The UK government's 'Homes for Ukraine' scheme helped UK residents provide housing for people seeking safety from the war in Ukraine.
If you came from Ukraine to live in Thurrock, we hope our borough has been a place of safety and sanctuary for you.
As some of our guests from Ukraine are now moving on from the Homes for Ukraine scheme, we have provided the information below to explain the housing options available.
Leaving the Homes for Ukraine scheme
Under the Homes for Ukraine scheme, people who a provide a home – called 'sponsors' – are asked to host their guests for at least 6 months.
Your sponsor should give you a reasonable notice period of when they expect you to move out. That is, the amount of time between the date they when they tell you they expect you to move out and the last date you can stay. UK government guidance says sponsors should give their guests 2 months' notice.
Please let us know your plans and arrangements by contacting our Well Homes team. The earlier you can tell us your plans, the better we will be able to support you.
Housing options
It is important to think about the right type of accommodation for you – for example, how much space you need, how much it costs, how close it is to schools if you have children. In the UK it is common for children to go to school by public transport, such as a bus or train.
Some housing options for you in the UK are listed below.
Continuing in your current 'Homes for Ukraine' sponsorship
You and your host may be happy to continue your current sponsorship. In this case we encourage you to continue.
To help maintain your arrangement and support the sponsorship, we have increased the monthly payment amount to £700. We will review this again in September 2023.
Hosts cannot charge you rent if they are continuing to sponsor you as part of the Homes for Ukraine scheme.
Continuing to live with your sponsor, but as a lodger
You may wish to continue staying with your sponsor in their property as a lodger instead of being sponsored by them. This means you may rent a room from your sponsor for an agreed amount of money to be paid each week or each month.
If you choose this option, the 'Homes for Ukraine' sponsor payments will stop.
As a lodger, if you want to claim housing costs through Universal Credit you would need to show your tenancy agreement or licence agreement. This document tells your your rights and should include a reasonable notice period – for example, 1 month or 2 months – if the sponsor wants you to move out.
If you are a sponsor and claiming benefits for yourself or your family, you need to know the benefit rules for lodger income. If you are renting the property, it is also important to get your landlord's permission. If you are working, you might want to use the government's rent-a-room scheme – go to GOV.UK: The Rent a Room Scheme.
For more information and advice on lodging or taking in a lodger, go to Citizens Advice: Lodging.
Moving to a new host in Thurrock
If you wish to stay in the 'Homes for Ukraine' scheme but your current sponsor cannot host you any longer, it may be possible to find a new sponsor from the limited number of potential hosts in Thurrock.
To have the best chance of success with this option, it is important you tell us as soon as possible that you want to find a new. Email our Well Homes team, below.
You can also find a list of organisations who are helping to match Ukrainian nationals with hosts in the UK by going to Help and Support for Ukrainian Refugees in the UK: Find a UK Sponsor.
Renting privately from a landlord in Thurrock or elsewhere in the UK
Renting a property from a private landlord is a good option as it will give you the greatest amount of choice about price, type of property, space and location.
You can find lots of information online about how to rent in England. One of the most useful guides available is the government's 'How to Rent' guidebook – go to GOV.UK: How to Rent.
When renting a property from a private landlord:
- usually you must pay a deposit in advance, equivalent to around 1 month's rent – this will be kept under a Tenancy Deposit Protection and returned to you at the end of the tenancy, minus any costs the landlord has taken out to pay for damages
- you must pay your first month's rent in advance, after which rent is usually paid monthly in advance
- to reserve a property you are interested in renting you may need to pay a 'holding deposit' – you should get this money back, usually as a payment towards your rent
- some landlords accept tenants who receive Universal Credit or Housing Benefit payments but some landlords choose not to – it is for the landlord to decide
You should check whether your rent payment also covers payment of any bills – usually it does not. If bills are not included, you will need to arrange payment yourself. Types of bills include:
- water
- electricity
- heating – central heating will usually be either gas or electric
- council tax – the amount you must pay will depend on the value of the property, the local authority area where you live, and whether you are eligible for any discounts
- telephone landline and broadband for internet
There are different service providers for each type of bill, and each will offer its own prices. You should check different providers to find the best deal for you.
For more guidance, go to our private tenants web pages, and also read GOV.UK: Tenancy Deposit Protection.
Private housing to rent in Thurrock can be expensive and hard to find. You may find more suitable affordable housing in other areas of Essex or outside of Essex. We suggest you look at a range of locations so you have the best chance of finding a suitable property.
The following websites list properties that are available for rent:
The different types of rental properties available are:
- single property lets – such as a house, bungalow, flat
- houses in multiple occupation – a shared house with 3 or more people who share a toilet, bathroom or kitchen facility with other tenants
You can look online to find house shares at SpareRoom.
If you are single, under 35 years-old, have no children and are claiming Universal Credit, the government will give you only a limited amount of money towards your rent costs because they would like you to share a house with other people. The amount paid is called the 'shared accommodation rate'.
To check what benefits you can get, go to GOV.UK: Benefits calculators. You should also read the information at Shelter: Local housing allowance (LHA) help with rent if you're under 35.
Housing association and council housing (social housing)
Social housing is available in every part of the UK. It is provided by either:
- housing associations – not-for-profit organisations that own, let and manage rented housing
- local councils
Social housing is more affordable than private renting and provides a secure, long-term tenancy. However, there is a shortage of council and housing association homes in most areas.
Every council in the UK has its own 'housing allocation' policy that says who gets priority for social housing. It is easier to get social housing outside Thurrock, particularly in the north of England.
If would like to apply for social housing, we encourage you to register with HomeFinder UK – a national scheme that helps those who want or need to move. They may be better able to find a home that is more suitable for you. The scheme is available to anyone willing to move nationwide.
If you are at risk of losing your home
If you are at risk of becoming homeless, we can give advice and help to resolve the situation. Go to Housing Jigsaw and complete the online form. Once completed, one of our team will contact you to assess your individual and household needs. They will tell you what will happen next and how we may be able to help you.
If you need help with this, contact our team below.
: 01375 652 652
Applying for social housing
As a person with limited leave to remain in the UK, you and your family may be eligible to apply for social housing in Thurrock.
To apply to rent a council or housing association home in Thurrock you must first apply to join our housing register. Whether you qualify join will depend on your finances, your residency, your housing need and other factors. For full details, check our housing allocation scheme.
If you believe you qualify, go to apply to join our housing register.
If you have any questions, contact our team below.
Further information and useful contacts
The Ukrainian Institute London is the main Ukrainian group in the UK for Ukraine-related educational and cultural activities. It has been running for more than 50 years from its base in Holland Park, London.
For useful information to help you find housing, go to:
- GOV.UK: Homes for Ukraine find a sponsor using a recognised provider – organisations that can help
- GOV.UK: How to Rent – a guide to the process of renting in England
- GOV.UK: Private renting – a guide to your rights and responsibilities as a tenant
- GOV.UK: Benefits calculators – calculate the benefits you are entitled to
- Citizens Advice – free advice on a range of issues, including housing
- Shelter: Housing for refugees and people fleeing war – free advice, including housing and homelessness
The following charities provide support to refugees who want to settle in the UK: