MoD: "Damp" and "mould-ridden" Royal Navy, Army and RAF housing to be resolved, government says

Veterans minister Al Carns made the pledge in the House of Commons yesterday (October 15), stating he was “utterly shocked” by the condition of some properties. Joshua Reynolds, Liberal Democrat MP for Maidenhead, said many of this constituents were living in sub-par MoD housing which is “cold, damp and mould ridden”.

He asked what is being done to ensure that MoD housing is fit to live in. Mr Carns, Labour MP for Birmingham Selly Oak and former former Royal Marines officer, responded: “I’ve been utterly shocked by the state of part of our housing estate we’ve inherited. Over the last 14 years, the government at the time has failed to decisively deal with this issue and has instead kicked the can down the road or topped up the leaking bucket.

“Our armed forces protect the freedoms we enjoy. This government will take action, including a medium to long term review to get after the housing and create a new armed forces commissioner to improve service life.”

A damning report published in April described the state of military housing as “unacceptable”. Pest infestations and gas and electrical faults were among the problems found, the Kerslake Commission on Armed Forces Housing found in its Homes Unfit For Heroes report. The report - which covered housing provided to current serving Royal Navy, Army and RAF personnel alongside their families - said Ministry of Defence (MoD) investment was inadequate and failed to make up for years of underfunding. It said poor housing impacts heavily on quality of life, and would result in people not staying gin the forces long term.