Military families across the UK will benefit from new rights to keep pets, decorate their homes, and run businesses under reforms introduced by the Ministry of Defence.
The changes are part of a new Consumer Charter and form a key part of the government’s £1.5bn Strategic Defence Review housing commitment, which aims to improve standards across service accommodation.
Until now, families living in military housing have often faced restrictive rules on personalising their homes and owning pets. The new measures remove much of the red tape, allowing families to keep up to two cats, dogs or small pets without formal permission. The government said this change acknowledges the role pets play in supporting mental health and wellbeing, particularly in households where one partner is away on deployment.
Personnel and their families will also have greater freedom to decorate their homes and to run businesses from their property. Families already operating home-based businesses will be supported by a named housing officer to streamline the process.
Defence Secretary John Healey MP said the changes were long overdue: “Our Armed Forces make extraordinary sacrifices to keep us safe every day. But for too long, military families have lived in substandard housing without basic consumer rights. These new measures are a key milestone as we deliver on our Consumer Charter to stop the rot in military accommodation and ensure our heroes and their loved ones live in houses they can truly call home.”
Minister for Veterans and People Al Carns, a former Royal Marine, welcomed the changes:
“As a dog owner and Royal Marine who served for 24 years, much of it in Service accommodation, I’m delighted to be making it easier for our dedicated personnel to own family pets.”
The reforms follow a wider pledge to bring 36,000 military homes back into public ownership and are underpinned by a total of £7bn in defence accommodation investment during this Parliament.
Further measures, such as more flexible rules on home decoration, are expected to follow.
Want the latest news straight to your inbox? Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter!
Interested in sales, marketing or business skills courses and training? Check out our training partner, Learning Room.
Got an enquiry? Click here.
