Finding a new host (rematching): Homes for Ukraine
Source: gov.uk (2025-01-21)

If your guests are not ready to leave sponsorship and move into their own alternative accommodation, but you can no longer accommodate them, they may want to find a new host.

The policy for guests who move on to the new Ukraine Permission Extension visa is different. For more information see the Ukraine Permission Extension scheme guidance (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/homes-for-ukraine-ukraine-permission-extension-scheme-guidance-for-sponsors).

You could help your guests to find a new host, for example through:
- someone that you already know
- a recognised provider (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/find-a-sponsor-using-recognised-providers-homes-for-ukraine)
- local faith groups
- community groups
- charities
- other organisations
The local council may also be able to help them find a new host.

Once your guests have found a new host, it is very important that they contact the local council so they can make the necessary checks, and to approve the arrangement. You can search for the local council (https://www.gov.uk/find-local-council). This should happen before they move in with a new host.

The new sponsor/host will then be eligible for thank you payments:
- Until 1 April 2025, sponsors/hosts are eligible to receive thank you payments of £350 per household during the first 12 months of a guest’s arrival in the UK, this increases to £500 a month once guests have been in the UK for 12 months.
- From 1 April 2025, sponsors/hosts will be eligible to receive £350 a month per household, irrespective of how long guests have been in the UK.
- Eligible sponsors/hosts of those previously on Homes for Ukraine visas will be able to claim thank you payments of £350 a month, for the 18 months that guests are covered by the Ukraine Permission Extension visa. See further guidance on the Ukraine Permission Extension scheme (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/homes-for-ukraine-ukraine-permission-extension-scheme-guidance-for-sponsors).
If they want to move to another area of the UK, they must tell their current local council before moving. The current council will then contact the council in the new area they want to move to, so they can make any necessary checks and can confirm the new living arrangements are suitable. If they do not do this, the guest could be at risk and the new sponsor/host will not be entitled to the thank you payment.

If your current guests move out, you can sponsor/host another guest to continue receiving the monthly thank you payment.

As of 1 October 2024, close family members (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/homes-for-ukraine-sponsor-guides) of Homes for Ukraine visa holders are not eligible to start claiming thank you payments. This applies to new arrivals and those who are already in the UK and move in with a close family member. This also includes where a guest transfers onto the Ukraine Permission Extension scheme (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/homes-for-ukraine-ukraine-permission-extension-scheme-guidance-for-sponsors).

There is a separate process for rematching children, you can find more information if you sponsor/host a child living in the UK without a parent or legal guardian (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/homes-for-ukraine-guidance-for-sponsors-children-and-minors-applying-without-parents-or-legal-guardians).

Renting private accommodation

There is high demand for private rental accommodation and social housing. Some councils are using the funding they have received from the government to facilitate access to private rented accommodation for their Ukrainian guests – offering, for instance, 12 month rent guarantees or paying rent in advance. If your guests are ready to rent but are facing challenges getting into the PRS, they should contact the council to understand what schemes and offers of support are available in your area. You can find your council (https://www.gov.uk/find-local-council).

As a sponsorship comes to an end, you might want to talk with your guest about moving to a more formal arrangement, if your guest would still like to live in your property or move to another property that you own. This would mean that you may need to become a landlord, which could require you to take on more responsibilities. Your rights and responsibilities could be different depending on whether the guest remains living in your property or moves into another property you own.

Information on what this means is available in the how to let in England guide (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/how-to-let), and in:
- renting out a property (https://www.gov.uk/renting-out-a-property)
- rent a room in your home (https://www.gov.uk/rent-room-in-your-home)
This will help guests when they are ready and able to move out of sponsorship into independent accommodation.

If guests are considering renting their own accommodation, they can read more information about their rights and responsibilities as a tenant (https://www.gov.uk/private-renting).

There is also Information about renting in Scotland (https://www.mygov.scot/browse/housing-local-services/renting-property), Wales (https://gov.wales/renting-property) and Northern Ireland (https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/information-and-services/buying-selling-and-renting-home/private-renting).

Contacting your local council for alternative accommodation

If your guest can’t take advantage of any of the options above and you are concerned about where they will live after your sponsorship ends, contact your local council.

We have made arrivals from Ukraine under one of the Government’s schemes eligible for housing assistance from day one of their arrival. There is high demand for social housing in most parts of the country and so even those with priority for social housing may have to wait for some time before a home which meets their needs becomes available.