UK veterans exempt from social housing rules.
All UK Armed Forces Veterans to be Exempt from Social Housing Connection Rules
The UK Government has announced that all armed forces veterans in the UK will now be exempt from the requirements of having a local connection to access social housing.
This new policy aligns with a commitment made in the Labour manifesto to enhance support for Forces communities and ensure veterans have the necessary access to housing support.
Although not compulsory, a high percentage of councils (89%) currently enforce a local connection or residency test to determine eligibility for social housing. These new changes aim to prevent veterans from being unfairly disadvantaged by such requirements.
In addition to armed forces veterans, other groups facing challenges in demonstrating a local connection – such as care leavers and victims of domestic abuse – will also be granted exemption from this rule.
The government will be contacting councils to emphasise the importance of prioritising veterans, care leavers, and survivors of domestic abuse for social housing. Further regulations will be introduced in the near future, with ministers organizing roundtable discussions with the sector to delve deeper into the specifics of these changes.
