Helen hails victory to improve military homes standards

Housing for military families in Shropshire will be required to meet basic standards after the Government this week conceded to a change in the law.

The climb-down follows a long-fought campaign by North Shropshire MP, Helen Morgan, and Liberal Democrat colleagues after a series of cases highlighted how service families were living in damp, mouldy, and even rat-infested homes.

Now, the change to the Renters’ Rights Bill will for the first time require the Ministry of Defence to assess Service Family Accommodation every year and report on whether it meets the Decent Homes Standard, allowing problems to be identified and rectified.

The Government initially rejected the Liberal Democrat amendment but conceded after sustained campaigning by Lib Dem MPs in Parliament.

Helen Morgan MP was one of the first to table an amendment to the Renter’s Reform Bill, on the back of concerns raised by constituents in North Shropshire.

She said: “This is a breakthrough victory to finally bring military family homes up to a decent standard by law, after years of campaigning by families and by me and my Liberal Democrat MP colleagues.

“Those who serve our country and their families deserve better than mouldy, damp, and cold homes and I’m proud to have played a part in achieving this long-needed reform.”

Around a dozen families contacted the North Shropshire MP nearly three years ago highlighting issues with housing contractors responsible for military accommodation at RAF Shawbury which left them living in cold, damp and mould-ridden homes.

One family lived with damp and mould for 13 months due to problems with their roof and poor insulation. Another waited four weeks for a leak to be fixed, leaving them without running water, and another couple with a young child waited more than six weeks for their hot water boiler to be fixed.

Liberal Democrat research earlier this year revealed over 400 families were forced to apply for emergency repairs over VE Day in 2025, as some service families were living in damp, mouldy, and rat-infested homes.