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It recognises that some Service leavers and their families may have difficulty in accessing social housing as they leave the military due to the nature of their circumstances, Service, or discharge.

The Referral Scheme relies on the goodwill of social housing providers. There is no guarantee of accommodation via the Referral Scheme, but we will do all we reasonably can to assist.

All applicants are strongly encouraged to register with the local authority of their choice and explore the local rental market options as they attempt to secure civilian accommodation post-discharge.

Defence Transition Service (DTS) is the administrator of the Referral Scheme. DTS also provides holistic support to Service leavers in transition and their families. You can read more about DTS here.

If you are facing challenges to a successful transition other than housing, you may wish to make a self-referral to DTS rather than to the MOD Referral Scheme. A referral to DTS will include consideration of your housing needs as well as issues affecting other aspects of your life so there is no need to make a separate application to the Referral Scheme if you make a self-referral to DTS.

Eligibility

Applicants must be:

• armed forces personnel, cohabiting or single, within 6 months of your discharge date (before or after) living in Service accommodation, the Services Cotswold Centre or a hostel
• a separated non-serving spouse/entitled partner currently occupying SFA, the Services Cotswold Centre or a hostel whos service partner is staying in service.

Non-European Economic Area applicants who are considering making the UK their permanent residence will need to ensure that they have obtained either Indefinite Leave to Remain or Indefinite Right to Enter status (as applicable) for themselves and all relevant family members, as there is no entitlement to social housing accommodation in the UK without the correct status applied, and neither will Housing Authorities consider any applications.

Please be aware that if you own or part-own a property or are privately renting, you will not be considered for housing through the Referral Scheme. Similarly, if you have sufficient capital to buy a property you are unlikely to be housed. Pensions and expected gratuities will also be taken into account when processing your application. This is in line with broader housing allocation policy throughout the sector.

How to apply

Please complete an application form in full and return to dbsvets-dts-central@mod.gov.uk with REFERRAL SCHEME APPLICATION in the Subject line. Please note that not using this subject line may delay your application from being processed.

Please attach the following if available with your application form to provide evidence of the date on which you are required to leave your current accommodation:

• SFA occupants: a copy of the Notice to vacate or Certificate of cessation (provided by DIO within 3 months of discharge)
• SLA occupants: a copy of MOD Form 1166 (available from Unit Admin Office)
• overseas applicants: a copy of the Certificate of cessation (available from the Station Staff Officer)
• applicants following separation: a copy of the Notice to vacate or Certificate of cessation (provided by DIO at the start of the 93-day notice period following update PSTAT on JPA)

What happens next?

Your application will be acknowledged by email and a member of the DTS team will be in touch to discuss your circumstances and build a case record for you on our system. This discussion will include consideration of your non-housing needs and whether you would benefit from wider DTS support. If eligible, you will then be accepted as a Referral Scheme or DTS client as appropriate.

DTS maintains a network of housing providers which include third sector organisations and housing associations. We do not hold any stock and are reliant on housing providers to offer vacancies. If the property meets your criteria your details will be forwarded to the housing provider to review. if successful, applicants will be contacted by the housing provider.

Applicants are restricted to one offer through the scheme. Refusal of a property without reasonable justification will result in the applicant being removed from the Scheme. Beyond this, DTS will seek to provide signposting to help you continue your search for accommodation, if required.

If contacted by DTS regarding a potential property, applicants are to respond within two working days to prevent losing this potential accommodation opportunity and being removed from the Referral Scheme database.

Tenancy agreements are between the nominated tenant and the housing association. DTS and the wider MOD take no responsibility for the tenancy.