Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of allowing those using the Armed Forces Help to Buy scheme to let their homes out for a period longer than their deployment.

The Armed Forces Help to Buy (FHTB) scheme is designed to support home ownership amongst eligible Service personnel and their families. Current policy recognises the mobile nature of Service life and allows limited letting of an FHTB-funded property in specified circumstances, subject to approval.

The Ministry of Defence keeps the FHTB scheme under regular review and has considered a number of stakeholder suggestions regarding its operation, including the circumstances in which FHTB-funded properties may be let. However, no decision has been taken to extend existing letting provisions beyond current arrangements, as any such change would need to be carefully considered against the scheme's primary purpose of supporting owner-occupation and ensuring the effective use of public funds.