JSP 464 - Ministry of Defence

SECTION I
As at 13 Jul 12
CHAPTER 6
SUBSTITUTE SERVICE FAMILY ACCOMMODATION (SSFA)
SSFA PROVISION – POLICY OVERVIEW
0601. Overview. SSFA will be found from the commercial rental market by the MOD
Accommodation Agency contractor on those occasions when there is insufficient SFA to
meet the demand. The arrangements for the provision of SSFA are to equate, as far as is
possible, to the equivalent procedures which apply to SFA. Size and specification of
property is to broadly reflect the prospective occupant’s equivalent SFA entitlement 1 , and
the property is to be located within an appropriate radius of the place of duty 2 . In High
Cost Areas, Officers are to be provided with reduced scale SSFA in accordance with the
high cost area methodology operated by DIO Ops Accommodation 3 . SSFA is an
expensive option that costs more than normal SFA. It is therefore incumbent on all parties
to ensure that in all cases the provision of SSFA is fully justified and that all SSFA sourced
complies with JSP 464 with respect to entitlement criteria and contract specification.
0602. Responsibilities. DIO Ops Accommdation is responsible for: funding SSFA;
issuing the Non Availability Certificate (SSFA Application Form 1132A – Annex A); defining
the property requirement and specification; and tasking the MOD Contractor. Whilst the
MOD Contractor is responsible for identifying suitable property in accordance with DIO
Ops Accommodation’s tasking, DIO Ops Accommodation is responsible for overseeing the
process and verifying that properties meet the requirement and specification before they
are shown to the prospective occupant.
0603. Issue of the Non Availability Certificate (NAC). The HASC is to issue the NAC a
minimum of 51 days (for moves within UK) and 65 days (for moves in to UK from
overseas) before the applicant’s required date (see para 0605), to ensure that there is
sufficient time for the SSFA process to be completed. Late applications for SSFA, or
delays in the issue of the NAC, may result in the applicant’s required date not being met.
0604. Cancellation of the NAC. The NAC may be cancelled at any point up to the time
that the applicant is required to sign the Property Acceptance Certificate for a particular
property without incurring costs. The NAC may be cancelled in the following
circumstances:
a. The applicant withdraws their application for family accommodation.
1 The property is to have a similar specification in terms of the number and type of rooms). It is to be no
smaller than 10% below the indicative square meterage of the equivalent SFA as laid down in JSP 315,
Scales 21 (OSFAs) and 22 (ORSFAs).
2 Outside London – up to 10 miles. Inside London: MOD personnel on the VCDS 45 Minute List up to 45
mins travel by public transport; MOD personnel (non VCDS 45 Minute List) up to 1½ hrs travel by public
transport; Formed units up to 10 miles.
3
Officers may be required to occupy reduced scale SSFA which is up to 20% below the indicative sizes in
JSP 315, Scale 21 in high cost rental areas.
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