Guidance for Sponsors and Hosts
Under the Homes for Ukraine visa, Ukrainians will need to be matched with a sponsor in the UK who can provide housing for a minimum of 6 months. Here you will find advice and support highlighting important considerations when becoming a sponsor, how much you can be paid to be a Homes for Ukraine sponsor, and training and guidance to enable to you to provide the best possible support when hosting. The UK government have written a guide for sponsors: Homes for Ukraine: sponsor guides
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Homes for Ukraine Sponsoring and Hosting
Thank you for looking into how to become a sponsor/ host for Ukrainians seeking safety in the UK. Your offer of support will make a big difference, but it is important to fully consider what it means to be a host and ensure that everyone in your household is happy to do this.
You will see the terms sponsor and host used a lot, but what is the difference?
A Sponsor an individual that has successfully completed a visa application with a person from Ukraine under the Homes for Ukraine scheme and has been approved to accommodate them. A sponsor may not always be a host.
A Host is an individual who provides accommodation to people from Ukraine. A host does not need to be a sponsor.
The government has created a page of guidance on Things you need to consider before hosting or sponsoring: Homes for Ukraine which includes:
- Making sure the accommodation has enough space for guests, with transport links, schools, and employment opportunities nearby.
- Ensuring you have considered extra costs to your household, including utility bills.
- Communicating with guests who may not speak English.
- Sharing your home with others who may have different living habits.
The charity Reset Homes for Ukraine have information on Is hosting right for you? giving details on what you are committing to when sponsoring a Ukrainian guest.
Reset Homes for Ukraine have made a video about the Profiles of Ukrainian refugees arriving to the UK, and Who can share a room in my house? as there are set regulations about ages and genders of those sharing a room (more information on this can be found in the hosting ‘good practice’ guidance from NACCOM)
Reset Homes for Ukraine also have regular free training events for new and existing sponsors and hosts, see the Training events and support session below for more information
The Government provides links to other toolkits, training and advice on the Becoming a sponsor: Homes for Ukraine guidance page.
When you are ready to start the process, you can sponsor someone from outside of the UK or be a rematch host for Ukrainians who are already in the UK.
Becoming a Homes for Ukraine sponsor
To become a Homes for Ukraine sponsor you must be over the age of 18, based in the UK and be a British or Irish citizen, or have the right to live in the UK permanently (be ‘settled in the UK’)
Further details on eligibility and the checks that will be carried out on you and your family and the accommodation you will be providing can be found here: Eligibility, safeguarding, DBS and accommodation checks: Homes for Ukraine.
If you do not own the accommodation that will be used by the guest, there is guidance with information on what to do if you own or rent your home: Homes for Ukraine.
The safest way to find a Ukrainian guest is by using a Homes for Ukraine recognised provider, which is an organisation that has been approved by the UK government to help Ukrainian guests and UK sponsors match with each other. Each recognised provider will support you though the process and information about them can be found on the links to their websites.
As a Homes for Ukraine sponsor, you will be entitled to Homes for Ukraine Thank You Payments from the UK government:
- If the Ukrainian guest has been in the UK for 0-12 months, you will receive £350 per month as a thank you payment for hosting.
- When your guests have been in UK for more than 12 months, you will receive £500 per month, and this will be paid for up to 36 months for sponsors of guests on a three year Homes for Ukraine visa, and up to 18 months for guests on the new 18 month Homes for Ukraine visa, which came into effect on 19 February 2024.
These thank you payments should not affect benefits that you already receive, and they will not affect council tax discounts received for ‘single occupancy’.
When you are ready to start the process, you can sponsor someone from outside of the UK by becoming a Homes for Ukraine Sponsor or be a rematch host for Ukrainians who are already in the UK.
Becoming a Homes for Ukraine rematch host
If you would like to host Ukrainians that have already travelled to the UK, then you will be known as a rematch host: Hosting someone already in the UK (rematching): Homes for Ukraine.
There are lots of reasons why Ukrainians may have needed to leave their original sponsor accommodation and find a new host to live with, for example the initial sponsorship period has come to an end, or the sponsor has had a change in circumstance and can no longer provide accommodation.
Sometimes, guests looking for a rematch host need less support than someone who has just arrived in the UK, as they may have already found work and know the area. However, it is still very important that you understand your responsibilities as a host and feel comfortable that hosting is right for you.
To be a rematch host, you must be over the age of 18 and be based in the UK, with at least 6 months permission to stay in the UK. The same checks on you, your family and the accommodation you will be providing will need to be carried out, and more details can be found here: Eligibility, safeguarding, DBS and accommodation checks.
To find a guest, contact your local council who will be aware of Ukrainians looking for a new host. If you want to host via community connections, you must still let the council know as they will need to carry out the checks, mentioned above.
As a rematch host, you are entitled to Thank You Payments from the UK government, even if you have not hosted before, but these can only be issued by your local council once they have completed the above checks.
- If the Ukrainian guest has been in the UK for 0-12 months, you will receive £350 per month as a thank you payment for hosting.
