People arriving from Ukraine - risk and need: public protection guidance

Home checks 

Social work, housing records and property checks 

In addition to the Level 2 with barred list check, a check should be carried out on social work and housing records for information pertaining to the prospective host and all usual household occupants including where it is a self-contained property. The local authority should also undertake  a visit to the proposed address.

A property check will be undertaken by the local authority. It is expected that all property offered would need a physical check. A Quality Assurance Housing Checklist containing specification and criteria for properties deemed suitable for accommodating arrivals from Ukraine for the property inspection has been developed to support local areas in their decision making around approving accommodation. 

If local authority officers are refused entry to undertake the check of a property, the hosting offer will be considered withdrawn.

Local authority assessment

If, as a result of these checks, sponsors or adults within the sponsoring household do not meet the suitability requirements to be an approved sponsor, they will be notified of this by the local authority. The displaced person (family/child) should not travel to the address of the unsuitable sponsor and will be offered the option to withdraw their visa application or be supported in a re-match, subject to the displaced person having met the other visa requirements. Only approved sponsors will be matched with a guest and then be eligible for the thank you payment. 

Ukraine Permission Extension Scheme

Sponsors/hosts must make a new thank you payment claim when their guest’s Homes for Ukraine permission ends. This provides local authorities with an opportunity to make contact with the sponsor/host and confirm that the guest remains in residence and to apply the policy announced in October 2024 (detailed below) that close family members should no longer be entitled to thank you payments. Local authorities may also wish to use the welfare checklist to support safeguarding conversations with guests. Further information can be found on the UK Government website.

As of 1 October 2024, no rematch or new arrival sponsor/host can receive thank you payments for sponsoring a close family member who moves into their home in the UK. This includes:

• a spouse or unmarried partner
• a parent
• a parent-in-law
• a son or daughter
• a son- or daughter-in-law
• a step-son or daughter
• a sibling
• a grandparent
• or the spouse or unmarried partner of any of these people

Local authorities should determine whether a close family relationship exists between a sponsor/host and guest before issuing thank you payments. Local authorities have discretion over what information they use to determine this.

If a prospective sponsor/host is deemed unsuitable, and is not approved following the safeguarding checks, they will be able to re-apply to sponsor a new guest.

In accordance with existing practice, resettlement teams are encouraged to liaise with social work colleagues to support the safe arrival and integration of displaced people.

Checks for hosts who have lived overseas

If someone has recently lived abroad local authorities may seek additional information on their suitability to become a sponsor/host. These checks could include:

• a criminal record check. The Home Office publishes information on how to obtain a criminal record check for someone from overseas which can be found online here: Countries Q to Z: applying for a criminal records check for someone from overseas
• a reference from an employer confirming that they are not aware of any reason why a host may be unsuitable
• a letter of Professional Standing from a professional regulating authority which the host belongs to, if appropriate

For Ukrainian nationals who applied prior to 15:00 on 19 February 2024, and are seeking to become sponsor/hosts, local authorities may also choose to consider a Certificate of Conviction or No Conviction from the consular section of the Ukrainian Embassy in London. See Countries Q to Z: applying for a criminal records check for someone from overseas

Raising check concerns

If, after local authority and disclosure checks are carried out, a concern is raised indicating that a sponsor/host and/or accommodation would not be suitable, this should be raised via the JIRA system. MHCLG’s JIRA team will then ensure the relevant information is passed to Border Force. 

If a visa has already been issued, UKVI will request a Border Force alert to attempt intercept the guest if they do enter the UK. If Border Force do intercept the guest, they will reach out to the LA, including outside of office hours. Once a visa has been issued, the UKVI will not be able to refuse a visa, and therefore the responsibility of rematching would fall to the receiving local authority. 

Further information can be found at Data flow and checks Super Sponsor Scheme and Homes for Ukraine: guidance for local authorities.

Welfare checks

Local authorities are expected to make at least one in-person visit once the guest(s) has arrived. This welfare check enables the local authority to see whether there are any welfare concerns or formal assessments that should be undertaken.  Local authorities may also wish to use the welfare checklist to support safeguarding conversations with guests.

Further information can be found at Person Checks Super Sponsor Scheme and Homes for Ukraine: guidance for local authorities.