Navy wives upset by new housing policy

Press, 8 May 1985, Page 26

Navy wives upset by new housing policy

PA Auckland A new Navy housing policy is forcing many of its most valued personnel to leave the service for betterpaid civilian jobs, according to some Navy wives. However, the Navy denies housing is “a significant factor” in the losses, which are causing it concern.

The new housing policy, introduced last year, fixes a maximum term of seven years occupancy in a Navy house, or a period in the Navy of no longer than 12 years for a tenant. The wife of a senior noncommissioned officer said that; as a result, some Navy families were being forced to seek civilian houses in the area at rents of $l5O and $l6O a week. This was an impossible burden on sailors since the top salary paid to senior ratings was about $23,500 a

year. The woman, who asked not to be named, said the only avenue open to these people was to leave the service, even though some did not want to go.

Most could earn salaries of up to and above $30,000 in civilian life, and gained a terminal benefit of between $lO,OOO and $20,000 on leaving the Navy. The woman said Navy families accepted that a Navy house was a fringe benefit — rent in some houses had only recently risen from $37.50 to $47.50 a fortnight. But, in view of lower pay scales (compared with civilian rates), it was considered a necessary “perk.” A Navy spokesman, Lieu-tenant-Commander Gerry Power, said the new housing policy was intended to ensure that the limited number of Navy houses went to

the most deserving cases, 2 including “young marrieds.” -- It was also to prevent C personnel owning and renting out houses near the " Devonport base while living -- in a Navy house. “There is no question of .« our taking a hard and fast line and evicting people on T' to the streets. When tenants have a special case, we always listen to them,” =«• Commander Power said. "

After 12 years, sailors became eligible for an “ Armed Forces Housing w Loan ($18,500 for an existing house and $25,000 for a new T home). The Navy wife said she Z was aware of these loans, but they fell well short of a 2 first mortgage at today’s prices. The Navy is short of 172 » ratings and’ 41 officers, the highest shortfall in many years on its ceiling strength of 2872. «