Government warned more soldiers could quit over damp and mould in barracks

A new report has highlighted issues with military housing, including damp and mould in family accommodation and single-living quarters that "does not always meet the needs and expectations" of soldiers.

The cross-party defence committee of MPs warned in their Wednesday-released report that more personnel could opt to leave the military due to substandard accommodation if the Government does not take action to improve it.

However, they expressed a lack of confidence that sufficient funds would be allocated to address the problem, given the current strain on public finances. The report acknowledges that "issues with damp and mould still exist" in housing, and finds it shocking that until a policy change in 2022, it was deemed acceptable to house families in properties known to have damp and mould.

It urges the defence infrastructure organisation (DIO) to rectify outstanding mould problems and calls for statistics on the number of affected properties to be published by June 2025. The report also scrutinises single-living accommodation (SLA), noting that personnel living in these quarters have reported problems such as a lack of hot water for months during winter, heating failure, flooding, damp, rat infestations and inadequate washing and cooking facilities.

The report warns that the Service Living Accommodation "does not always meet the needs and expectations of today’s recruits, and this is having an adverse effect on recruitment and retention". It points out: "The MoD has acknowledged that current levels of funding are insufficient to bring all service accommodation up to decent modern standards."

The report adds: "In the current economic climate, and with so many competing pressures on public funds we are not confident that the sustained investment required will be forthcoming in future defence budgets."

The report stresses the urgent need for action: "Both the MoD and the Treasury must make substantial and ongoing funding commitments to improve the defence estate before it deteriorates beyond repair – and before greater numbers of personnel decide to leave the military because of poor accommodation".

Reflecting on the data timeframe, the committee outlined that the report primarily mirrors the state of affairs from the tenure of the last Conservative government as of May 2024, noting scant evidence was presented from when Labour took office. The inquiry, which commenced in the summer of 2023, was handed over to the defence committee by November of the same year.

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Defence said: "This report lays bare the dire state of service accommodation this government inherited and is determined to fix."

They added, "We are delivering our Plan for Change by renewing the nation’s contract with those who serve, and we are working hard to improve the quality of housing for our personnel and their families – including developing new standards for service accommodation."

The spokesperson also mentioned, "We are committed to listening to our people and are establishing an Armed Forces Commissioner to act as a strong, independent champion for personnel and their families to improve service life."