Armed Forces - Housing

Affordable housing is housing to meet the needs of people who do not have sufficient income to pay for open market housing to rent or buy. It is usually provided by the council or housing associations and can be rented or purchased at less than market prices.

Find out about affordable housing in the East Riding.

In some situations members of the Armed Forces may be given additional priority. Find the full eligibility criteria in the Council House Allocation policy.

Council House Allocation policy (pdf 616kb)

New guidance published in June 2020 on improving access to social housing for members of the Armed Forces is currently being considered by the council. This new guidance is available on the GOV.UK website.

Find out about renting a house from the council, call housing services on (01482) 396301 or email housing.services@eastriding.gov.uk.

This scheme enables servicemen and servicewomen to borrow up to 50% of their salary, interest free, to buy their first home or move to another property on assignment or as their family's needs change.

The scheme has been extended to 31 December 2022 to help address the low rate of home ownership in the Armed Forces.

Find out more on the GOV.UK website.

Our help for homeless people page provides information on where to get help if you are:

• facing eviction from service family accommodation
• homeless
• being threatened with homelessness.

Call (01482) 396301 or email housing.services@eastriding.gov.uk.

Hull and East Riding Citizens Advice can also support you with applying for homeless help. Find out more on the Hull and East Riding Citizens Advice website.

This scheme allows defence personnel to apply for an advance of salary loan to help meet the cost of a deposit for a rental property.

Find more information on the GOV.UK website.

If you wish to rent a home privately, you can rent either directly from the landlord or through a letting agent, but in either case check to see if they belong to an accreditation scheme, and what fees you will be charged.

You'll usually pay the first month's rent and the deposit (typically equal to the first month's rent) on the day you move into the property. Your landlord must protect your deposit in a government-approved tenancy deposit protection scheme.

Information on your rights and responsibilities is available on the GOV.UK website.

Find out about renting from a private landlord in the East Riding.

The provision of good quality living accommodation for service personnel and their families is an important priority for the Ministry of Defence.

Guidance for service families about applying for, maintaining, moving in and out of and living in UK service family accommodation is available on the GOV.UK website.

My Space Housing Solutions is a charitable housing association and registered provider, with four veteran specific schemes for self-contained accommodation in Hull, Chesterfield, Darlington and Gateshead. My Space matches a highly trained housing support officer with each resident who will provide information, advice and guidance on a wide range of issues.

Find out more, including details on how to make a referral on the My Space Housing Solutions website.

SPACES is a housing advice and placement service for single veterans being discharged from all three military services. It supports the most vulnerable of service leavers, regardless of rank, length of service, or reason for discharge.

Find out more on the Riverside website, email spaces@riverside.org.uk or call (01748) 833797 or Catterick Military 94731 2940.

Council tax support is a means-tested council tax reduction and therefore the support you receive will depend on income and household circumstances. The council's benefit team administer council tax support claims for residents who are on a low income.

Find out more on our housing benefit and council tax support section or call (01482) 394799.

If you are struggling to pay your rent, the council might be able to offer you a discretionary housing payment. This is a short-term payment from the council to help cover some housing costs.

Anyone who requires further assistance with housing costs, and is currently claiming housing benefit or the housing element of Universal Credit can claim a discretionary housing payment.

Find out how to apply for this on our help paying your rent webpage.

This service provides tailored support for local serving personnel, veterans and their families, including financial and legal advice and in-depth help on related generalist advice issues including housing.

The service, funded by the council, is delivered by Hull and East Riding Citizens Advice. It takes referrals from both partner organisations and self-referrals from members of the Armed Forces community themselves.

Email CABForcesProject@hull-eastridingcab.org.uk, fill in the self-referral form online or call (01482) 328990.

The Families Federations provide support on housing and accommodation issues. These websites provide further information:

• Army Families Federation
• Naval Families Federation
• Royal Air Force Families Federation

Find out about the household bills you will pay as a homeowner on the Which? website.

The council's emergency assistance scheme is to help residents of the East Riding who are in crisis where they have had an interruption to their regular income, or require assistance when establishing themselves or remaining within the community.

Help can be provided with daily living costs, housing-related costs and household items/furniture.

