Just months after the launch of the Forces Help to Buy scheme in April, 3,220 families have had their applications approved and have bought or are in the process of buying their own homes.

Chief Petty Officer Andrew MacFarlane, who has served in the Navy for 18 years, borrowed £21,500 through Forces Help To Buy.

In May 25 and his wife Elizabeth collected the keys for their first home — a three-bed, detached bungalow — in Helensburgh.

Having been married for eight years, their new home has given them a permanent base and somewhere to raise their three children — Joshua, 11, Erin, seven, and one-year-old Alistair.

CPO MacFarlane, 34, based on HMS Victorious at HMNB Clyde, said: “Whilst we will always be grateful to the Royal Navy and MOD for the housing solutions they provided us over the last eight years, we are really enjoying the satisfaction that comes from being able for the first time in our married lives to be living in a house that we have picked ourselves, in a location of our choice that meets all the requirements of our family.

“It had always been our intention to buy a home over the forthcoming years, but it certainly would have taken us considerably longer to do so without the assistance of the Forces Help to Buy scheme. With house prices ever increasing, the choice of properties available in our price range would have been considerably less in the time it would have taken us to save the money required to do so.” Through the annual Armed Forces Continuous Attitude Survey, the MOD has been listening to the concerns of its personnel and their husbands, wives and children. The survey results showed one of the key worries for service personnel was not being able to afford their own homes, as they move about during their careers. Over the past year, Defence has been working hard in partnership with some of Britain’s biggest companies to address these worries and many Armed Forces families are already reaping the benefits of schemes such as Forces Help to Buy.

CPO MacFarlane, who has responsibility for safety and maintenance on submarines, added: “I have nothing but positives to say about the process and the Forces Help To Buy team. The process was quick and hassle free.

“I was also deployed during the whole process with limited contact with the UK, but the team was able to liaise with both my power of attorney and solicitor, as required, with no problems encountered.

“We are now creating an asset which in time will benefit our children, rather then paying thousands of pounds in rent each year. It has given us the stability, security and freedom that we have aspired to over the last few years.” The £200 million scheme allows military personnel to borrow a deposit of up to 50 per cent of their annual salary so they can get on the property ladder.

Around 80 per cent of those who have received their loan so far are other ranks, approximately 48 per cent are in the Army, followed by the Royal Navy at 28 per cent and the RAF at 24 per cent. Around 56 per cent of successful applicants are single while 44 per cent are married.

Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said: “I’m delighted that the Forces Help To Buy scheme has proved such an instant and huge success. Helping our servicemen and women get on the housing ladder, so that they can enjoy the security of owning their home, is a great example of the support we provide to them and their families in return for everything they do for our country.

“It’s great news that so many have already taken advantage. I’m proud that, yet again, we’re honouring the core principle of the Armed Forces Covenant – that no service person or their families are disadvantaged by the contribution and sacrifice they make.”