Frequently asked questions (FAQs) for hosts
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Frequently asked questions (FAQs) are listed below. They are separated into 4 topic areas to make it easier to find the information you need.
Will I have to pay tax on the £350 host payment?
No – these payments won’t be taxed.
These payments are also disregarded when calculating income for tax credits.
Will providing accommodation mean that I am classified as subletting (because of the £350 payment from Government)?
No, you will not be classified as subletting.
Will my Council Tax be affected?
No – there will be no increase in how much council tax you’ll need to pay when hosting Ukrainian guests.
Government ensures sponsors won't pay extra Council Tax for hosting Ukrainians in their main homes, as the guests are ‘disregarded’ under council tax rules.
Sponsors also get a 50% discount on hosting Ukrainians in their empty or second homes.
If a household currently subject to the spare room subsidy offers their spare room, will they no longer be subject to this?
Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) have stated that under-occupancy rules will continue to apply to these households – the presence of Ukrainian guests will not change the under-occupancy rules.
As it is not considered the main residence of a Ukrainian guests, this avoids the application of non-dependent deductions.
Will providing accommodation affect my entitlement to Benefits, for instance if my guest is able to earn an income?
No, you’re benefits won’t be affected at all. The £350 given to you is classified as a gift (not taxable income).
But you cannot charge the guest rent.
If I receive care and sponsor a refugee through the Homes for Ukraine, will I be affected?
No you will not.
Department of Health and Social Care has published guidance for councils. It states that sponsors (who are care recipients) should be seen as volunteers taking part in a voluntary activity as a host. Therefore, this should be considered when carrying out financial assessments in relation to adult social care.
Do I need to tell my mortgage provider / home insurance provider that I am providing accommodation through these schemes?
You’ll need to check with your mortgage provider and insurance company about relevant policies you need to factor in.
Most insurers have agreed that for homeowners accommodating Ukrainian Nationals in their home that there is no need to contact your insurer. This is because they are accommodated under the policy as non-paying guests.
Will social housing tenancies be affected?
Anyone who rents their property – whether through a social or private tenancy – should check with their landlord to see if their tenancy will be affected.
Do companies have to pay tax on homes for guests?
Companies that make homes available to support the Homes for Ukraine scheme will be relieved from the following two taxes:
Safeguarding and accommodation checks
How and when will Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks and accommodation checks on hosts be undertaken?
We’re contacting hosts who have been matched with guests within 2 days of us being given their contact details by the Home Office.
We will first send an email to hosts who have been matched with guests. This email will have information on:
- information about DBS checks
- accommodation checks
- £350 host payments
- £350 guest payments
If you’re a host who has received this email, please do not forward this to anyone else. We can only accept responses from hosts and guests after we receive their initial information from the Home Office. So, anyone who hasn't yet heard from us is asked to wait to be contacted directly.
Getting a DBS check to complete can take four to six weeks, but many are coming back within a week. In some cases, guests may arrive before the DBS check have been completed.
Guests may also arrive before the accommodation checks are done (some may have arrived before we got host data). We aim to start both DBS and accommodation checks as quickly as possible, once hosts and guests are matched. These checks should not cause a delay to guests arriving.
We’re looking at what measures we can put in place to safeguard guests before DBS checks are completed. Hosts are not expected to cover the cost of the DBS checks. Guests are not asked to complete a DBS check.
I don’t know the person I’m sponsoring – we met on Facebook – should I give them my passport details?
Sharing your personal information is up to you. But, we urge you to consider this decision carefully.
If you have concerns about sharing personal details, you may prefer to fill out the visa application form for the people you are sponsoring. To do this, you will need to ask them for their information.
What do I need to do to make sure my home is suitable for my guest?
All accommodation will be different. There is no set expectation, but your place must 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 to make sure there is enough space.
2 people should not be in 1 room unless they are:
- adult partners
- a parent and child
- 2 same-gender siblings over 10, or any siblings under 10
People who didn’t previously know each other should not be given the same room.
Added to the above, accommodation should:
- be kept clean and in a reasonable state
- have enough kitchen and bathroom space
- have access to drinking water
- have a smoke detector on each floor. Also, have other fire safety precautions suitable for the building, like fire doors or escape routes. (For more information on this, see making a home safe from fire)
- have a working carbon monoxide detector in any room if there is a solid fuel burning appliance (e.g. a coal fire, wood burning stove)
- have heating to keep the property at a comfortable temperature
- have safe gas appliances, fittings and flues and have undertaken a Gas Safety check within the last year (see more information)
- have safe and working electrics, which a qualified electrician can help with if you’re unsure
- be almost entirely free of damp or mould
- have 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
What do I do if I am worried about an adult?
Contact Cambridgeshire County Council by:
- completing an online form
- calling 0345 045 5202 (8am to 6pm weekdays, 9am to 1pm Saturday)
- outside office hours, if someone is in danger and unable to protect themselves, or cannot remain in the community without immediate help, call 01733 234 72
- if you feel that a person(s) or property is in immediate danger, call 999
What do I do if I am worried about a child?
Contact Cambridgeshire County Council by:
- completing an online form
- calling 0345 045 5203 (8am to 6pm weekdays, 9am to 1pm Saturday)
- outside office hours, if you’re concerned that a child or family needs emergency safeguarding and/ or support, call 01733 234 724
- if you feel that a person(s) or property is in immediate danger, call 999.
I registered as a host a while ago – what is taking so long for a family to arrive?
The Government runs the Homes for Ukraine registration, visa and matching processes. We understand that you may have been waiting a while. The Government is working as fast as they can to reach the many people who signed up as a sponsor through the Homes for Ukraine Scheme.
Only once hosts and guests have been ‘matched’ is South Cambridgeshire District Council (SCDC) given the information to contact hosts.
What process will be put in place in case of a breakdown in relations between a sponsor and a guest/family to ensure housing can be provided?
Guests without a place to stay or who are at risk of homelessness should contact us as soon as possible through our Housing Advice service.