Support for Armed Forces Veterans: our covenant commitment

The Armed Forces Covenant logo

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 Bolton at Home customer.

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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.

Is this support for me?

If you are 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 are being treated fairly. This page explains what the Covenant means for you as a Bolton at Home customer.

If you are a business, or a community organisation, you can also find out how to show your support.

You can also tap here to visit the Armed Forces Covenant website for more information on services, projects, and policies that you can benefit from if you're a veteran or a family member.

What does the Covenant mean for veterans registering for social housing?

If you're a veteran applying for social housing with Bolton at Home, you may benefit from:

  • No local connection requirement: 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.

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 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.

A veteran's perspective:

"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 (Bolton at Home) 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 don’t need a local connection to apply, which can help if they’ve recently moved or returned from service.

You can tap here to learn more about how UK social housing is allocated.

What support networks are available?

If you'd like some support with housing, you can:

Veterans UK is the Ministry of Defence’s (MOD) dedicated veterans support organisation:

Tap here to visit the Veterans UK website for help with compensation, pensions, housing, and more.

The Armed Forces Covenant website can also help veterans seeking support :

Tap here to visit the Armed Forces Covenant website for more information on support available to veterans and their families.

The Veterans Advisory and Pensions Committee:

They serve and support ex-servicemen and women, their widows or widowers, and their immediate family members. Tap here to visit the Veterans Advisory and Pensions Committee website.

SSAFA, formally known as Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Family Association:

You can tap here to visit the SSAFA website for trusted support for serving personnel, veterans, and their families.

The Royal British Legion:

The Royal British Legion is a national network that supports our Armed Forces community. Tap here to visit their website.

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. You can tap here for more information on the Walking with the Wounded website.

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@boltonathome.org.uk  — we’d welcome your suggestions.