About these houses?

[notavalon]

We live on a winding street of 4/5 bed houses on a large estate. There are I think 42 houses on our street.

The houses in our street were built about 10 years ago.
When they were built the MOD bought some of them for soldiers to live in. We live about 8 miles from a large army base.

Without exception all of our forces neighbours have been lovely. Some have stayed for months, some years.

We are used to the fact that these houses are often empty by necessity. The other evening DH and I went for a walk around the estate in the evening sun.

We counted 7 of these houses were empty. One of them has only been empty since Christmas, fair enough but some have been empty for years. We were trying to work it out but a couple of them have been empty for 2+ years.

AWBU to wonder how the MOD can afford to allow them to stand empty for so long? AWBU to ask why families from the local housing list can't go into them instead, rather than have family homes stand empty?

I don't usually post in AIBU so I'll get my hardhat.

[AlmostAJillSandwich]

Maybe they are for when these military personel retire? Considering how badly paid soliders are and how they get no extra help considering their service it would be nice of them if the houses are indeed reserved for their return.

[Gladiatorsready]

Sometimes the houses aren't fit for purpose because of damp etc and therefore can't be used to house anyone. Although I agree that it seems a waste when housing is such a big issue

[PickAChew]

I'm guessing an estate of 4/5 bed houses is most likely to be relative newbuild, so other owners would be grumbling if they had damp problems, Gladiators. Older 4 and 5 bed houses are the exception rather than the rule, in most places.

[PickAChew]

And I'm guessing that it makes no odds to the MOD if they're not occupied, as they'll always recoup costs if and when they sell on.

[notavalon]

Gladiators and pick I can only say for certain that ours isn't damp but it definitely isn't.

I hope they are for retired forces personnel as my feeling is that we owe them a debt of gratitude no matter what your political leaning. I do know that a few years back one of our neighbours sadly returned injured from conflict and he and his family eventually moved on.

[drinkingtea]

Why would they keep 4 and 5 bedroom properties for retired people though? That would be more likely with 1 or 2 bedroom​ properties surely.

I doubt the MOD keeps property for retired personal at all though, regardless of number of bedrooms.

[SorrelForbes]

AFAIK (being ex-mikutary and married to a serving member of the forces), married quarters are not kept for retired personnel. Once you leave the forces, your entitlement to one of these homes ceases.

[BandeauSally]

It Is odd that they're empty. Could it just be as simple as they don't have any military personnel that need family homes in that location right now but they keep them because they can't tell when they will need them?

[Charmageddon]

In the military your housing entitlement is based on family size, just as with council housing - to be entitled to a 4/5 bed house you'd have a large number of children.

The reality is that these houses will not be in as great demand as the 2 & 3 bed houses & as such will not have the usual turnover rate.
(For eg the houses in our village have a 2 week turn round time between families).

If they sell the stock, or rent it to the council tenants in need, they then have no stock available when a family moves to that camp - if it was loaned to council whilst not in use, the family living in it (social tenant) would be in a constant state of possible eviction - (posting notices in the military are 90 days).