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Is there a policy on this?

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Vee2

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My unit is making all livers-in who go on detachment for long than 28 days box up their rooms and store the boxes in a store room for the duration of their detachment. On return from their detachment (6 months in Afghanistan or whatever), they will then be allocated a new room and have to not only arrive home to unpack their kit from det, but also move into a new room the day they get back.

Can we at least claim some kind of disturbance allowance? A lot of us have contracts with phone & internet companies and we expect to get shafted when on det because we're in contracts, but having to pay to move phone, internet etc is a pain people don't need when getting back from det.
 
Absolute disgrace, i would suggest contacting your unit HR and if they give you no joy claiming squaters rights ! What are you supposed to do on R and R ?
 
I have a feeling this has always been the case for singlies it's just that no CO has been thoughtless (stupid?) enough to enforce it. Is there a shortage of accomodation at your Unit? Perhaps it is a way to prove the Camp needs a bigger budget.
 
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This sounds like Army bo!!ox.

If they were going to modernise the block while you were away or do some other remedial work fair enough.

I take it you dont have to pay accomm charges while away?

Me thinks someone is have a right giraffe here. What Unit is it?
 
Regarding internet and land-line phone connection, you are no different to someone moving house - if you stay with the same company, on the same contract, there should be no charge for moving address or changing phone number.
If you have been told, in writing, to move then you will move at public expense and can claim disturbance allce. It's only a few quid and in my opinion is no compensation for the turbulence and pain in the butt that this will be.
However, there may be a plus side for some: If you have contents insurance then it may be invalidated if your 'home' is empty for x amount of days in a 12 month period. Thus, by retaining your room, if anything happens to your stuff you may not be able to claim (burst pipe, block fire, theft etc). However, if the military are storing your kit then you will be covered by their insurance.
Me personally - I would fight tooth & nail to retain your rooms: give 'em an inch and they'll take whatever they can!
 
Vee2 said:
My unit is making all livers-in who go on detachment for long than 28 days box up their rooms and store the boxes in a store room for the duration of their detachment. On return from their detachment (6 months in Afghanistan or whatever), they will then be allocated a new room and have to not only arrive home to unpack their kit from det, but also move into a new room the day they get back.

Can we at least claim some kind of disturbance allowance? A lot of us have contracts with phone & internet companies and we expect to get shafted when on det because we're in contracts, but having to pay to move phone, internet etc is a pain people don't need when getting back from det.
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Why does it apply to livers in? Surely if they are concerned about empty accommodation it should be extended to MQs as well? Surely there's a case for discrimination here?
 
I remember the singlies having to do something similar to this a fair few years ago while I was at St Mawgan, the difference being they had to pack up their kit into boxes but retained their room. The reasoning given at the time was that if the room needed to be vacated while they were away their possesions were already packed.

It was a stupid rule then and didn't last long before it was ignored by all.
 
Kryten said:
Why does it apply to livers in? Surely if they are concerned about empty accommodation it should be extended to MQs as well? Surely there's a case for discrimination here?
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generally in a MQ while you are away on det your significant other is usually left behind possibly with children (as my wife recently was).
i was only ever aware of the rule that if you were away you had to leave your room up to inspection standard, seems a bit bloody harsh to expect people to move rooms on return from a harsh det!!
 
My advise would be to ask (nicely) under what rule they are ordering you to do this.
It's been a very long time since i was last in single accommodation but don't you have to sign something to accept your room? Maybe ask to see a copy of that.
Failing that, a nice anonymous letter to the local (or national) rag. What with all the negative press they were getting last year concerning forces accommodation they may be interested.
 
I was part of a Tri-Service team a few years ago on an OOA; the Army and Navy lads were on 6 monthers and us RAF folk on 4 monthers. There were several Army guys but only 1 had to pack his room up and vacate it prior to OOA, he told us it was because his barracks were in Central London and accommodation was of a premium. If he choose to return to the barracks for R & R he would be provided with transit accommodation. He was not fussed about it, (he was a laid back guy) stating that’s the way the Army do things. To be honest, I’d never heard of this happening before, but as I hadn’t lived-in since the early 90’s, didn’t worry about it too much.
As for MQ’s getting vacated, you’re not serious are you?
 
