Married Quarters - do we have any rights? Do you have any suggestions?

[fedupwithdeployment]

Hi All

Nearly 3 years ago we left our house and moved to MQ in London. The DSs are settled at school (year 1) and nursery. Although it is for these purposes totally irrelevant, for the record, I have a job which I enjoy.

Bearing in mind the likely future jobs for DH, earlier this year we sold old house, and bought new one, in London. This is currently rented out for one year - tenancy expires next July. It was always our intention to move into this house at that point.

DH had a shore job in London for about 2 years. Then an Op Tour - due to be 6 months, but ended up being 9 months. He returned home in July, and wasn't told where he was going longer term, but was parked back in London on a slightly different desk and was officially appointed there at the end of Sept. Last week he was told to accept a job elsewhere. He is not in a position to turn it down for various reasons I can't go into. This job will start in Jan. I am not best pleased about this for lots of reasons, but my main concern is the house and children's education.

As I understand things, once he formally accepts job on JPA, we have 60 days to get out of the MQ. this is likely to be in Feb...however, I am having a nightmare trying to sort out schools for boys, and want to stay in the MQ ideally up until July, or certainly until Easter.

Does anyone have any tips on how to stay as a Cuckoo? It won't be for ever - simply a matter of months. I understand that being upfront an honest with DE doesn't usually help...is this correct? Someone has pointed out that our MQ would need a bit of work done to it (just been down graded) before anyone else moved in. and I don't think there is much (any?) money to do works. Not sure it is relevant. The boys are as disturbed as any re Daddy being away, but do not have any SEN.

thanks in advance.

You can speak to DE re the possibility of staying there and they will normally allow it unless the MQ is required for someone else. Your date to vacate is timed from OH taking up his new post/allocation of your new quarter. If you don't apply for a new quarter and the house is required for someone to move into then I don't think you have grounds to fight moving out as your children are not at crucial stages of their education.

Bumping for evening crowd...

Unfortunately, they are really cracking down on the cuckoo's! There are very specific reasons that enable you to retain your quarter; one is if your DH would have two jobs in a 12 month period ie if his next job is only for 9 months or so then you can stay in your current MQfor the duration of that posting. The second is welfare. Welfare does cover children and schooling but only in their final exam years - not sure how old yours are. Otherwise you are not entitled to remain but can always ask... My fear would be that London quarters are a bit like gold dust and they will want yours to hand on to the next lot. Sorry not to sound more hopeful - have been through similar myself and it is a horrible feeling.

Good luck.

If you read JSP 464 (google that term and you'll find it) it shows you the reasons why you can be a cuckoo. Sadly the jobs and education of dependants is not a reason, as marriedtoagoodun says. Though if you don't get given enough notice to move your DCs into a new school or if there is no school space available mid-term, then that may be one of the reasons? I can't remember.

Also remember that being a cuckoo really affects the family desparate for your house more than anyone else (say WWSB desparately hoping for a new home in an area where there is none, so that her DH can actually see their newborn other than at weekends!!!)

Surely if you move you'll be better in the long run for the DCs as they'll be nearer their father.

Agree with wwsb, for every family staying on in their previous quarter there's likely to be another family desperate to get it. It's a right PITA but they've been cracking down on 'cuckoos', at our last place they went in and packed the place up after one family flatly refused to move. Tbh I'm dreading the time DD gets to school age, we've never had more than 4 weeks notice before a move.

I agree with WWSB but she probably knows I would, there are clear guidelines in the JSP and for those of us who have had to wait 6 months to get a 1/4 at my current assignment location because of people not moving it is very frustrating especially as we only got allocated one today and I am now 33 wks pg!