Another council is looking for privately rented accommodation of all sizes to resettle refugees.

Since 2016, Stratford-on-Avon council has resettled many refugee families. The first were resettled through the Syrian Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme. More recently, Stratford has provided refuge to more than 360 Ukrainians fleeing the war in Ukraine, as well as those seeking to escape conflict and persecution in Afghanistan and a small number of refugees from other countries including Iraq, through the UK Resettlement Scheme.

Now – with a timescale of the next three years – Stratford-on-Avon council has pledged to resettle nine more families through the UKRS scheme and 20 through the Afghan schemes. There are no specific resettlement pledges numbers for Ukrainian households. 

To make for a smooth and sustainable resettlement, support workers and interpreters assist families as they settle into the neighbourhood, helping them to engage with services, arrange hospital appointments and enrol in schools and nurseries.

Now an appeal has gone out to local landlords are encouraged to contact the council if they have a self-contained property to let.

Funding is available to cover up to six-weeks void period prior to occupation, and rent in advance can be paid to meet terms of any tenancy agreement.

Tenants receive Universal Credit Housing Cost payments to the maximum Local Housing Allowance rate, which can be paid directly to landlord; if there is a shortfall between UCHC payments and the market rent, funding is available to provide a top up for up to 24-months.

If any landlord is interested they can email: [email protected].