Host FAQs

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.

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

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. These allow us to get a sense of your home and its suitability for a placement, and answer any questions or concerns you might have. We prefer these to be in-person visits, but can arrange for them to be carried out over a video call if necessary.

All hosts must also provide two character references.

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 our referral partners to address any concerns, and our experienced team carry out thorough assessments on self-referred guests.

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

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 only 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 another host.

Most placements will have a fixed duration, and throughout this time, we’ll work with the guest, hosts, and our partners to have a place in place for what happens next.

Some guests will move on to stay with another host, others will move in to privately rented properties, emergency accommodation, or student halls. We’ll always be in touch before a placement ends so everyone involved is confident in what happens next. Some hosts and guests keep in touch once a placement ends, but this is not always the case and is down to both host and guest to decide if this is something they would like. There is no expectation on either party that this will happen.

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.

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 you have read through all the information on the page, and 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.

Our Placement Team will check in with you regularly while hosting and can be easily contacted by email.

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 on our dedicated Hubs page.

Before your placement starts, we’ll let you know about your guest’s circumstances, so you have some idea of what level of support to provide. Most of our guests have some essentials, but some, particularly those who have been street homeless, may need things like toiletries and clean clothes.

If you’re unsure, we recommend leaving some essentials in their room when they arrive. Some guests may be apprehensive about asking you for things, so it can be beneficial to leave more than you think they might need in their room.

Although some hosts cook for their guests, this isn’t expected, but it’s useful to provide some food for their first few days while they get settled. We will inform you of any specific dietary requirements your guest has before they arrive, but it’s good to double check with them. We will also let guests know about any dietary requirements within your home so they know what is expected of them while staying.

As a host, you’re already doing a huge amount and we do not ask hosts to give money to guests. Many hosts will offer to provide an evening meal for their guests or let them use the kitchen to cook their own food. Some hosts provide travel cards to help guests socialise and get to appointments. This is entirely at your discretion.

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 Advice for Hosts page.

Our guests will have varying levels of English. Before a placement, we’ll always let you know how much English they speak. 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.

Read our dedicated page on guests with limited English for further advice.

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 local council or benefit office to check how hosting might impact you.

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 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 to not feel pressured. Depending on their circumstances, they could be billed large amounts for any care they receive. If you have concerns please let us know and we will discuss any concerns discreetly with the referrer, if applicable.