Homes for Ukraine scheme

Homes for Ukraine - Information for hosts

What you need to know before becoming a sponsor

Sponsoring and hosting can be a rewarding experience, but there are some important things to consider before becoming a sponsor including: 

  • providing the accommodation for at least 6 months
  • your accommodation is safe and has enough space to live comfortably
  • extra household costs with additional people
  • providing support and guidance to your guests when they arrive
  • interacting with the council to complete the various checks required
  • employment opportunities and education facilities in the area
  • deciding on boundaries and how to live together

Finding a guest

Once you have decided, you will need to find someone to sponsor. There are organisations that can help you find people to sponsor. See list of recognised providers 

You can also consider becoming a rematch host for guests who have already arrived in the UK but are unable to continue with their original host. If you are interested in becoming a rematch host, please contact the team at homeforukraine@ealing.gov.uk 

Eligibility checks

Once you have applied to sponsor a Ukrainian guest in Ealing, you will get an email from the Homes for Ukraine team about the accommodation and safeguarding checks needed as part of the scheme. If you do not get this, please get in touch with the team at homeforukraine@ealing.gov.uk 

1. Accommodation checks (carried out before guests arrive):

  • a council officer must visit to ensure property is fit to live in – for instance it is safe, adequate, heated, free from serious hazards and arriving guests have access to bathroom and kitchen facilities
  • confirm that arriving guests will not be overcrowded
  • initiate Standard DBS checks for all persons aged 16+ in the host household
  • initiate Enhanced DBS check for all persons aged 16+ in host household if children (<18) are part of arriving household. Exception if arriving children are part of host household’s family (for example a niece) in which case Standard DBS only required

2. Safeguarding checks (carried out once guests have arrived):

  • a council officer must visit to confirm arriving persons are well and there are no serious safeguarding concerns
  • needs assessment to be carried out under Care Act 2014 if suspected adults in arriving household may have care needs
  • where support needs identified, initiate Enhanced DBS check for any host adults (16+) where it is proposed they will be provided arriving families with support

More information on eligibility, safeguarding and accommodation checks is on Gov.UK

Thank you payments to hosts

As a sponsor, you will have committed to providing accommodation to the guests for 6 months. However, you may be happy to continue hosting beyond the 6 months. During this time, your will get a monthly payment from Ealing Council as a thank you for your help. This will be £350 a month during the first 12 months, paid one month in arrears. It will then increase to £500 once the guests have been in the UK for 12 months. The thank you payment is available for the duration of your guest’s visa. 

To claim, complete the host payment form to give us your bank details.

Further guides for sponsors

Support for hosts