Lib Dem peers secure ‘Military Homes Standard’ amendment to Armed Forces Bill

EMBARGO: Immediate Release

A Lib Dem-led amendment to establish a legally binding ‘Military Homes Standard’ has passed in the House of Lords today, guaranteeing that military Single Living Accommodation (SLA) does not fall below the Decent Homes Standard.

The amendment, tabled by Liberal Democrat Peers, would force the Defence Secretary to close a loophole that currently leaves tens of thousands of single or unaccompanied service personnel without the legal protections against substandard housing afforded to civilian renters and other military families.

A Liberal Democrat amendment forced the Government to change the Renters' Rights Act 2025 to ensure the application of the Decent Homes Standard to Service Family Accommodation (SFA). Military Single Living Accommodation, however, is still not covered by an equivalent standard. The amendment passed today would force the Defence Secretary to establish a military homes standard, which would be no lower than the Decent Homes Standard as contained in the Housing Act 2004. This would guarantee that the same legal baseline for decent, safe, and warm housing applies to accommodation housing for single or unaccompanied service personnel.

Figures obtained via a Parliamentary Question submitted by the party’s defence spokesperson, James MacCleary MP, show that military families were forced to submit 1,639 urgent repair requests for state-provided housing in the two weeks running up to and over the Easter period this year. Despite Government pledges to improve military housing, two-thirds of forces personnel in Service Family Accommodation (SFA) were dissatisfied with the quality of maintenance.

Liberal Democrat Defence Spokesperson in the Lords, Baroness Smith of Newnham, said:

“I’m incredibly proud that the Liberal Democrats have successfully led the charge to guarantee our service personnel the decent homes they deserve. Our troops risk their lives for this country, yet years of Conservative neglect and now Labour inaction has left them trapped in freezing, damp quarters that would be illegal in the general rental market.

“Now ministers must do their job. Lib Dem Lords have sent a clear message, and the Government must enforce it without delay to give our armed forces the dignity they’ve earned.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

Liberal Democrat amendment to the Armed Forces Bill detailed here.

Details of Liberal Democrat amendment to Renters’ Rights Bill re Military Housing detailed here.

Two-thirds being dissatisfied with Service Accommodation maintenance as detailed in the 2026 Armed Forces Continuous Attitude Survey here.