Do veterans get priority for housing if they become homeless?

Veteran status does not by itself put you in priority need. The statutory categories are things like pregnancy, dependent children, and vulnerability through old age, mental illness or physical disability — and it is that last route most veterans take, because service-related PTSD, depression or injury can make you vulnerable within the legal test. Our priority need checker walks through the categories.

Three rules that work in your favour

• The Armed Forces Covenant duty. The Armed Forces Act 2021 gave the Covenant statutory force, requiring local housing authorities to have due regard to it. In practice they must not disadvantage you relative to a civilian applicant with similar needs, and must treat service-related injury or mental ill health as relevant to your housing need.
• Local connection. Anyone who has served at least one day is generally treated as having a local connection with the area where they seek help, and Covenant guidance goes further — authorities should treat veterans as having a local connection with any area they choose. Forced mobility during service is the reason. You should not be bounced between councils.
• Declare your service, in terms. Say you are a veteran when you apply; some authorities have dedicated veteran housing officers, and the duty only bites if they know.

Apply as soon as you are threatened with homelessness rather than waiting until you have nowhere to go: the council's prevention duty starts when you are likely to lose your home within 56 days, the relief duty applies once you are homeless, and the main housing duty follows if you are in priority need and not intentionally homeless.

Leaving Service Family Accommodation

Families normally have 93 days to vacate Service Family Accommodation once the service person formally leaves. Do not wait for the clock to start — apply to local authorities and housing associations before it does, and use Defence Transition Services or your unit welfare officer.

SSAFA (0800 731 4880) and the Royal British Legion (0808 802 8080) have caseworkers who will help you make and argue a homelessness application. Veterans Aid arranges emergency accommodation for veterans in crisis in London, Stoll runs supported housing for veterans with mental health or substance misuse needs, and Haig Housing lets affordable homes to veterans and their families across the UK. If a council fails its Covenant duty, complain to it first and then to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman.