Our Armed Forces Covenant commitment:
- We recognise and appreciate the service of our Armed Forces Veterans, and the sacrifices they and their families have made.
A veteran is anyone who has served in the British Armed Forces — no matter their age, how long they served, or whether they were involved in conflict.
Leaving the military and returning to civilian life can be a big adjustment. Life in the Armed Forces is often highly structured and routine, which can feel very different from civilian life. Many veterans find that the world has changed since they first joined the military.
This transition can be challenging, which is why it’s important for veterans and their families to know that support is available if they need it.
We’re proud to support the Armed Forces community. In 2018, we signed the Armed Forces Covenant alongside our Greater Manchester Housing Providers partners. This is a national promise to ensure that those who serve or have served in the Armed Forces, and their families, are treated fairly and with respect.
The Covenant isn’t about giving special treatment. It’s about making sure that no one is disadvantaged because of their service. It also helps to build stronger links between the Armed Forces and local communities, by raising awareness and encouraging mutual understanding. In some cases, such as for those injured or bereaved, special consideration may be appropriate.
If you’re a veteran or a family member of someone who has served in the Armed Forces, this page explains what the Covenant means for you as a Be One Homes customer.
Working together to uphold the principles of the Covenant:
Since November 2022, local councils** have had a legal duty to consider the Covenant when delivering services in areas such as healthcare, education, employment, and housing.
While this duty applies directly to councils, it also influences how housing providers like us work to ensure veterans are not disadvantaged when accessing services.
**Although we’re not part of a local council, we work closely with them and other partners to uphold the principles of the Covenant.
Frequently asked questions about the Armed Forces Covenant:
Is this support for me?
- If you're a member of the armed forces, a veteran, or a family member, the Armed Forces Covenant offers a wide variety of support to ensure you're being treated fairly.
This page explains what the Covenant means for you as a Be One Homes customer. If you’re a business or a community organisation, you can also find out how to show your support.
What does the Covenant mean for veterans registering for social housing?
If you’re a veteran applying for social housing with Be One Homes, you may benefit from:
- No local connection requirement for housing in Bolton**: you can join the housing register even if you haven’t lived in the area before.
- Fair treatment under the Armed Forces Covenant: you won’t be disadvantaged because of your service.
- Access to housing support: this includes national schemes like Op FORTITUDE, which helps veterans at risk of homelessness.
**Veterans applying for housing in Bolton are exempt from the local connection requirement – so you don’t need to have lived in the area before to be eligible for housing. If you’d like to apply for housing in another area, please check with the relevant local authority to understand their housing policies and the support available. You can tap here to find your local authority/council on the gov.uk website.
Please note that housing is offered based on need, not just military service. This means that while your service is respected, your application will be assessed in the same way as others, based on your current situation.
This approach supports the Covenant’s aim of fairness, while recognising that housing is limited.
Does the Covenant guarantee veterans priority over other social housing applicants?
It’s a common misunderstanding that the Armed Forces Covenant guarantees veterans priority for social housing.
In fact, the Covenant is about fairness, not special treatment. It means that veterans should have equal access to services — not that they automatically go to the front of the queue.
For example, veterans applying for housing in Bolton are exempt from local connection rules**. This means they can apply to join a housing register even if they haven’t lived in the area for long — something that might stop other people from applying.
However, all housing applications through Bolton at Home’s Homefinder Service are still assessed using our local policies and rules. These help us make fair decisions based on people’s needs and circumstances.
**Veterans applying for housing in Bolton are exempt from the local connection requirement — so you don’t need to have lived in the area before to be eligible for housing. If you’d like to apply for housing in another area, please check with the relevant local authority to understand their housing policies and the support available. You can tap here to find your local authority/council on the gov.uk website.
“When I left the Army after 12 years, I assumed the Covenant meant I’d go straight to the top of the housing list. It was a shock to learn that wasn’t the case. But once I understood the policy, it made sense — housing is scarce, and priority goes to those in greatest need.
“What helped me was knowing I didn’t need a local connection to apply in Bolton. That gave me options I wouldn’t have had otherwise. The process was fair, and I felt supported, even if it wasn’t instant.”
- Mark, former Royal Engineer and Bolton resident
Mark’s perspective highlights the reality: the Covenant removes barriers but does not guarantee immediate housing. Veterans are treated fairly, but allocation is based on need, not service history alone.
How is social housing allocated?
- Most councils use something called a choice-based lettings system to manage social housing. This means people can see which homes are available and apply for the ones that suit them.
In Bolton, this system is called Homes for Bolton and it’s run by Bolton Council. As one of the partner housing providers, we (Be One Homes) offer homes through this system.
We follow Bolton Council’s Allocations and Lettings Policy. This policy explains how people are assessed and placed into different bands based on their housing needs — for example, if they’re homeless, have medical needs, or live in overcrowded housing.
The policy does recognise certain legal duties, including those related to homelessness and equality. However, being a veteran doesn’t automatically mean you’ll be placed in a higher band.
Instead, veterans are assessed in the same way as other applicants. But there are some exceptions — for example, veterans applying for housing in Bolton don’t need a local connection to apply**, which can help if you’ve recently moved or returned from service.
**Veterans applying for housing in Bolton are exempt from the local connection requirement — so you don’t need to have lived in the area before to be eligible for housing. If you’d like to apply for housing in another area, please check with the relevant local authority to understand their housing policies and the support available. You can tap here to find your local authority/council on the gov.uk website.
How do I apply for social housing?
If you need help with the online application process, you can access free internet and housing support at one of our UCAN centres. Just tap here to find your nearest UCAN centre.
What support networks are available?
Help with housing for veterans:
If you’d like support with housing, you can:
Veterans UK:
Veterans UK is the Ministry of Defence’s (MOD) dedicated veterans support organisation. It can for help with compensation, pensions, housing, and more.
The Armed Forces Covenant:
The Armed Forces Covenant website provides information on the support available to veterans and their families.
The Veterans Advisory and Pensions Committee:
The Veterans Advisory and Pensions Committee supports ex-servicemen and women, their widows or widowers, and their immediate family members:
SSAFA:
SSAFA (formally known as Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Family Association) provides trusted support for serving personnel, veterans, and their families.
Royal British Legion:
The Royal British Legion is a national network that supports our Armed Forces community:
Walking With The Wounded:
Walking With The Wounded empower veterans by reigniting their sense of purpose, enabling them to make a positive contribution to their communities and lead independent lives.
Know of any other support networks for veterans? Please let us know.
If you think we should add another support network to this page, just send our Communications Team an email using news@beonehomes.com — we’d welcome your suggestions.
