Host FAQs

For those who refer themselves, our experienced Placement Team carry out an assessment, including seeking at least one recent reference.

When guests are referred to us by another organisation such as the British Red Cross or Refugee Council, the organisations assess each guest’s situation and whether they are suitable for hosting. We ask questions of the referrer about the type of support they offer and what the likely end goal for a guest is.

We approach our assessment with pragmatism, but we would never circumvent our process for assessing guests before approaching hosts.

Before any host is approved, they must undergo an assessment by one of our Home Visitors. They are professionally qualified and have a professional background in safeguarding. The visit allows us to get a sense of your home and its suitability for a placement, and answer any questions or concerns you might have.

More details about our application process is available here.

It’s understandable to be concerned about anyone you don’t know staying in your home.

In the ten years we’ve operated as a charity, we’ve overseen thousands of safe, successful placements with hosts for whom opening their home is a new experience. We work closely with guests, hosts, and referrers alike and address any concerns.

If you have any issues during your placement, the quickest way to contact a member of our team is by emailing info@refugeesathome.org. 

Find our more about how we assess guests here.

Hosting can be for as little as a few days or several months – it’s completely up to your preferences and availability. 

Some of our hosts provide emergency hosting – placements of up to a week, often at short notice.

If you’re a new host, we’ll usually approach you for a shorter placement so you can get an idea of what hosting is like.  All placements begin with a trial period where both guest and host can tell us if things aren’t working out for them. 

You’ll never be expected to host beyond when you’re able to. If for any reason you need to end a placement early, let us know as soon as possible and we’ll do our best to find the guest an alternative place to stay.

Most placements will have a fixed duration, and throughout this time, we’ll work with the guest, hosts, and referrers if they are available to have a plan in place for what happens next.

Find out more about the end of a placement here.

Contact your Placement Coordinator as soon as possible and they will be able to advise you. Please note, we are not an emergency service but we do provide an out of hours cover for active placements which can be reached  by emailing info@refugeesathome.org . For serious, urgent matters, call 999.

Find out more here.

Visit our ‘I’d like to host’ page to find out more about the requirements and process for opening your home.

Before applying, please make sure that you have discussed hosting with any other members of your household.

You’ll never be expected to host anyone you don’t want to. During the application process, we’ll discuss any requirements you have – such as being vaccinated against Covid, or nonsmokers – and use this information to match guests likely to be compatible. If you have a particular person you would like to host we’d suggest getting in contact with us before applying; having pre-existing relationships can present challenges in hosting.

Our Placement Team will check in with you regularly while hosting and are always available.

If there are issues during your placement, you can email us seven days a week at info@refugeesathome.org.

If you’d like to speak to other hosts in your area, considering joining one of our ‘Hubs. Hubs are informal, local groups that provide a way for hosts and home visitors to come together, share knowledge and experiences, and support one another.  Find out more about them here.

We only ask you to provide a room for a guest to stay in for a set period of time.  Some hosts choose to share meals or provide support to find out about the local area.  You can find out ways in which you can welcome your guest here.

As a host, you’re already doing a huge amount and we do not recommend hosts give money to guests. We do offer a weekly bursary payment of £30 to guests who do not have access to public funds. You can read more about this on our Finances information page.

Our guests will have varying levels of English. Before a placement, we’ll always let you know the languages they speak and how we, or our referrers, communicate with them. Guests have told us that their English skills improved rapidly during their placement, and often apps such as Google Translate can help with the necessities.

Visit our guidance for hosting a guest with limited English here.

It’s possible that hosting could affect any benefits you receive, such as Universal Credit or the single person council tax discount. This is entirely dependent on your individual circumstances, and your Local Authority. We strongly recommend contacting your work coach to check how hosting might impact you if you are in receipt of benefits. We have lots of experience of advocating with councils if your single person council tax discount is affected, your guest is a guest, and there is no formal agreement in place for them staying with you, and they are not resident in your home.

The government has stated that for anyone hosting with the Homes for Ukraine scheme, the ‘thank you’ payment will be ignored when calculating Housing Benefit, Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Income Support, income-related Employment and Support Allowance and income-based Jobseeker's Allowance for hosts and will not affect the amount you receive.

Yes – your guest is entitled to register with a GP to access healthcare. Some may be cautious about doing so and it’s important they do not feel pressured. Depending on their circumstances, they could be billed large amounts for some NHS care. If you have concerns please let us know and we will discuss any concerns discreetly with the guest or referrer.