Soldiers report rats, ants and mould at training camp
GoogleSoldiers in an Army training camp have reported living in housing infested with rats, ants and mould, the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) has revealed.
The Army Training Centre Pirbright, near Guildford, helps deliver basic training to recruits joining army regiments including the Royal Artillery and the Royal Engineers.
Reports obtained by the LDRS through freedom of information laws have alleged some soldiers are living in "unacceptable" conditions, with 16 pest-related complaints filed in 2026 alone.
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said: "After years of underfunding, this government is undertaking the biggest upgrade to service family accommodation in more than 50 years."
Complaints included reports of rodents, bugs and even a badger being spotted in and around service accommodation.
In addition, six mould-related complaints have been submitted this year – which were mostly linked to faults in shower and bathroom areas, including one that describes a shower tap "leaking consistently resulting in mould".
Reports also described a sighting of rats "on the floor areas and within the kitchen" of one building.
Previous requests asking for the number of complaints lodged since 2019 were refused on the grounds it would exceed reasonable time limits under freedom of information laws, with the Ministry of Defence (MoD) estimating it would take six working days to gather all the data.
A complainant said: "This situation needs urgent attention, as it is likely to develop into a serious infestation if action is not taken promptly.
"The presence of rodents poses health risks and could impact the safety and cleanliness of the workplace."
The complaints log described a colony of ants coming in through a window, while a separate report detailed a swarm of flies coming from behind the panel of the showers, and "evidence of a badger burrowing under the café" at the camp.
Former defence secretary John Healey - who was appointed chancellor of the exchequer in July - pledged £9bn last year to refurbish and modernise service accommodation over the next decade.
The LDRS understands the majority of any maintenance issues flagged in these reports had been resolved by the time this information was released.
An independent review commissioned by the minister for veterans and people into forces single living and overseas accommodation standards is expected to issue recommendations later this year.
An MoD spokesperson said: "Service accommodation must meet the standards our people deserve, and it is unacceptable for them to deal with pests and issues such as damp and mould in their homes."
"After years of underfunding, this government is undertaking the biggest upgrade to service family accommodation in more than 50 years, backed by £9.2bn of investment over the next decade.
"We are already delivering on our mission, with upgrades recently completed on 1,250 of the poorest-quality homes and more to be improved this financial year."