Homes for Ukraine: council guides
Source: gov.uk (2025-09-15)

Guides for councils to understand what checks are needed for potential sponsors/hosts and their accommodation, how to access and use Share and the council's role in the scheme.

What this guidance covers and definitions

These pages contain guidance for councils. This information does not replace or contradict their statutory duties or responsibilities of councils.

This guidance only applies to councils supporting the Homes for Ukraine Scheme in England. It does not apply to councils in Northern Ireland. Scotland (https://www.gov.scot/publications/super-sponsor-scheme-and-homes-for-ukraine-guidance-for-local-authorities/) and Wales (https://www.gov.wales/homes-ukraine-local-authority-guidance) have published their own guidance for councils.

This guidance does not cover:
- displaced people already in the UK
- people transferring from visitor visas
- people who arrived via the Ukraine Family Scheme
This guidance also does not cover children under 18 from Ukraine, who are not travelling with or joining a parent or legal guardian. You can find guidance for this cohort here:
- Guidance for Councils (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/homes-for-ukraine-guidance-for-councils-children-and-minors-applying-without-parents-or-legal-guardians) (Children and minors applying without parents)
- Guidance for Sponsors (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/homes-for-ukraine-guidance-for-sponsors-children-and-minors-applying-without-parents-or-legal-guardians) (Children and minors applying without parents)
- Guidance for Parents and Legal Guardians (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/homes-for-ukraine-guidance-for-parents-or-legal-guardians-children-and-minors-applying-without-parents) (Children and minors applying without parents)
Ukraine Permission Extension (UPE) scheme

Ukrainians and their eligible family members in the UK who have already been granted permission under one of the Ukraine Schemes are able to apply for the UPE scheme before their existing permission expires. For more information see Ukraine Permission Extension scheme - guidance for councils (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/homes-for-ukraine-ukraine-permission-extension-scheme-guidance-for-councils).

Definitions of important terms

Close family relationship or close family members refers to any of the following: spouse, civil or unmarried partners, parents, parents-in-law, sons or daughters, sons or daughters-in-law, step-sons or step-daughters, siblings, grandparents, or the spouses, civil or unmarried partners of any of these people.

Guest or guests refers to an individual or household previously resident in Ukraine, prior to 1 January 2022, who has secured a visa under the Homes for Ukraine scheme, which enables them to be housed by a sponsor.

Host or hosts refers to an individual, group, or organisation who provides accommodation to people from Ukraine. A host does not need to be a sponsor.

MHCLG is the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

Share refers to the Share Homes for Ukraine data system, which is where councils must record and manage all sponsor and guest data relating to the Homes for Ukraine scheme.

Sponsor or sponsors refers to an individual, group, or organisation 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.