Find out more on our emergency assistance webpage or call (01482) 394799.

Hull and East Riding Citizens Advice can offer support and advice if you're being evicted. Find out more on the Hull and East Riding Citizens Advice website.

Housing benefit is for people on a low income. It helps to pay for part or all of the rent. Find further information and guidance on how to make a claim in our housing benefit and council tax support section or call (01482) 394799.

Citizens Advice can help and advise you if you are homeless, being threatened with eviction or repossession, are in dispute with your landlord over your tenancy or condition of your property or you want to know how to get your deposit back from a landlord.

Find more information on the Hull and East Riding Citizens Advice website or call 03444 111 444.

Citizens Advice also provide advice on housing options for people leaving the Armed Forces, veterans and their families.

Find out more on the Citizens Advice website.

Humberside Fire and Rescue Service can provide you with important safety advice for you and your family. To determine if you are eligible for a Safe and Well visit, please visit the Humberside Fire and Rescue Service website or alternatively you can call 0300 303 8242.

You can also visit their website to find important fire safety information.

This is the Ministry of Defence's tri-service focal point.

It provides service personnel and their dependants with civilian housing information:

• for those wishing to move to civilian accommodation at any time in their career
• during resettlement to assist with the transition to civilian life.

Find more information on the GOV.UK website.

All service personnel and their families can access an annual briefing programme at any stage of their service career. The Defence School of Transport in Leconfield hosts one of these annual briefings.

Find more information on the GOV.UK website.

Hull and East Riding Citizens Advice offer support and advice on how to avoid falling behind with your mortgage payments, how to clear your debt if you do fall behind and what happens if you're taken to court because of mortgage debts. Find out more on the Hull and East Riding Citizens Advice website.

Hull and East Riding Citizens Advice offer support and advice about how to deal with some of the problems that you might have in your neighbourhood. Find out more on the Hull and East Riding Citizens Advice website.

Hull and East Riding Citizens Advice offer support and advice about tenants' and landlords' responsibilities to do repairs and what options you have if your landlord doesn't meet their obligations. Find out more on the Hull and East Riding Citizens Advice website.

SSAFA offer impartial guidance around housing issues for those who have left the Armed Forces.

Their guidance includes:

• homelessness
• housing benefits
• accessing social housing
• tenants' rights
• mortgage arrears
• repossession
• eviction.

Advisors also work together with their wider volunteer network to try and source financial assistance to solve housing problems, for example finding money for a deposit or to clear mortgage arrears.

Find out more on the SSAFA website or call 0800 731 4880 for advice.

The Royal British Legion provides a range of housing support and advice, including a helpful guide outlining practical advice and the responsibilities of government and housing authorities.

Find more information on the Royal British Legion website.

The Army runs a programme of Transition Individual Planning and Personal Development (IPPD), which aims to ensure that service leavers are given all the relevant information needed to make an informed choice allowing a smooth transition into civilian life.

Find advice about securing private accommodation and house purchases on the Army website.

Veterans' Gateway provides expert advice and information for veterans seeking housing support, including:

• renting and buying
• eviction
• homelessness
• service accommodation
• care homes
• supported housing.

Find more information on the Veterans' Gateway website.

Veterans UK provide free support for veterans and their families, including a helpline, Veterans Welfare Service and injury/bereavement compensation scheme payments.

They also offer advice on accommodation and housing and help veterans get appropriate support from:

• government
• local authorities
• independent bodies
• the charity sector.

Email veterans-uk@mod.uk or call 0808 191 4218.

The Hull 4 Heroes Veterans Village project aims to develop a self-sustaining site for the housing and rehabilitation of ex-service men and women. The village will provide a unique place to provide support to those individuals requiring help when adjusting to civilian life. Along with their supporters, Hull 4 Heroes hope to create the world's first purpose-built centre that will provide a safe and stable platform for veterans, where they can create a happy and purposeful live for themselves and their families in civilian society.

Find out more on the Veterans Village website.

National Energy Action provide a Warm and Safe Homes Advice Service, to help those householders who are worried about keeping their homes warm and paying their energy bills.

Find out more on the NEA website.