Application, Allocation and Entitlement
A guide to applying for Service Families Accommodation (SFA)
| Q. |
Who is entitled to SFA? |
A. |
Service personnel aged 18 and over, with the appropriate marital status, are entitled to apply for SFA.
Entitlement is for SFA at the duty station although you may be eligible to apply for surplus SFA at other locations.
The type of property personnel are entitled to is dependent on rank for Officers and family size for Other Ranks.
Full details on entitlement and eligibility can be found in JSP 464 Tri-Service Accommodation Regulations (TSARs) Chapter 3.
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| Q. |
When should I apply for SFA? |
A. |
If you require SFA, you should submit your application to the DE Ops Housing Information Centre at your new
location as soon as you receive your Posting Order. If this is within 4 months of your posting date, DE Ops Housing will
aim to make you a provisional offer within 15 working days. If you submit your form earlier than this, we will try
our best to make you an early offer, however, we are not obliged to do so until the four month point.
If you already live in SFA, don’t forget you are required to notify your current DE Ops Housing Information Centre that you have been posted, within 14 days of receiving your Posting Order. It is also mandatory that you
book a Pre-Move Out Advisory Visit with your Housing Information Centre 2 months prior to your move out.
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| Q. |
Can I specify when and where I wish to move? |
A. |
You are asked to provide us with the date you require the property. This is known as your Required Date
and can be any date you choose as long as it is within 28 days either side of your Posting Date. You can also specify any
personal preferences on your application form and, where possible, these will be taken into account.
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| Q. |
What if I don’t wish to accept the offer? |
A. |
for personal reasons, the HIC is to make one further offer to entitlement when a suitable
SFA becomes available (but the application is not subject to the 15 working day administrative period). SSFA is not
to be authorised in these circumstances. Discussion between the HIC and the applicant may be necessary to identify
flexibility in the applicant's required date, which may have to slip in order for the HIC to identify a suitable SFA.
Whilst the applicant is entitled to retain SFA at their existing duty station (para 0821b) up to 28 days after
their date of posting, retention beyond that time is only to be approved if surplus SFA is available.
The HIC is to seek assistance from the Local Service Commander if the applicant turns down the second offer or
when arbitration on particular cases is required.
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| Q. |
What if the property we have accepted is not available when we come to move in? |
A. |
We will confirm the offer and address of the SFA 28 days prior to your Required Date. If,
for any reason, we are unable to confirm the original offer you will be offered either alternative SFA, Substitute
SFA (SSFA – but only in exceptional circumstances) or the option to remain on the waiting list.
If you have children due to attend local schools, for whom places have already been secured on the
strength of the provisional offer made by us, any alternative offers made will be for properties in the
same school catchment area.
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| Q. |
What if my family or I have any special requirements? |
A. |
Please provide details at the point of application, enclosing any reports from the appropriate professional
source. It is important that we are made aware of special requirements at the earliest opportunity.
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| Q. |
Where can I get an application form? |
A. |
The Application Form for SFA is MOD Form 1132. It can be obtained from DE Ops Housing Information Centres, Unit Welfare Offices or it can be downloaded from this
website. The form must be fully completed. Failure to do so may result in the form being returned and could
delay your application.
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Further details on the policy for the application and allocation of SFA can be found in TSARs Chapter 5, available in the Regimental Admin Office, Unit Pay Office or Personnel Flight.
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