Vee2 said:
My unit is making all livers-in who go on detachment for long than 28 days box up their rooms and store the boxes in a store room for the duration of their detachment. On return from their detachment (6 months in Afghanistan or whatever), they will then be allocated a new room and have to not only arrive home to unpack their kit from det, but also move into a new room the day they get back.

Can we at least claim some kind of disturbance allowance? A lot of us have contracts with phone & internet companies and we expect to get shafted when on det because we're in contracts, but having to pay to move phone, internet etc is a pain people don't need when getting back from det.
Click to expand...

Absolute discrace!! I would argue the point that this is YOUR HOME regardless of being branded LI. I would strongly advise on getting a quote in writing from whichever idiot is demanding this and to what order he is utilising. Then see you Line Mgt and dare I say even Stn Cdr. It is against your rights to have to do this for every det. If you are/were on a flying unit,and on det all the time, you'd never get chance to unpack!!
Also if this new room has no phone line, you would have to pick up the cost of getting one. And if on several dets a year, you'd be breaking contracts as they are generally now for 12-18 months so you'd also be out of pocket (compensation??)
Stick to your guns, get it in writing 1st then play it from there. Even utilise your MP, you do pay council tax after all. Also the Current Bun would have a field time though I would stress this is a last resort!

Good luck
 
I'm fairly sure this is standard practice for pongos at certain Units. However I have never heard of it for us blue suits. It is ridiculous.

You should however be fully entitled to singly disturbance allowance because one of the eligibility criteria states that you will be paid it if required to "Undertake a mid-assignment move for Service reasons". Which I would say is what they are asking you to do.

You should be able to claim the grand sum of £90.

I still think it sucks though!
 
Yes there is policy JSP 464: Tri-Service Accommodation Regulations (TSARs). Part 3 - Single Living Accommodation and Substitute Single Living Accommodation Para 0311

As per egoat rules I cannot post a link or cut and paste but it is available on the intranet and the gist is yes they can ask you to box you room up and it be stored by them, read the paragraph but basically its is the decision of the 'Local Service Commander'.

It would be extremely unfair but it is in the rules sorry:PDT_Xtremez_40:
 
far back as 82' they made us box up the room (at Odiham) and leave the boxes inside in case they wanted to use it. Course, internet connection was not an issue then.
 
Are there big changes at your unit in terms of personnel ? Like has been said it's in the rules something extreme must be happening for this to happen. Someone should ask at accomodation?
 
Slightly Off Topic but with the casualties that we seem to be accruing (I know it's mainly Army) perhaps it's the hierarchies way of saving someone else a job of packing up your belongings if you don't come back ?

Just a thought........Crack on...................:PDT_Xtremez_09:
 
If the Service move you you are entitled to Disturbance Allowance - those of us at Coltishall in the last few months were moved quite a bit until they saw the claims! My concern would be where are you to store your kit? Most Supply Sqn's have lost any PE stores they ever had and would you be insured in Supply Sqn? Are the Unit offering to pay for storage while your away for up to 6 months OOA plus PODL?

I know my parents still talk about all the junk I put in the loft during a double tour to ASI!! Surely we have moved on from the days of treating singlies like squatters- oh no we cant treat the little darling squatters like that can we! If they are not offering storage and Disturbance Allowance it must be time for a chat with the AOC - or have they withdrawn that outlet at well?
 
"Surely we have moved on from the days of treating singlies like squatters"

I am very much with you on this, and especially having seen the other side of the fence and the more engaged and hierarchally endorsed mess life of the junior officer. There needs to be some acknowlegement in the change of single demographic as well as the shift in service cultural norms in respect of (selected) single air-persons.

I am a little surprised, having been system-out for so many years, that the social evolution has not been more profound.

.......ok. left field so please carry on.
 
The fact that this rule exists does not surprise me in the least
The fact that this rule is actually being implemented I find disconcerting
The fact that the implementation of this inconsiderate rule has not been publicly ridiculed on the front page of every tabloid available I find horrific!!

Day 4 as a Civvy……….and there are some things about the RAF I certainly 'fcuking' don’t miss!!
 
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