1. Introduction

Single Living Accommodation (SLA), also known as army Single Living Accommodation, is housing provided to single or unaccompanied personnel in the UK Armed Forces. It is normally offered through a Mess, accommodation block, or in the form of substitute accommodation.

Definition (JSP 464 Vol 2, Part 1):

Single Service Personnel are those Personnel who are in PStatCat 3, 4 and 5.

Unaccompanied Service Personnel are those Personnel in PStatCat 1 who have declared their intention to serve VOLSEP (Voluntary Separation) or INVOLSEP (Involuntary Separation), and PStatCat 2 personnel serving detached.

2. Process

When personnel are notified of a posting to a new duty station, it is their responsibility to contact their future unit by telephone, email, letter or online application to arrange single living accommodation. Although there is not a Single Defence process for the allocation of army Single Living Accommodation, most sites will send a welcome pack to new arrivals, explaining local procedures.

Guidelines for securing Single Living Accommodation include:

• Officers and SNCOs should contact the Presiding Mess Committee (PMC) /Mess Manager of their respective messes.
• Other ranks should contact the Quartermaster or the Unit’s accommodation cell (unless they have been previously contacted by their new unit which may well have received a copy of their Posting Order).

3. Further information

• Most contact details for Single Living Accommodation sites can be found on SharePoint: TravelHotels-Mess Sites.aspx, where the Tri-Service Accommodation Database is available. (Details are updated by HOCSs and not DP Accommodation Policy).
• For full details on eligibility criteria, how to apply and guidelines for the occupation of SLA please read JSP 464 Volume 2.

4. Improvements to standards in SLA

• Following the publication of the Defence Accommodation Strategy (DAS) in October 2022, all single living accommodation will be assessed against new minimum standards before improvements are phased in from 2024/25. To understand more about what this means read the DAS online.
• The National Audit Office reviewed whether the Ministry of Defence (MOD) is providing army Single Living Accommodation that meets the needs of Service personnel while ensuring value for money. The report concluded that the MOD is not currently meeting its commitment to provide high-quality, subsidised single living accommodation for all Service personnel. You can read the report and its findings on their website.