I want to support guests with next accommodation steps

Whilst six months was the initial minimum hosting commitment requested of hosts, we are hopeful some hosts may be able to continue beyond this. In these circumstances the £350 monthly thank you payments can be claimed for up to 12 months. If this is something you and guest have agreed, we will make a second home visit to your guests around the six month mark, carried out by the same team as the initial arrival visit. We will be contacting you regarding this on a case-by-case basis, around six months after you guest moved into your accommodation.

Post six months accommodation arrangements

We recognise this will not be possible in all circumstances, so if after six months you are not able to continue hosting, there are a number of accommodation options your guest may want to explore, including private rented accommodation and rematching with a new host locally. The government has published some guidance for guests reaching the four to six month mark.

Potential accommodation options your guest may want to consider:

Renting private accommodation

We are currently planning what support we may be able to offer to individuals to access private rented accommodation, and hope to have more details on this shortly. In the meantime, if your guest is able to find a property but needs help e.g. with a deposit please let us know as we may be able to assist on a case-by-case basis.

If your guest has found private accommodation to move into, we recommend that a reference is provided by hosts to the landlord, stating your guest's suitability to live in privately rented accommodation. In addition to this, if required we will be able to provide a letter to the landlord, confirming that the guest has the right to rent and to access public funds.

If required, our housing team is able to offer additional support to guests, including affordability checks and reviewing tenancy agreements and EPC ratings of potential rental accommodation. 

Guidance on private renting:

• Private renting (GOV.UK)
• Government 'How to Rent' guide: Ukrainian
• Government 'How to Rent' guide: Russian
• Looking for private rented accommodation

Being rematched with a new host

If you think your guest will need to be rematched or provided with temporary accommodation, please notify us roughly a month in advance.

We can look to rematch your guest to a new sponsor locally. This will depend on availability of hosts in the borough. It is important to note, any new host will have to go through the same checks including DBS and home visits as initial hosts. If your guest would like to be rematched locally, please provide us with as much notice as possible, so we are able to rematch them to a suitable new host.

Finding their own host

It may be the case that your guest already knows someone who could host them. For example, someone they have met through a local faith or community group, through work, or through current hosts or friends.

If you guest has found a new host, you or your guest should contact us on homesforukraine@richmond.gov.uk so we can make the necessary checks to approve the arrangement. This should happen before your guest moves in with the new host.

If your guest is already receiving Universal Credit or other benefits, they should inform the Department for Work and Pensions of any change to their address to ensure they continue to receive their correct benefit entitlement.

Moving to another area of the UK  

If your guest would like to move to a new area, they will need to contact us at homesforukraine@richmond.gov.uk before moving. We will then contact the council in the new area your guest would like to move to, so they can make any necessary checks and can confirm the new living arrangements are suitable. 

If your guest has a child aged between 4 and 16 it is important to consider the availability of school places in the area that they are considering moving to. Full guidance is available in the government’s annex A of the Guide for Ukrainians arriving in the UK.