USAF bids to cut housing costs
US Air Force officials have confirmed that about £300,000 a month is being wasted on renting houses near RAF Lakenheath.
Since 2008 the number of base houses on the Lord’s Walk estate have been emptying at an alarming rate with about 220 out of the 550 on the site sitting empty.
The reason is believed to be the increased numbers of personnel turning down base housing in favour of renting privately.
“As it stands we are wasting around £300,000 a month as these homes are just sitting there empty. This figure has gradually been increasing,” said Lyndsey Horn, USAF, Second Lieutenant of the 48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs team at RAF Lakenheath.
Now in a bid to fill up the empty houses USAF officials are to stop giving housing allowances to new staff.
“We have a grading system in place at present which hands out housing allowance money to those military personnel arriving in the area,” said Lt Horn.
“To get people back into these empty homes we are going to removing the housing allowance if they turn down suitable base housing.
This will mean they will have to pay for private properties out of their own pocket if they choose that option. There will be the odd case where renting privately is unavoidable and that will be reviewed.”
Officials have confirmed that the USAF plans to end its current lease on the Lord’s Walk housing in 2018.
The termination of the agreement with Balmcrest Estate will bring to an end an association between the two parties stretching back more than 25 years.
Many of those living on the estate will be switched to a new housing complex inside the perimeter fence of RAF Lakenheath.
“Getting people into these homes on Lord’s Walk is only short term but at the same time it helps in reducing our costs,” added Lt Horn.
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