Hi, I’m Air Commodore Wendy Rothery and I’m DIO’s Head of Accommodation. I'm responsible for the provision of Service Families Accommodation and associated customer support to service personnel and their families in the UK and across Europe.
Quality accommodation is very important for Defence and a key enabler of operational capability. If service personnel know that their families are well supported, they can focus on the often difficult tasks they face when deployed on operations, exercises or other duties away from home. Consequently, my team’s work in supporting this endeavour is vital to Defence’s ability to achieve its aims.
Having spent the majority of my RAF career in personnel appointments, I am delighted to see that DIO’s focus is firmly on supporting our Armed Forces by building, maintaining and servicing the infrastructure and facilities that the people who serve our country need to live, work, train and deploy on operations.
Today I wanted to take the opportunity to highlight some of the work we have delivered in recent months I continue to be impressed at the sheer breadth of activity we are engaged in and the range of successes we are achieving. The number of properties that meet the Government Decent Homes standard has increased and now sits at more than 95% of our total stock – anything under this is not allocated. Our contractor’s response maintenance performance has improved and the number of properties we let to the public has increased in an effort to reduce the number of empty homes and fund additional estate improvements.
Refurbishments and renovations
Alongside these larger programmes, we continue to do what we can to improve our housing stock to help improve the lives of those living there. For example, I recently attended an event to mark the completion of a £1.5m refurbishment to 34 homes at Bannachra Drive in Helensburgh, for sailors at HMNB Clyde and their families. The work made a real difference to the homes and improvements included the fitting of new roofs, windows and doors, as well as new boilers, external wall insulation and rendering of the buildings. Work was also undertaken to replace fencing and gates and rain water goods, chimneys on the properties also removed and garage roofs replaced.
Looking to the future
I am now turning my attention towards the challenges we will face in the coming months.
As the Combined Accommodation Assessment System becomes fully embedded, as the Future Accommodation Model moves from design towards implementation on pilot sites, and as we prepare the ground for a new housing contract, the role of the Accommodation Team will become increasingly important. It’s not always easy, but it is always important, and we will continue to do our bit.
7 comments
Comment by MR SEMESA LEWENI posted on
Hi...I need to contact DIO utilities for my Electricity Bills.....couldn't get hold of anyone...not happy....being trying to call all this week to sort out installment payments. I was told by my Unit Admin Office to get in touch with DIO Utilities...I am serving with in the 5 Rifles . I am worried because it may be direct debit the whole amount which I cannot afford it which is £650....please I need your help....
Comment by DIO Communications Team posted on
Sjt Leweni
I have deleted your personal details from your comment above to keep them private. I have asked colleagues in the Utilities team to contact you ASAP.
Kind regards
DIO Communications team
Comment by Mr Leweni posted on
Thanks,
This is the address and phone number I was given to call and it was ringing otherwise it's being change....correct me if it's wrong...
[edited to remove contact details]
Hopefully they will call me as soon as possible as I am deploying out to Batus on exercise by end of next week.
Comment by DIO Communications Team posted on
We have had some move arounds within the office so that's probably out of date; unfortunately I don't have an updated number to give you. I did have a reply that they would ring you but I will email them again to make sure they know you're very short of time.
Comment by Brendan Lindberg posted on
Thanks for the great info! Looking forward to more updates on this.
Comment by David Cameron posted on
I have a friend who's in the force and so I totally get the point about having your family safe. You are doing a great job. Kudos!
Comment by Shayur Maharaj posted on
Great piece with many insightful points.