I am leaving the armed forces / a veteran, what are my/ my family’s housing options?

Certificate of cessation / Notice to Vacate

• You will receive a ‘Certificate of cessation of entitlement to occupy service living accommodation’ 6 months before the end of your service. This certificate states on which date your service accommodation will end.
• You must start looking for alternative accommodation as soon as you receive your certificate. If you require assistance, you should contact the Council immediately (or the Council you had a local connection with). The Council can help you explore housing options that may be available to you/your family.
• Contact the Council on 01737 276 790 to discuss your options. You must be able to provide your certificate or other evidence which confirms the date of your discharge from the forces.
• If you have not sought assistance from the Council before your discharge from the forces, you may need to stay in your accommodation until the Defence Estate serves you a ‘notice to vacate’ (NTV). They will then need to return to the courts to obtain a possession order. You must use this time to work with the Council to find alternative housing.
• There may be circumstances when service personnel can apply for additional time to secure a future home. If this is the case, they will be required to complete a proportionally exercise assessment form which will be included in the NTV pack.
• It is the service member’s responsibility to ensure they and any dependents have accommodation to move into.
• You can also get assistance from Joint Service Housing Office Advice Office (JSHAO). JSHAO provides to service personnel and their dependents if they are trying to return to civilian life.

Relationship breakdown

• In the case of a relationship breakdown where the armed forces personnel is living in Service Family Accommodation (SFA), the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) can allow a reconciliation period of up to 93 days.
• If there is no reconciliation at the end of this period and the licensee is still living in the SFA without a partner, their eligibility for occupying SFA will be reassessed.
• If the remaining occupants in the SFA don’t include the armed forces member, the DIP will serve a 93 day notice to vacate. A ‘proportionality exercise’ will be carried out to determine if legal action needs to be postponed.
• If you are the licensee or members of the licensee’s family and you are having difficulty securing alternative accommodation, you can contact the Council on 01737 276 790 to receive support and advice on housing options that may be available to you.

Death in service

• If the service personnel dies whilst still serving in the armed forces, the bereaved partner will be offered a two-year licence of the SFA. This period can be extended at the discretion of the local commander.
• You should begin to look for alternative accommodation before your two-year extension comes to an end. You can contact the Council on 01737 276 790 for further advice or any other Council you may have a local connection to.

Standard discharge / retirement from services

• It is the service personnel’s responsibility to inform the housing provider of the last day of service. A 93 day ‘notice to vacate’ will be served coinciding with the discharge date.
• The National Housing Prime Help Desk (NHPHD) can offer eligible personnel to occupy surplus SFA.
• You should begin to look for alternative accommodation as soon as you receive your discharge date. If you require support/advice, you can contact the Council on 01737 276 790 to discuss your available housing options.

Discharged on medical grounds

• Service personnel discharged on medical grounds are permitted 93 days for ‘continued use and occupancy’ of the SFA after the date of discharge.
• You should begin to look for alternative accommodation as soon as you receive your discharge date. If you require support/advice, you can contact the Council on 01737 276 790 to discuss your available housing options.

Discharge on disciplinary grounds/ dishonourable discharge

• You will be given 28 days’ notice to vacate your accommodation.
• Reigate and Banstead Borough Council may be limited in ways to assist you if you have been discharged on disciplinary grounds.
• It is vital you begin to look for alternative accommodation as soon as you receive your notice. 
• Please note, if you apply for a hostel vacancy, it is at the discretion of the hostel staff to accept you.

If you are a disabled veteran

• If you require everyday help or adaptions to your home, you may be able to get help from your local Council, please call 01737 276700.
• You may also get assistance from the welfare service of Veterans UK website