Who does what to whom?
Hercerk - you are basically right. Annington Homes (or, to identify the parent company, Nomura Bank of Japan) purchased almost all SFA in England and Wales in 1995; 49,000 are currently leased back to the MOD on an agreement that expires in 2021. Annington Homes get paid a lease fee of a few thousand pounds per property per annum; from time to time the MOD (through Defence Estates Housing Directorate - sucessors of DHE) release surplus quarters back to Annington for disposal - otherwise the MOD continues to pay for empty properties. The MOD is responsible for the full maintenance and refurbishment of SFA (great deal if you are Annington Homes); maintenance is 'effected' through MHS - MODern Housing Solutions, who, inter alia, look after social housing in Liverpool. This contract is with Defence Estates, who are rationalising their footprint to harmonise with MHS. 18 months into the contract MHS are just getting their supply chain set up and have been given until July to sort it out (a bit tardy, me thinks?). There are proposals at v high levels to encourage service personnel to move out of SFA and not to come back inside the wire - the issue is the affordability of a renegotiated contract with Annington in 2021. Just do the maths!
We made the jump a few years ago and haven't regretted it, although in a completely civilian community, friends and neighbours don't appreciate the pressures on service personnel and their families. Hey ho!
Last edited by Cumbrian Fell; 25th January 2007 at 13:50.