There’s a lot to think about when you leave the forces. Some of the things you’ll need to think about are:
- where you'll live
- what you'll do for work
- what you'll need to set up a home
- where your children will go to school
- registering with a doctor and dentist
Finding a home
Affordable housing
Take a look at affordable housing options. This includes renting through housing associations and new build affordable housing.
Homeless and housing advice
If you're homeless, threatened with homelessness, or are getting ready for service discharge, you may be given extra housing priority for social housing. Contact our homeless team for advice.
Housing help and advice
There are lots of organisations that work with veterans that can help with finding you a home.
Organisation | Details |
Armed Forces Covenant | Housing covenant support, information and advice for the armed forces community. |
Citizen's Advice | Help on housing options, debts and financial hardship for those leaving the armed forces. They also provide support to veterans and their families. |
Defence Transition Service | Provides housing advice, guidance, and housing briefs to serving personnel and their families. |
G8 Properties - Homes for Heros | Supporting veterans in need of housing. |
Help to buy | Advice for the best help to buy option for you. |
Help4homeless |
Charity based in South Yorkshire. They support veterans through working with local authorities and housing associations. You can email them at ceohelp4homelessveterans@gmail.com. |
Op Fortitude |
Support to help veterans who are homeless or at risk of homelessness into suitable accommodation. They can also offer support to help veterans maintain their current home. You can make a referral or self-referral to Op Fortitude online or call freephone 0800 952 0774. |
Royal British Legion |
Can potentially support with practical help including bonds and first month's rent if you meet eligibility criteria. |
SSAFA |
Offer free housing advice to serving personnel, service leavers, veterans and their families. |
Stoll |
A veteran's charity and housing association. They provide housing and access to services to help vulnerable and disabled veterans to live independently. You can call them on 020 7385 2110. |
Veteran's Aid |
Provides immediate practical support to veterans who are homeless, facing homelessness or in crisis. |
Veterans' Gateway | Help and advice if you are homeless or in danger of becoming homeless. |
Veterans UK | Advice for the help available to ex-service personnel who are homeless or are threatened with homelessness. |
Council housing
Berneslai Homes
Berneslai Homes is an arms-length management organisation (ALMO) responsible for managing around 18,000 homes on our behalf. They support tenants and work together to create thriving communities. They're responsible for managing the waiting list and letting empty homes.
Who can apply
You can apply to join the housing register if one or more of the following apply:
- You're a serving or have served in the regular armed forces.
- You're a bereaved spouse, civil partners or adult children (where there's no spouse or civil partner) of members of the armed forces leaving services family accommodation following the death of their spouse or civil partner or parent.
- You're a divorced, separated spouse or civil partner who need to move out of accommodation provided by the Ministry of Defence.
How to apply
Visit our council housing section to find out more and apply.
What priority you'll be awarded
Our lettings policy offers reasonable preference to those who are current or former members of the armed forces. Every application is assessed in line with their policy. Where a person has to leave armed forces accommodation and doesn't have any other accommodation to occupy, they may be awarded band 1. Former armed forces personnel (including surviving partner) in need of social housing, may be awarded band 2.
How the housing register works
Once you apply, Berneslai Homes will contact you and let you know what evidence they need to assess your application. This will include evidence that you've served or are serving in the armed forces. Once they've assessed your application they'll contact you in writing by either letter or email. They'll let you know:
- your application and bidding reference
- the priority band you're assessed for and the date this is from
- the size and type of property you qualify for
- information about how to apply
- when your application will next be reviewed
- your right to request a review
Once you're registered and you have your application number you can start bidding for available homes.
How to bid for homes
Berneslai Homes operate a choice-based lettings system. Each week they produce an advert of properties that are available to bid on, that can be viewed through your housing online account. The advert opens each Friday at 12:01am and closes on Tuesday at 12am.
Support with rehousing
Berneslai Homes recognises that not everyone can access the internet. If you're unable to apply for rehousing online you can contact 01226 787600. They'll help you complete an application.
They can also support you with applying for homes.
More information
Jobs and training
You can find out more in our employment, education and skill section.
Finding a local school
You'll need to think about finding a school close to your new home. You can find a school in Barnsley and also take a look at our school admissions.
GPs and dentists
You’ll need to register with a GP and dentist close to where you live. You can search to find a GP and find a dentist online. Tell your GP that you've served as this will help them to better understand any health conditions. They can also refer you to services for ex-forces. NHS guidance can help you to register with a GP.
It's important to give your GP a copy of your military medical centre paperwork. This will help to make sure that your military health records are transferred to your NHS health record.
You can find out more in our health and wellbeing section.
Bills
You'll need to pay:
- rent or mortgage
- Council Tax
- utility bills (electricity, gas and water)
- telecoms (phone, internet and TV)
- TV licence
- insurance
You can also take a look at the Which website for what bills you may have to pay.
There are organisations that can help advise what benefits you may be entitled to, this can help towards paying bills. Find out more in our help with finance and debt section.
Proof of service
Any personnel who have left the military since December 2018 will be given a new ID card. The card gives you easier access to public and charitable support. This includes healthcare and housing, as well as retail discounts.
Anybody who left service before December 2018 can now apply for a veteran’s ID card. To find out more and to apply visit GOV.UK for Veteran card or You can also get a copy of military service records.
Discount services
There are some discount schemes that could help you to save money on some services and goods, including the Blue Light Card and Defence Discount Service.
You can find out more in the armed forces discounts section.