How are Councils assisting Afghan refugees to find properties?
There are funds available to LA’s to provide accommodation to Afghani refugees, but they have no properties of their own to offer. Many Social Housing providers (that the LA’s have no choice but to use) have said that incoming Afghans will NOT be treated as a priority over and above the already never-ending list of those needing accommodation.
I asked the two LA’s I deal with for more info – one replied with the following:
We are awaiting further information from the Home Office following their statement about supporting a wider number of refugees from Afghanistan, but had previously been in discussions about the possibility of supporting those Afghans and their families who had worked in various roles for the MOD whilst the military were in situ. These families have been arriving in the UK since July and are the ones in most urgent need of accommodation. Depending on updates from the Home Office, resettlement of a wider number of refugees is likely to take place over an extended period.
Currently, the Home Office is looking for 2+ bed accommodation as they mainly have families to accommodate. This may change going forward.
Once a property has been identified as being suitable by a local authority, it will be offered to the Home Office who will allocate a family. Once the family arrives in the local authority area, they will enter into a standard assured shorthold tenancy with a landlord as you would with any other tenant.
The families will be entitled to claim housing benefit and other benefits. It is likely that they will be subject to the benefit cap, so rents will need to be affordable for the family in line with local housing allowance rates. It is intended that a home will be occupied by a single-family, but there are large families needing accommodation. They will be made aware of their responsibilities under a tenancy agreement. It is hoped that the families will settle in their accommodation and will want to stay longer than the initial period, however, they will be entitled to move if they wish.
Each local authority area will support the family for 12 months to ensure that they are receiving the correct benefits, that they are registered with GPs and schools, that they are linked with the Job Centre to help look for employment and – if necessary – that adults can access English lessons.
Kind Regards
XXXX
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Given that the LA’s will be effectively giving NO financial assistance to a PRS Landlord or providing guarantees, are any landlords going to take on additional risk in the current legislative environment?
What responses have others had from their LA? Are there some LA’s offering incentives and if so are you considering them?
Many thanks
DSR
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Member Since December 2015 - Comments: 828
11:19 AM, 13th September 2021, About 5 years ago
include me out
Member Since September 2018 - Comments: 3511 - Articles: 5
12:10 PM, 13th September 2021, About 5 years ago
Reply to the comment left by terry sullivan at 13/09/2021 – 11:19
I am too for many, many reasons…which all come back to too high a risk on all counts.
The government (typically) have committed to something they can’t have a hope of sorting themselves in the full knowledge of this fact before opening their mouth and the taxpayers apparently bottomless purse…
Member Since March 2017 - Comments: 317
12:12 PM, 13th September 2021, About 5 years ago
Come on Shelter, now is your chance to earn your money. At the risk of being shouted down, emotions aside, how come we can house 1000’s of refugees from all over but cannot house our own homeless. I just don’t get it. Sorry!! We all know the old saying “Charity begins at home” but it ain’t happening here.
Member Since September 2018 - Comments: 19
3:19 PM, 13th September 2021, About 5 years ago
Reply to the comment left by terry sullivan at 13/09/2021 – 11:19
Me neither, thanks to all the lovely govt legislation that controls ‘our properties’ we are selling up. Too risky, govt support for a year and then what happens? It’s bad enough get home grown tenants out.
Member Since March 2017 - Comments: 317
3:42 PM, 13th September 2021, About 5 years ago
Every property for sale in our latest regular property auction here in Suffolk is tenanted and with very reasonable guide prices. I wonder why??!!
Member Since October 2013 - Comments: 1630 - Articles: 3
4:18 PM, 13th September 2021, About 5 years ago
The government, councils, shelter, generation rent, Labour… all demonise the PRS and landlords are now leaving the sector. I have 2 suitable flats remaining and a large house which will be for holiday letting. But I am selling one flat now because it is empty after 16 months arrears, and will sell the other just as soon as I can. There are no properties for refugees! I suspect hotels and guest houses will be commandeered, and they will become run-down as will the surrounding area. Then people won’t want to holiday in the UK!
Member Since May 2016 - Comments: 1570 - Articles: 16
6:26 PM, 13th September 2021, About 5 years ago
Pure discrimination, Against ‘ British ‘ !
Member Since May 2018 - Comments: 1999
10:34 AM, 14th September 2021, About 5 years ago
I’m not actually looking at this because I already have tenants. However, if I was looking at it I doubt that my landlord’s insurance would cover this.
Member Since September 2018 - Comments: 3511 - Articles: 5
10:47 AM, 14th September 2021, About 5 years ago
Reply to the comment left by GREENDIZZYCRAB at 13/09/2021 – 15:19
I question the ‘support’ in the first place anyway. Support in my LA means they rush the RIA and deposit payment to you as fast as the can, give a quick nod to the TA (they aren’t bothered really as UC deal with the rent payments) then its tenant handover to the LL job done and dusted.
For them it a simple case of
….next person in line please step forward….
Member Since September 2015 - Comments: 31
10:11 PM, 14th September 2021, About 5 years ago
Would the tenant be considered vulnerable? If so you should be able to get the housing element of their UC claim paid directly to you.