Troops living in military accommodation will face fewer obstacles to owning pets under new rules introduced this week. The changes mark a significant shift from the previous bureaucratic process that service personnel and their families had to navigate.
From this week, military families will be allowed to keep up to two dogs, cats or smaller pets without needing permission. The Ministry of Defence has recognised the "vital role" pets play in family life and mental wellbeing.
Defence minister welcomes changes
Defence minister Al Carns said: "As a dog owner and Royal Marine who served for 24 years, much of it in service accommodation, I'm delighted to be making it easier for our dedicated personnel to own family pets." The changes reflect personal understanding of military life challenges.
Other reforms introduced this week will give service personnel more freedom to personalise their accommodation. New, easier processes will also allow family members to run businesses from their homes.
Part of broader accommodation reforms
The changes form part of Defence Secretary John Healey's pledge to "stop the rot" and improve standards in service accommodation. He said: "Our armed forces make extraordinary sacrifices to keep us safe every day."
Healey added: "But for too long, military families have lived in substandard housing without basic consumer rights. These new measures are a key milestone as we deliver on our consumer charter to stop the rot in military accommodation and ensure our heroes and their loved ones live in houses they can truly call home."
Consumer charter announced earlier
In April, Healey announced a new "consumer charter" for service accommodation, including more reliable repairs and a named housing officer for every service family. The charter also established higher minimum standards for housing.
The Government has brought 36,000 military homes back into public ownership in an effort to reduce costs and improve standards. This represents a major shift in how military accommodation is managed and maintained.
(PA/London) Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
