Refugee support
Pages in Refugee support
- 1. Ukrainian refugee information
- 2. You are here: Ukrainian refugee sponsors' information
- 3. Ukrainian refugee guest information
- 4. Ukrainian refugee additional support
- 5. Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP)
- 6. Syrian Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme
2. Ukrainian refugee sponsors' information
Translations
To read this page in Ukrainian, please see Google Translate: Підтримка громадян України
To read this page in Russian, please see Google Translate: Поддержка граждан Украины
Disclaimer: as the translations linked above are provided by Google Translate, Reigate & Banstead Borough Council cannot be held responsible for their accuracy.
Homes for Ukraine Scheme and Ukraine Family Scheme
Please see 2025 update at the bottom of this page.
How to prepare for your guests to arrive
Read the Sponsors' Guidance and FAQs
- Welcome: a guide for Ukrainians arriving in the UK - GOV.UK
- Homes for Ukraine scheme: frequently asked questions - GOV.UK
Tell Reigate & Banstead Borough Council, via email: resettlement@reigate-banstead.gov.uk
- your name
- address
- contact details (telephone and email)
- how many guests are you planning to accommodate (adults and children)
- which scheme you are supporting
- whether you have identified a guest(s)
You will then receive contact from the Resettlement team to provide you with more information.
In-person support sessions:
We provide in-person support sessions by appointment only. Please contact resettlement@reigate-banstead.gov.uk
Homes for Ukraine Scheme only:
DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checks - As part of our duty to promote the welfare of children and adults, we are administering DBS checks on sponsors' and all people over 16 living within the property listed on the VISA.
Property suitability checks. This process has two parts:
Please note – these two checks do not delay your guests VISA applications or affect their arrival date.
1. Address verification - This process ensures that the address on the VISA is a residential property that exists within the Council’s administrative area. You do not have to do anything to enable this to happen.
2. Accommodation Check - You will be contacted to arrange a visit to the property listed on the VISA. This will be undertaken by our Environmental Health team. The team will ensure that your accommodation is free from serious health and safety hazards and is suitable for your guests.
See our: Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme Privacy Notice
Thank you payments
Sponsors' have the option to receive a monthly payment of £600 until March 2026, which Surrey County Council increased from the national allowance of £350. This is to compensate for the rise in energy, food and fuel bills. This is paid in arrears, for as long as you are hosting your guests and provided that the accommodation is of a suitable standard. You will be eligible for the first monthly payment once your guests have arrived and the Reigate and Banstead Resettlement team have completed all the appropriate checks.
For sponsors' who receive Universal Credit or benefit payments, the thank you payment will not affect your benefit entitlement. Thank you payments will not affect any council tax discounts for single occupancy and they will be tax free. You will receive information directly from the Resettlement Team to help you apply for the thank you payment. If your guest moves out of your home for any reason, you must inform your local council at the earliest opportunity as you will need to let them know that you are no longer eligible for the monthly payments.
Guests must reside in the sponsors' property for more than half of the month for any thank you payments to be made.
The sponsor is required to repay any overpayments made incorrectly and will be contacted for the return of such monies.
Please note that the situation in Ukraine may change, and this could impact future government funding and policy.
Holiday periods/guests leaving:
It is the sponsors' responsibility to inform the council via resettlement@reigate-banstead.gov.uk of the following:
- Date guest/guests depart, as thank you payments are paused if they are away for more than four weeks.
- Date the guest/guests return so payments may recommence
- Date your guest/guests leave your property with the intention not to return
Homes for Ukraine - Private rental scheme (new from November 2023)
We are pleased to be able to offer this scheme which provides some financial assistance available to guests who may be wishing to consider the private rental option, subject to our affordability checks.
If you or your guest feel this type of support may be of interest or of benefit, please email us: resettlement@reigate-banstead.gov.uk and one of our team will be in contact to provide further information and discuss this further.
February 2025 Ukrainian Scheme updates
1. Surrey County Council have confirmed that Thank You payments will remain at £600 until 31st March 2026. This will then revert to the Government level of funding which currently stands at £350 - further details regarding future funding will be provided by Government in due course. Please consider the ‘rent a room’ scheme if you wish to convert to lodging arrangements and/or start encouraging your guest/s to consider independent living at the earliest opportunity.
2. Ukraine Permission Scheme (UPE): The UPE is available for guests whose visas are due for renewal. Applications can be made from 4th February 2025, but only if the current visa is set to expire within the next 28 days. Guests must be in the UK when applying and must remain in the UK until a decision is made. For more information please see Applying to the Ukraine Permission Extension scheme - GOV.UK .
3. Visa Extension and “Thank You” Payments: If guests are granted a new 18-month visa extension, hosts will need to reapply for the “Thank You” payments. Please note that hosts who are close relatives of their guests will no longer be eligible for these payments at this stage. It has been agreed at SCC that if guests are away from the sponsor’s house for 28 day or more the Thank You payments will be paused and you will be required to complete a new thank you payment application.
If your guest/s applies for a UPE visa, you must email the Resettlement Team at: resettlement@reigate-banstead.gov.uk to request to make a new Thank You payment claim. We encourage you to review the new guidance regarding visa extensions to ensure full compliance with the new requirements. Here is a link for further information: Applying to the Ukraine Permission Extension scheme - GOV.UK
4. Encouragement to Save: We encourage guests to save money to potentially secure accommodation in the future. The local council has emphasized that government policy regarding visas may change depending on developments in Ukraine, and it is important to remain prepared for future changes.
Guidance for Ukrainian nationals and their immediate family members who wish to remain in the UK under the Ukraine Permission Extension Scheme can be found here Applying to the Ukraine Permission Extension scheme - GOV.UK
If you have any questions or would like further information, please do not hesitate to contact us on resettlement@reigate-banstead.gov.uk