DE/Housing advice needed

[Jayan]

I am due to be posted in 3 weeks, I am straight from trade training so the amount of notice I got was a little less than normal. I put all my DE forms in some time ago now, but I still haven't been offered anything.

To give a bit of background. I have 4 kiddies and I have been told I am entitled to a 4-bed (ages/sex of kiddies), however I have also been told there is a shortage of 4-beds at my next unit. I dont know if the DE is only planning on putting me in the 'cheaper' part of the estate or wether they actually dont have the houses. SSSA (or SSFA?) has been mentioned, but the DE advised against it on the grounds that it will cost a lot compared to the MQs (£2.40 per day vs about £10).

I will very soon be pushing 30, so being treat like a child purely because I was daft enough to re-join is a little frustrating. I dont want to upset the people in the DE office even before I get there, so does anyone have any tips/hints I can try to get things moving?

Thanks in advance

 

[muttywhitedog]

Ask them to put it in writing that they cannot allocate you a MQ appropriate to your entitlement.

At your unit there will be a DHE Liaison Officer (Get the details of him/her from the Chf Clk) who will be able to advise you of where you stand wrt SSFA, and should also be able to put you in touch with recommended letting agencies.

Do not let the DHE fob you off. It is your RIGHT to be housed by them.

 

[busby1971]

DE Bluffing

DE Bluffing

If you need a four bed then push for a four bed. The cost will depend on how they grade your private residence, I'm guessing the frightner was for a Grade 1 SSFA against the cost of a Grade 4 SFA.

Start asking abour hotels, previsits and the like, I don't know what DHE were like when you were in last time, but I believe they've gone down hill recently.

 

[High Pay Peanut]

Do yourself a favour and go here

http://www.defence-estates.mod.uk/sfa/forms_publications.php

Read through the publications - yes it will take some time but you will know your entitlements.

I have 4 kids and I can assure you that if you set aside an hour or so to read these publications, you will get exactly what you are entitled to.

 

[Jayan]

Thanks for the advice I will be phoning tomorrow so I will let you know if there is any reasonable outcome. I think asking for things in writing is definatly my best option for now. Also thanks for the JSP links, I didn't know that having 4 kids we weren't allowed to be offered anything other than a type D (4 bed).

Also it looks like the Non-Availability Certificate (NAC) is something they really don't want to do.

I also didn't know there is no longer any distiction between non-comissioned ranks and the houses they are entitled to (with the exception of WO being allowed type D regardless of family size). So good gen all round, cheers guys n gals.