Statutory homelessness duties: Homes for Ukraine
When and how council statutory homelessness duties apply within the scheme.
In cases where a sponsorship arrangement has broken down or is not being continued after the initial six-month arrangement, and the household or individual does not have any other alternative suitable accommodation available to them, then council statutory homelessness duties will apply.
Councils must take reasonable steps to try to prevent and relieve homelessness for households who are threatened with becoming, or are already, homeless when they apply for assistance.
Councils may be able to end a homelessness prevention or relief duty owed to a guest by facilitating a rematch, providing the placement and accommodation are suitable and the authority is satisfied it will continue to be available for at least 6 months.
If a household refuses a suitable offer, councils can end the prevention or relief duty, but the main housing duty may still apply. Councils must continue to consider their statutory homelessness duties in full and take account of the individual circumstances of each household when assessing if the accommodation and match is suitable. There is information on ending homelessness duties into sponsorship arrangements in the Homelessness Code of Guidance, chapter 14.
If the household makes a homelessness application to a council other than the council where their sponsor is located, in line with the legislation the council must take the application and then consider if a local connection referral is appropriate.
Local connection can be established in several ways, including through residence in an area. Through a Local Government Association protocol, councils have agreed that somebody who has lived in an area for 6 out of the last 12 months has a local connection to that area. See the Homelessness Code of Guidance Chapter 10 for further information on local connection.
Councils must continue to make decisions about duties owed on a case-by-case basis.