 Service Personnel are set to benefit – with those in long term relationships being treated the same way as married colleagues for nine allowances.”

Which allowances and provisions are affected?

DIO Service Family Accommodation (SFA) Communications Update - 29 April 2026

Damage Charges process 

DIO is introducing changes to the damage charges process to make this process simpler for you and your family upon Move-Out.

·        From 1st May 2026, on the day you move out, your Housing Officer will provide a formal notification via email. This will include your move-out form, details of any charges incurred and information of how raise a dispute if needed. 

·        We have also extended the review timeframe for charges. You will now have 30 days to assess the charges and, if necessary, initiate a Stage 1 dispute. Recovery actions will not begin until this 30-day period has passed.

·        If a dispute is raised, any recovery action will be paused until the issue has been fully resolved. Pinnacle will continue to handle Stage 1 disputes and DIO will continue to manage Stage 2 disputes. 

These changes aim to ensure you are provided with clear details on the day of Move-Out and sufficient time to review everything before any further action is taken, if required. 

For families who move out before 1st May 2026, formal notifications will continue to be issued under the current process. We appreciate your patience while we work through these remaining cases during the transition to the new system. 

DIO Families Families First Newsletter - Issue 37 Published

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

Defence Survey: Share your views on Single Living Accommodation

 

This is an opportunity for you to share your views on Single Living Accommodation (SLA) and help shape the future of Defence accommodation. 

  

The survey will close at 1700 Friday 8th May 2026. Defence wants to hear from all Service personnel regardless of whether you currently use SLA or not. 

 

To complete the survey, please click here: 2026 Single Living Accommodation Survey.

 

The survey will take approximately 10-15 minutes to complete. It is entirely anonymous. We will not be collecting any personal information or sharing your responses with your Chain of Command. 

Dual Accommodation Waiver – Information update on changes effective from 1 Apr 26

The Defence Accommodation Policy team have provided updated information on the Dual Accommodation Waiver (DAW) in line with changes that took effect from 1 Apr 2026.

Dual Accommodation Waiver applies to Service Personnel who live in SLA during the week as their Residence at Work Address and can also evidence a Privately Maintained Property, family home or formally retained Service Family Accommodation (SFA) in the UK.

The policy changes relate to timelines for claims, including backdating. This new information is available within the following Sway: Dual Accommodation Waiver Explained (Previously Extended SLA Waiver)

JSP references and key points of contact are included in the Sway for further enquiries, and HIVE can also be contacted for further information.

DIO Families First Newsletter - Issue 36 Published

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

DIO Service Family Accommodation (SFA) Communications Update - 27 March 2026

Let’s get building: MOD set to start construction on first military homes in a decade
Good homes will be placed at the heart of UK military family life as the MOD is set to begin the construction of 265 new military family houses at RAF Brize Norton, Oxfordshire, the first such development in almost a decade. Families living in the area will see a range of new, modern apartments, houses and bungalows begin to be built at Carterton near the air base in the coming weeks, once formal approval is received.

In addition to the building of the houses at Brize Norton, DIO will also be refurbishing another 2,000 homes across the UK in the next 12 months alone, building on the 1,250 worst-condition properties already brought up to standard. This work is a step towards widening access for families who have previously not been able to benefit from a military home, with 1,000 of the refurbished houses being brought back into use for military families. This is almost double the number of previously empty homes that were brought online for families over the previous 12 months.

To read more on this, see the Defence Homes article here.

DIO Service Family Accommodation (SFA) Communications Update - 18 March 2026

 

HomeHub 

 

HomeHub is the newly launched online platform designed to support families living in UK Service Family Accommodation (SFA). HomeHub makes it easier for you to raise and track repairs and maintenance requests, as well as book and manage appointments. Families can quickly manage things online without the need to call Pinnacle.  

 

It is now available to all serving personnel and their families across the UK where their properties are maintained by DIO’s maintenance providers Amey and VIVO. 

 

To find out more information on HomeHub and how to register, click here