About Homes for Veterans

Background

Cheltenham Borough Council is signed up to the Gloucestershire Armed Forces Community Covenant. The aim of this covenant is to encourage support for the armed forces community working and living in Gloucestershire and to help veterans integrate into civilian life.

For further information on the Armed Forces Covenant and the information and support available to members of the armed forces and their families please visit the Armed Forces Covenant website.

Housing and homelessness advice

If you're leaving the armed services, or are a former member of the armed forces, and you are homeless there are a number of agencies who can help you. You'll find further details on the Cheltenham Borough Homes website and you can get advice from the Housing Options team Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm (10am on Wednesday).

You can apply for a council or housing association home on the Homeseeker Plus website. The Homeseeker Plus Partnership is a group of councils and housing providers who work together to provide homes across the scheme. If you are interested in accommodation, you need to register for Homeseeker Plus so we can check you are eligible for housing in the UK and that you qualify for accommodation in the Homeseeker Plus area.

Available homes to rent or buy are advertised on this website. You can see what properties are available and ‘bid’ to tell us which ones you like. The housing provider then decides who to offer the property to, based on the Homeseeker allocation policy. They will contact the successful applicant, check they still qualify, and discuss the offer of accommodation.

Specialist veteran housing scheme

A new build housing scheme for veterans and their families was completed in 2017, in partnership with Cheltenham Borough Homes. Ten new council owned homes were built on a former commercial site at Swindon Road, Cheltenham providing five 1 bed flats, three 2 bed flats and two 2 bedroom houses.

Based near the town centre with easy access to support networks, the properties are designed to achieve the Lifetime Homes Standard, with the ground floor accommodation having wet rooms for ease of access for veterans with disabilities. These homes are let at an affordable rent (80 per cent of market rents) and have been designed to encourage a feeling of community.

Key features of the development

  • The size of the dwellings are a good match for meeting the needs of veterans in the greatest housing need
  • The homes are designed to Lifetime Homes Standard, meaning that adaptations can be made relatively easily for a person with a disability. For the ground floor accommodation, priority will be given to veterans who need level access. If you need adapted accommodation please notify Cheltenham Borough Homes housing options team as soon as possible so that your needs can be assessed early
  • The layout of the development is designed to give a community feel and to encourage veterans to support one another
  • Swindon Road is a town centre location and there are a number of organisations in the town centre area that can provide practical help and support to veterans

Make an application

To be eligible for this scheme, you will need to have served at least a day in HM Armed Forces, whether as a regular or reservist, and be in housing need.

The properties are advertised through HomeseekerPlus and you will need to make an application on the HomeseekerPlus website.  If you need any help, please contact the Housing Options team.

The properties are also listed in the Cobseo (The Confederation of Service Charities) Housing Directory. This organisation represents the whole serving and veteran community and its members include SSAFA, RBL, RAF, RNA, Help For Heroes, Hire A Hero and Walking With The Wounded.

Allocation process

Details of how the flats are allocated and how applicants are assessed are included in the local lettings plan for the development.