Homes for Ukraine: Future accommodation options
Option 3: Transfer from ‘hosting’ to ‘lodging’ agreement after a 6-month stay
Information for Guests
Your current host or any other landlord may offer you the option to stay with them as a ‘lodger’. This means that you will pay them directly to ‘rent’ the room or space in their home. This may be cheaper than the cost of renting privately.
Landlords and lodgers will need to sign a private lodger agreement and the host will not receive ‘Thank You’ payments as a host under the Homes for Ukraine scheme or Ukraine Permission Extension scheme.
What help guests can expect from the council:
- Help with reviewing and understanding lodger agreements.
- If you are receiving benefits, you can make an appointment with the KUU officers at Guildhall 2 to do a calculation of your income and what amount of housing benefit payments you may be eligible for.
- Continued integration support from Kingston Council and partners in the borough (e.g. support with finding English language classes, employment and upskilling, referrals to relevant services).
In the table below you can find the differences between Hosting and Lodging arrangements:
| Be a 'guest' | Be a 'lodger' | |
| Type of arrangement/ contract | Home for Ukraine scheme or Ukraine Permission Extension Scheme (transferred from the Homes for Ukraine scheme) only | Contract on private basis (between guest and host) |
| Finances | Guests will not need to pay towards accommodation | Guests will pay rent and bills, but this may be less than the private rented sector. There is the option, if eligible, to claim Universal Credit towards rent. |
| Eligibility | All hosts will complete Council checks under the Homes for Ukraine scheme (DBS and accommodation check) | Landlords will not complete the Council checks |
| Time | Hosting new guests for a minimum of 6 months | Flexibility to agree length of short term contract or rolling monthly contract |
Kingston Council will continue to support your integration in Kingston whilst living as a lodger (for example supporting you with English learning, employment, school places etc - you can continue to request support with our team through requesting help via email: ukraine@kingston.gov.uk).
Information for hosts/landlords
At any point after finishing 6 months hosting, you can ask your guest to become a ‘lodger’ rather than a Homes for Ukraine guest.
In the table below you can find the main differences between ‘Becoming a host’ and ‘lodger agreement’ options.
| Becoming a host | Becoming a landlord (with a lodger) | |
| Type of arrangement/ contract | Homes for Ukraine scheme and Ukraine Permission Extension scheme (transferred from the Homes for Ukraine scheme) only | Contract on private basis (between guest and host) |
| Money | Monthly payments from the Government £350 (from 1st April 2025) for the duration of the guest's Homes for Ukraine or Ukraine Permission Extension visa (if transferred from the Homes for Ukraine scheme) |
Payments from the guest’s salary or/+ Universal credit Landlords decide how much rent to charge. |
| Eligibility | Required to complete Council checks under the Homes for Ukraine scheme (DBS and accommodation check) | Landlord will not be required to complete DBS or accommodation checks |
| Time | Hosting for 6 months or longer, can be until the end of guest’s Homes for Ukraine visa or Ukraine Permission Extension isa (if transferred from the Homes for Ukraine visa) | Decide length of short term contract and notice period and agree in lodging agreement |
| Bills | Host can’t take any payments for the rent but can ask the guest to contribute towards the bills if required | Cost agreed in Lodging agreement can cover bills expenses |
| Deposit | No deposit needed | Landlords can choose to charge a deposit |
Tell us if you are changing to a lodging arrangement. Or if you are interested in offering space to a lodger from Ukraine, please email us: ukraine@kingston.gov.uk
For more information about having a lodger
Rent a room in your home via gov.uk has some further information on having a lodger in your home.
You would have to consider whether there would be any implications as to whether you are a homeowner or renter (discuss with your mortgage lender or landlord), whether any benefits that you receive would be affected by lodger income, any sort of legal or other costs related to setting up a lodging arrangement, any implications around insurance, ensuring no ‘overcrowding’.
Your property may be classed as a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) if you let rooms to more than 2 people.
Declaring the extra income
Lodging income may have tax and other financial implications, please go to Gov.uk for more information.
When a hosting arrangement ends, either the guest or host will need to fill out this Departure Form to inform the council of the date that the guest moved out. This then prompts the council to update their records and stop 'Thank You' payments, preventing an invoice being issued.