The information here is designed to help make your move‑out experience as smooth as possible. You’ll find details about your pre-move out appointment, move out standards and charges, loss of entitlement, and other useful guidance.
Pre move out appointment
When you know you will be moving - for example, you get new assignment orders or you are leaving the service - you must let us know. You can do this by booking a pre move out appointment. At this appointment, your Housing Officer will visit your home. They will explain the moving out process and tell you what you need to do to make sure your home is in the right condition. This helps you understand how to avoid any charges when you move out. On the actual day you leave, your Housing Officer will come again to check through the home with you before you hand it back.
If you are moving to another Service Family Accommodation (SFA), you should book your pre‑move out appointment and your move‑out appointment using the e‑1132 system.
If you are leaving SFA completely, you need to contact our Home Services team to book your pre‑move out appointment.
If you are moving out of SFA or moving overseas, you can book your pre‑move out appointment up to 2 months before your move‑out date. You must give at least 30 working days (43 calendar days) before you move out. This gives you enough time to make any changes needed to meet the move‑out standard.
The pre‑move out appointment takes about 1 hour. During this time, your Housing Officer will explain what you need to do so you don’t get any extra charges when you move out. They will also check what your home needs to get it ready for the next family.
You will also get a phone call about 3 working days before your move‑out date.
Your Housing Officer will visit your home and go through everything with you. They will explain what you need to do to make sure your home meets the move‑out standard. You will also get a phone call about 3 working days before your move‑out date.
During the appointment, your Housing Officer will:
– Check if any MOD‑supplied furniture needs to be taken away
– Tell you about the cleaning that must be done before you leave
– Confirm your official move‑out date and time
– Do a full check of your home with you and ask you to sign the Pre‑Move Out Form to show you understand what needs to be done
They will look at things like:
– The condition of the bath, toilet and sinks
– Fences, paths and patios
– The cooker and kitchen units
– The electricity consumer unit
– Flooring, curtains and blinds
– Whether fans and fires work properly
– Whether any double‑glazed windows need replacing
– If any decorating is needed (and when it was last decorated)
– Any garden work that needs to be done
Your Housing Officer will also tell you what it might cost if your home does not meet the move‑out standards when you leave.
If you need to change your pre‑move out appointment, please use the e‑1132 system.
If you cannot access the system, please contact our Home Services Team as soon as possible.
If you can’t be at your pre‑move out appointment, don’t worry. If you are the licensed serving person and cannot attend (for example, if you are deployed), please email homeservices@pinnacleservicefamilies.co.uk.
We will then work with your Local Service Commander to make the right arrangements.
Move out appointment
The move out appointment will take around 1 hour to complete and is there for you to hand over responsibility for your home.
Your Housing Officer will visit your home, check everything, and take back responsibility for the property.
They will:
– Check the condition of your home using the forms completed at move‑in and the pre‑move‑out appointment. If something doesn’t meet the required standard, you may be charged, but this should already have been explained to you earlier.
– Take your meter readings, including gas, electricity, and oil (if you have an oil tank). You must tell your utility companies you are moving and give them the final readings. Unfortunately, we cannot do this for you.
– Record your new address, so we can contact you if needed.
– Check MOD‑supplied furniture has been removed.
– Collect all your keys and record how many there are.
At the end, you will sign the Move‑Out Form and, if needed, a Repairs Charge Sheet. You will get a copy of both for your records.
If you need to change your move out appointment, please use the e-1132 system. If you can’t access this system please contact our Home Services Team as soon as possible.
If you can’t go to your move‑out appointment, you can choose someone else to go for you. This is usually your partner or another Serving Person.
To do this, fill in the proxy section on the e‑1132 system.
The person you choose must show ID at the appointment.
If you need to change your move‑out date, please use the e‑1132 system.
If you can’t access it, contact our Home Services Team as soon as possible.
Moving Standards
When you move out of your home, it is highly likely a new family will be moving in very soon after. You must leave your home in accordance with the move-out standard. These standards are agreed by everyone involved in providing your SFA and follow the Government’s Decent Homes Standard. Your Housing Officer will explain exactly what you need to do at your pre move out appointment. It is very important you complete any work they ask for, or you may be charged. To avoid charges, make sure you follow their advice. You will have at least 28 days between your pre move out and move out appointments to make any changes. Always check your home against the full move out standards and complete the list of jobs agreed with your Housing Officer.
Defence Homes Colour Palette
The Defence Homes Colour Palette features light and versatile neutral colours. Letting you decorate your home in your own personalised style – without the need to revert to white when you move out.
Move out charges
Your Housing Officer will fill in a Repairs Charge Sheet and take photos of anything in your home that does not meet the move‑out standard. You won’t be charged for fair wear and tear.
If you do have charges, they will be taken from your JPA pay. You will get a letter before any money is taken. The Minimum Drawing Rate (MDR) protects you by making sure you still receive some pay each month. If the full amount can’t be taken, the rest will be taken the next month until the debt is cleared.
For more information about the MDR, see JSP 754.
If you have already talked to your Housing Officer and still don’t agree with the charges, you can raise a dispute with DIO.
You can find out how to do this on the Charges for damages to SFA – Defence Homes webpage.
SFA charges
How much you pay depends on your type of home and its band. You may also pay for Council Tax, a garage (if you have one), and furniture.
Charges are worked out per day and taken monthly. For example, August’s charges will come off your August Statement of Earnings.
Your charges will change when you move in or move out, and this will show on your next Statement of Earnings.
If you think your charges are wrong or you need help, email: caascharges@pinnacleservicefamilies.co.uk