The changes also include relaxing pet ownership rules

The government has announced new measures to “stop the rot” and raise standards in housing for the Armed Forces.

Thousands of families in Armed Forces accommodation will be granted greater freedom to decorate and personalise their homes, as well as keep pets.

The move is part of the government’s Consumer Charter, part of the forthcoming Defence Housing Strategy, which will set out plans for a generational renewal of Forces’ housing.

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Defence Secretary John Healey MP said: “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.”

Under the changes, military families will soon have more freedom to decorate their houses. 

This could include adding wireless wall lamps and decorative decals for creative wall designs or borders.

>>See also: Government to spend further £1.5bn on UK Armed Forces’ homes

>> See also: ‘Significant’ investment in military homes planned after MOD repurchases £6bn estate

The government is investing £7bn this Parliament in military accommodation, which includes £1.5bn through the Strategic Defence Review to support urgent repairs and the long-term renewal of military family homes across the UK.

This investment follows the government’s £6bn deal to bring back 36,000 military homes into public ownership.

Healey added: “By introducing greater freedoms, including pet ownership, we are ensuring forces families up and down the UK can live and work in homes fit for modern life.”

Previously, military families faced a lengthy and bureaucratic approval process to own pets. 

From now on, Forces residents can keep up to two dogs, cats or smaller pets without needing permission.