Support and information for sponsors or those wanting to be a sponsor on the Homes for Ukraine Scheme

The Homes for Ukraine scheme is open for applications from Ukrainians with a named eligible sponsor in the UK. If you have found a match with a Ukrainian individual, you can help them apply for the scheme.

The Homes for Ukraine scheme allows individuals, charities, community groups and businesses across the UK to offer a room or home to Ukrainians escaping the war, regardless of whether they have ties to the country. Sponsors should provide accommodation for as long as they are able, but the expectation is a minimum of 6 months. Individuals that want to be hosts will be required to have a DBS check.

Alternatively if you are interested in being a sponsor in Solihull but you are unable to find a match with a Ukrainian guest, our team can help assist with the matching and rematching, so please get in touch: refugees@solihull.gov.uk and let the team know that you are interested in becoming a sponsor on the Homes for Ukraine scheme.

Solihull Council has put together a Homes for Ukraine factsheet with things you need to consider before applying to be a host. This includes information on eligibility, financial considerations, safeguarding and housing checks and the matching process.

The City of Sanctuary UK has also put together a guide of things to consider before applying to sponsor a refugee.

The Government have also gathered together all the useful guidance a Homes for Ukraine sponsor might need.

You can help your guest to track their visa application status online. Use the Reference Number present on the invoice/receipt issued by the Ukraine Visa Application Centre along with their last name to access this service.  

Additionally, you can contact UK Visas and Immigration by phone: +44 808 164 8810.   

The Council will carry out the following checks to ensure you meet the criteria to be a sponsor on the Homes for Ukraine scheme.

Accommodation checks

Accommodation checks will be carried out by your local Council.

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check

We will request either a Basic DBS or Enhanced DBS check, depending on the circumstance, to confirm your eligibility to register for the scheme. More information at can be found at GOV.UK.

Welfare checks

A welfare check will be carried out once guests have arrived at the accommodation. Where possible all guests should be present for the visit and it is an opportunity for guests to find out more about the support that is available, and how they can access it.

If your guests have not yet arrived and your circumstances change

Such as: you are no longer able to host; your guests are no longer arriving; there is a change to the number of guests arriving, or any other instance that occurs, you will need to update or withdraw the Homes for Ukraine application online or call UK Visas and Immigration on: +44 808 164 8810 in addition to contacting the Solihull Homes for Ukraine team: refugees@solihull.gov.uk

If your guests have already arrived and your circumstances change

Such as: you are no longer able to host; there has been a relationship breakdown between yourself and the guests; the amount of time you are able to be a host has changed, or any other instance that occurs, please get in contact with the host support team at Entraide: H4UH@entraideuk.org.uk in addition to contacting the Solihull Homes for Ukraine team: refugees@solihull.gov.uk.

Each lead sponsor under the Homes for Ukraine scheme is entitled to an optional 'thank you' payment of £350 per month, for as long as the guests remain in their accommodation. This payment will be tax free and should not affect the sponsor's entitlement to benefits or council tax status.  

After the guest has been in the UK for 12 months, this ‘thank you’ payment then increases to £500. Meaning if you continue to host beyond the first year to the second year, the second years’ monthly ‘thank you’ payments will be £500. Or alternatively if you rematch with a guest who has already been in the UK for 12 months’, your ‘thank you’ payment will be £500.

The 'thank you' payment is limited to one payment per residential address, regardless of the number of guests being hosted, size or location of the property.    

The 'thank you' payment will be paid in arrears directly into the lead sponsor's bank account and once the following checks have been completed:  

• the local council has visited your property to make sure it is suitable for the guests 
• the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) application process has been started for the sponsor and any adults,16 or over, in the sponsor's household  
• the guests have arrived and  
• the council has visited the guests in their accommodation to make sure the guests have settled in and are aware of the support available to them.  

Solihull Council is responsible for administering the 'thank you' payment in Solihull.  

Solihull Council is delighted to be working in partnership with Entraide, providing dedicated support to the hosts on the Homes for Ukraine scheme.

To get in contact with the Homes for Ukraine host support team, please email: H4UH@entraideuk.org.uk.

Visit GOV.UK for the UK Governments response to the crisis, what you can do to help, travel advice and UK visa support. They have published many helpful documents such as, Homes for Ukraine: Sponsor Guidance, and Advice on Visa Support for Ukrainian Nationals.

Homes for Ukraine with Reset provide support resources for hosts.