x
By using this website, you agree to our use of cookies to enhance your experience.
Graham Awards

TODAY'S OTHER NEWS

Government steps up pressure on landlords to house refugees

The government is calling on landlords with suitable properties to submit Afghan resettlement offers through a relaunched housing portal.

Landlords are being urged to offer homes for families evacuated from Afghanistan to help the national effort to get them settled in the UK.

The government says its relaunched housing portal allows private landlords to put forward offers of accommodation so councils can match them to families.

Advertisement

More offers are urgently needed to help move families from temporary bridging accommodation and into their own homes – so they have the stability they need to rebuild their lives in the UK.

The government says landlords will be supporting the more than 300 councils who have already pledged places. This is backed by £5m in government funding.

Minister for Afghan Resettlement, Victoria Atkins, comments: “I’ve seen first-hand the incredible support available and am so proud of the way communities across the country have thrown their arms around these families, many of whom put themselves at risk to help the UK and our allies in Afghanistan.

“We know these families need a place of their own so they can truly build a life in the UK, but we recognise that finding settled accommodation for so many people is a challenge.

“That is why today I am urging landlords to join our efforts and come forward with offers of housing so we can help these people settle and thrive.

“Ensuring people have a home to call their own is a vital part of our programme of support to help those who worked closely with UK forces in Afghanistan, risking their lives in the process, so that they are able to begin rebuilding their lives here.”

Homes have been provided to more than 4,000 evacuees but Atkins says more offers are required to ensure that no family is left without an appropriate housing match.

 

Accommodation must be self-contained with no shared facilities, available for at least 12 months, and meet safety regulations and landlord responsibilities. 

To support as many families as possible, properties should be as close to the Local Housing Allowance Rate as possible. 

There is a particular need for larger properties and properties that are in a close proximity to one another.

The government is working alongside councils and other partners to ensure those currently accommodated in bridging accommodation are receiving vital support to help them rebuild their lives, find work, pursue education, and integrate into their local communities. 

Want to comment on this story? If so...if any post is considered to victimise, harass, degrade or intimidate an individual or group of individuals on any basis, then the post may be deleted and the individual immediately banned from posting in future.

  • icon

    Iron clad commercial full repairing 5 yr lease agreement with mid term break clause and structured rent rises along with your social care package language Uk customs etc to protect (our) position yes our position then you might get offered good properties to house these people. Reasonable request I think

  • icon

    Government has stepped up pressure on LL’s to House more refugees who have already provided homes for 4’000 Afghan refugees at Government house allowance mostly by sound of it. HMO’s licensed property that Government forced LL’s to have, convert or adopt not acceptable to their culture, must be self-contained with no sharing of facilities, it seems fine for the indigenous population. Victoria should step up pressure on the high rise Developers and stick then up there no shortage of them some 52 storey in Acton nearing completion, just a mile along the same road as Grenfell 22 Storey Block that was too high for Fire brigade to deal with. Although housing Allowance won’t come near their prices so force private Sector LL to have them instead with a cap. Why don’t Government Cap the price of high rise Flats in the Sky (£400 k/ £600k) un-affordable homes instead of subsidising their purchase.

  • icon

    This has to be a wind up ! The govt are urging us to assist whilst at the same time putting the knife in via god knows what new legislation to take even more money off us....... you could not make it up. GO AWAY.

  • icon

    Todays articles
    Article 1. Asks for rent controls
    Article 2. Asks for more action on bad landlords so more legislation for all of us I expect
    Article 3. Says please help us house refugees but only at housing benefit rate which these days is usually well below market.

    Am I missing something?? Once more it’s like your mugger asking for a favour!!

  • icon

    What leverage does the Govt have to 'step up pressure' - none!

icon

Please login to comment

MovePal MovePal MovePal
sign up