Danny Chambers: Lib Dems win reforms to end mouldy, flooded homes for military families

Liberal Democrat MP for Winchester, Danny Chambers has hailed a breakthrough victory to bring military family homes up to the Decent Homes Standard in law, after years of campaigning by families and the party.

The change, secured after the Government conceded to a Liberal Democrat amendment 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 - creating a clear statutory mechanism for identifying and addressing shortcomings.

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

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 even rat-infested homes.

The amendment was initially tabled by Liberal Democrat Housing and Communities Spokesperson Gideon Amos MP and then retabled in the House of Lords by Liberal Democrat Peer and Spokesperson for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Baroness Grender. 

It marks the culmination of years of work by the party to bring fairness and dignity to military housing, after the Conservatives in government rejected a previous attempt by the Liberal Democrats to change the law to improve the quality of military service family homes when the Renters’ Reform Bill was before Parliament, last year.

Danny Chambers, Liberal Democrat MP for Winchester, said:

“The Liberal Democrats have worked hard to successfully change the law. Service families will finally have secure and stable homes that are decent to live in, and I feel proud that we have made a difference.

“Mouldy, damp and cold homes are unacceptable. These living conditions are no way to treat those who have given up so much in order to serve our country. Our successful change to the law will help ensure military families have access to clean, safe housing. 

“I’m proud to have supported my colleagues in achieving this crucial reform, and I’ll keep pushing for better housing standards across Winchester.”