Housing
Loan Service Service Personnel and their families are located either at Berakas Garrison or Muara Naval Base. There are three types of RBAF Accommodation allocated to Loan Service. Please note that single or unaccompanied personnel will occupy these houses also, there is no Mess accommodation.
The standard of housing and repairs is lower than other Loan Service Teams in the world, our entitlement is the equivalent of what any other RBAF soldier/Airman/Seaman receives.
All houses are furnished, scaling available at the bottom of this page.
‘G’ Type Quarters
These are allocated to SNCOs and WOs. Semidetached 3-bedroom bungalows with ample gardens. The bedrooms and sitting rooms have ceiling fans and air conditioning units. They are sufficiently roomy for most requirements, with adequate working surfaces in the kitchen.
However, the shortage of cupboard and storage space is a frequent criticism. As a result many families bring one or two Ikea ‘flatpack’ type draw units for bathrooms and the kitchen to mitigate the shortage of draw storage space. The bedrooms are larger than average and have good cupboard and wardrobe spaces. The main door usually opens out onto a square hallway which many use as an alternative sitting area.
G Type quarters do not offer separate additional living space for a live in Amah (Domestic Support).
‘C’ Type Quarters
These are normally allocated to OF2 and OF3 ranks. These are spacious detached bungalows, with three double bedrooms and a large veranda known locally as a pondok.
The communal space consists of a long sitting/dining room with sliding glass doors opening onto the veranda and the garden. The 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms are at one end of the property with the kitchen and Amah’s quarters at the other. One of the bathrooms is ensuite to the master bedroom and there is a third toilet off a small, partitioned hall next to the front door.
‘KK’ Type Quarters
Normally allocated to OF4 (and exceptionally to OF3 due to lack of C Type availability). These are large detached traditional houses built on concrete stilts 10 feet off the ground. The space underneath is mostly used for covered parking/storage.
The interior consists of a large, square sitting/dining area. There are three ensuite double bedrooms (but no communal toilet) and a large kitchen all leading off from central living/dining area. They also have a long balcony.
The Amah’s quarters and laundry room are located at ground level to the rear of the main house. The main house has wooden floor boards throughout.
Furniture
Each house has been furnished through funding from UKStratCom, the furniture is the American Ashley Brand and not the standard overseas furniture provision items. You will sign for the contents on March In, it is yours to take care of during your assignment/draft; as such Home Insurance is strongly recommended:
2 Queen Beds with deep 12-16inch mattresses
2 Single Beds with deep 9 - 12inch mattresses
6 Bedside Cabinets per room
3 Large Chest of Drawers/Dresser
3 Sofa Set or large corner suite
Coffee Table or 3 Occassional Table set
Dining Room Table and Chairs (ranging from 4 - 8 setting)
TV Unit
Bookshelf (Officers only)
Large Fridge Freezer
Not Provided but can be purchased on arrival for between BND $800 - $2000 (all in):
Washing Machine (advised not to bring a good model from UK due to damage from humidity in country)
Tumble Dryer (all houses have washing lines but some families recommend this purchase)
TV (advised to bring a firestick)
Water Cooler/Dispenser
Infrastructure Team
Their is no dedicated British housing team, no Defence Infrastructure Office involvement, as such the LST has secondary duties (due to changeover end May 26), some of which cover the Housing Team elements:
IC Housing Team - Capt Robert Wilson
2IC Housing Team (March In/Out Muara) - WO Ant Hague
Housing Mgmt WO (March In/Out Berakas & Fire) - CSgt Jay Browning
Furniture Mgmt WO (Delivery/J4 Accounting) - WO2 Holly Holbrook
Air Conditioning (Servicing & Maintenance) - WO2 Tiny Noblet
The team act as an intermediary between the LST and the Bruneian systems in place, including Perumahan (RBAF Housing Team) and Facilities Management (FM).