If your household size is increasing due to birth, adoption, or fostering, you are entitled to apply for Service Family Accommodation (SFA) or may be entitled to a larger property.  

Birth of a child

Your new SFA entitlement takes effect three months before the expected date of birth. 

What you need to know:

• You should submit your application once you have received your Maternity Certificate (Mat B1) 
• Pregnant Service Personnel living in Single Living Accommodation (SLA) will be required to vacate before the arrival of the child 
• Service personnel will start paying SFA charges from the date the new home is occupied  

Adoption  

Service personnel who already have an entitlement to SFA and are entering the adoption process may be entitled to apply for larger SFA if the Adoption agency determines that your current SFA offers insufficient bedrooms.  

Single Service Personnel entering a formal adoption process are entitled, by exception, to apply for and occupy SFA.  Early application is recommended to allow time for mandatory home visits and safety checks.  

Once the child(ren) are matched:  

• Necessary accommodation changes can be made before the Matching Panel and subsequent Formal placement  
• Entitlement should be reviewed by the Industry Partner Help Desk (IPHD ) 

Fostering  

Service Personnel who are approved foster carers, actively fostering or about to foster are entitled to SFA or SFA above entitlement where required. 

 UK foster approval must be confirmed with a letter from the relevant Local Authority, containing duration of approved foster care status and geographical area.  

Further Information 

Further guidance on increasing family size is available in: 

JSP 464: tri-service accommodation regulations (TSARs) Vol.1 Ch.4