Homes for Ukraine

Yes, providing you have adequate space to host a family and you are not looking to move within the 6-month sponsorship period.  
 
If you’re a tenant, you’ll need to ask for our permission first and provide us with details of your intentions so we can update your records.  
 
To request permission, please email enquiries@thrivehomes.org.uk or contact us in your usual way. 

Permission would ordinarily be granted provided you have adequate room and are not looking to move in the next 6 months. We may also refuse a request if you are under any breach of your tenancy or there are other factors that may put you or the refugee(s) at risk.

The terms of your lease need to be followed and it may have rules you have to follow when taking someone into your home.  Thrive will agree to waive the administration fee chargeable where the lease requires you to seek formal consent for taking someone into your home in order to facilitate this process. 

To check the terms of your lease, please email enquiries@thrivehomes.org.uk or contact us in your usual way.  

You can also get free advice from the Leasehold Advisory Service (LEASE). Further information can be provided through the website, via a telephone appointment with one of LEASE’s advisers (020 7832 2500) or by email info@lease-advice.org. 

People coming to the UK under the scheme are not able to access housing benefits currently, which means hosts will not be able to charge rent. However, refugees will be able to apply for other benefits and to seek and take up employment. 

You will be offered a monthly ‘thank you’ payment of £350 to assist with any increased costs from the Government. 

The government has confirmed that this payment will not be treated as income for the purposes of benefit entitlements. You can stay updated with any changes to this advice on the Government’s website.

The Government has put together lots of guidance about what is required as a host and we encourage you to read up on this before applying by clicking here.

Please check with us first. Permission will usually be granted providing pets are allowed in your building and they have been screened by the Animal & Plant Health Agency as per government advice. 

If for any reason you need to end the sponsorship arrangement early, you should inform the local council as soon as possible. 
 
Please also let us know, so we can update your records accordingly. 

Yes. Some insurers require you to notify them of anyone you are intending to have stay in your home so it is best to let them know if you are planning to host a family to make sure your policy still covers your items.  

Hosts are required to be able to at least offer an empty room to ensure the safety and privacy of guests. A bed in a shared space would not be appropriate accommodation for six months. 

It is also not suitable for those willing to sleep in a living room or other shared space in the home so that the individual or family could have their own bedroom. 
 

Phase 1 of the scheme opened on the 18th of March 2022 for anyone to register their interest and provide the names of a Ukrainian and their immediate family that you wish to house. You are still able to register your interest without knowing a family, and those applications will be looked at in later phases.  

Find out more. 

The Government requires you to be in a position to host the family in the accommodation you currently live in at the point of application. 

The Government will only approve your request if your circumstances meet the needs of the family you are requesting to host at the point of application. 
 

Yes, please tell us who is living in your home and if they have any needs.  

It’s important we know if anyone in your home has a disability or mobility issue that could prevent them evacuating in the event of an emergency. We can use this information to notify the local fire service of your circumstances which will allow them to put in place a fast and appropriate evacuation plan to get you to safety. The easiest way to let us know is by emailing fire@thrivehomes.org.uk or 0800 917 6077. 

The Government will provide information about support available to hosts and you can find out more by clicking here. 

We may ask how hosting is going at your Home Plan visit where we can provide further information and guidance if required. 

If for any reason you are experiencing any issues, including anti-social behaviour, you should inform the local council as soon as possible.  

As the registered tenant, you are responsible for ensuring your guests do not cause distress or harm to neighbours. 
 

All accommodation will be different and while there is no set expectation, your accommodation needs to be free from serious health and safety hazards. You should make sure your home is safe for your guests and that it is in a suitable condition. 

You should also consider how many people you can accommodate so they have sufficient space. Two people should not be in one room unless they are: adult cohabiting partners; a parent and child; two siblings of the same gender if aged over 10; two siblings regardless of gender if aged under 10. Individuals who didn’t previously know each other should not be given the same room.

Further to this it’s required that your home: 

• be kept clean and in a reasonable state; 
• has adequate kitchen and bathroom space; 
• has access to drinking water; 
• has a working smoke detector on each floor of the property and other fire safety precautions suitable for the building e.g. fire doors or escape routes as appropriate; 

• has a working carbon monoxide detector; 
• has sufficient heating to keep the property at a comfortable temperature; 
• has safe gas appliances, fittings and flues and have undertaken a Gas Safety check within the last year; 
• has safe and working electrics which have been tested in the last five years; 
• be almost entirely free of damp or mould; 

• has doors and windows at entry level that lock properly; 
• be easy and safe to move around in, without excessively steep staircases that may cause harm. 

If your home does not meet any of these conditions, please contact us. We review the condition of your home at your annual Home Plan visit, where we advise of any outstanding works required as a result. 

You should also inform your contents insurance provider to make sure that your policy will still cover your items.