- When your guests have been in UK for more than 12 months, you will receive £500 per month for the duration of a guest’s Homes for Ukraine visa permission which is up to 36 months or up to 18 months for guests on the new 18 month Homes for Ukraine visa (which came into effect on 19 February 2024.
UK Visa application for Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship
It is generally considered safest for the sponsor to take charge of the visa process and complete the application on your guest’s behalf.
You may need to provide your guests with proof of your identity when they are applying at a visa application centre. This is not mandatory, but it can help support the application, and more information can be found in this government guidance on Provide evidence that you’re eligible for the scheme.
You can see our guidance for Ukrainians on applying for a visa and if you need any help with the process, Here for Good have guides to completing the Ukraine Scheme visa applications.
UK Sponsors Waiting for Homes for Ukraine guest to arrive
The government have created a guide on how to meet the accommodation needs for Homes for Ukraine guests, including information about gas safety and information about bills and paying rent.
There is also a guide about Meeting your Homes for Ukraine guests and helping them settle in, including details about what to do if things aren’t going as planned, how to improve communication and looking after your wellbeing and your guests wellbeing.
Reset Homes for Ukraine have useful videos about how Ukrainians approach politeness and show care created by English Unlocked, as well as How to modify your speech to help your guests and How to use Google Translate.
If you will be sponsoring Ukrainian children who are staying in the UK without their parent or legal guardian, there is separate guidance which should be read and understood.
UK Sponsors supporting Homes for Ukraine guests
To help you find your hosting style, Reset Homes for Ukraine have put together useful information about considering empowerment, boundaries and power imbalance when hosting.
Your Ukrainian guest may need to leave your home for a period of time to take a holiday or visit friends and family. Under the Homes for Ukraine visa, a person can be away for up to 4 weeks. After this time, you should notify your local council.
The council should also be told if your guest has left permanently, and more information on this can be found in the guide on If your guest will be absent temporarily.
It is important that if you have any concerns or if you’re worried about a Homes for Ukraine guest or their children these are reported as soon as possible so they can be investigated. The governments sponsor guidance provides links to report Modern slavery and exploitation and Concerns about children. In an emergency, you should contact 999.
Hosting is a rewarding, but sometimes challenging experience. This information from Reset Homes for Ukraine on Mental health, self-care and being aware of trauma may be a helpful resource for you, and there is further information on Supporting the Wellbeing of Your Guest. You can also get trauma tips for yourself and your guest, and watch a video about how to give a trauma informed welcome to survivors of trauma as a host from Trauma Treatment International.
Ending Homes for Ukraine hosting arrangements
It is important to talk to your guest about what happens after hosting as soon as possible. Be clear about how long you will be able to host and explain to your guest what happens after hosting. More information can be found in the government guidance on Ending your hosting arrangements, and helping your guest with their next steps: Homes for Ukraine.
Reset Homes for Ukraine have created information pages on Planning for the end of your support and Practical support as your guests prepare for the end of hosting – Looking at different housing options, how this may impact any benefits that are being received and translated guides on the impact of the cost of living.
They also offer free training events on Planning for the end of hosting, see Training events and support below for more details.
You can also refer your guests to our website where we have information for them on Moving on from hosting.
Training events and support for Homes for Ukraine Sponsors and Hosts
Reset Homes for Ukraine have regular free training events for new and existing sponsors and hosts on the following topics:
- Is hosting right for you? An introduction in to the Homes for Ukraine scheme, going over things to consider before you sign up to host, what your responsibilities would be, and what external support you will receive from your council.
- Hosting: A trauma informed approach Helping you understand behaviour that might be connected to experiences of trauma in those that you’re hosting.
- Planning for the end of hosting Helping you understand the housing options your guests will have at the end of hosting, setting expectations by planning for the end of hosting from the very beginning.
Other ways to help Ukrainians
If you feel that sponsoring or hosting a guest is not right for you, there are lots of others ways to help Ukrainians by volunteering or supporting your community, or by donating to organisations that are providing support.
Ukraine nationals in the UK already with a visa
Only trained immigration adviser can give you advice about your visa and any immigration questions you might have.
Here are some organisations that could provide help:
- Ukraine Advice Service – accredited by the UK Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC) with links with the UK Home Office.
- Europia – free immigration advice for Ukrainian nationals
- East European Resource Centre (EERC) – provide immigration, welfare, housing, and destitution advice, as well as general information and assistance.
Frequently asked questions
How do I become a host for Ukrainian refugees?
To understand who can be a sponsor for Ukrainians in the UK, please see the above section on Becoming a Homes for Ukraine sponsor.
Do you get paid for housing Ukrainian refugees UK?
Yes, you can receive a payment from the government once safeguarding and accommodation checks have been passed. The payment is between £350 and £500, and more information can be found in the section above on Becoming a Homes for Ukraine sponsor.
Is the Homes for Ukraine thank you payment taxable?
The sponsorship/ hosting thank you payment will be tax free and should not affect your Council Tax status or entitlement to benefits.