Rematching: Homes for Ukraine
Information about rematching, including the council’s role and funding available.
Finding a new host
Guests who are not ready to leave sponsorship and move into self-sourced accommodation, but who cannot continue staying with their current sponsor/host, are able to rematch with a new host.
Guests are encouraged to find a new host themselves in the first instance. If they are finding it difficult to find a new host themselves, they may also get in touch with their council for help to find a new host.
Councils can use their own bank of known sponsors/hosts or the Expression of Interest (EOI) list to find a new host for those in need of a rematch. Councils can also direct guests to third-party organisations, such as local charities or community groups, who can assist them in finding a new host.
As of 1 October 2024, no sponsor/host can receive a thank you payment for hosting a close family member. Those who are already in the UK and move in with a close family member are classified as having left the Homes for Ukraine scheme rather than a rematch. In these cases, councils are not required to carry out the usual Homes for Ukraine safeguarding checks, however statutory duties still apply.
Councils should determine whether a close family relationship exists between a sponsor/host and guest before issuing thank you payments. Councils have discretion in what information they use to determine this.
Rematching children
Children must not be rematched separately from the adult guests in the existing sponsorship relationship.
There is a separate process for rematching children who are living in the UK without a parent or legal guardian.
Checks for rematching
Councils should undertake safeguarding and accommodation checks in advance of a guest moving into a sponsorship arrangement with a new host. This should done in line with the current guidance on what DBS checks need to be made and accommodation checks. Further guidance is available below in the section of “Formalising a rematch” which covers what councils should do if a guest moves in before these checks have taken place.
Please note that rematching hosts do not need to be a British or Irish citizen or settled in the UK. This requirement only applies to sponsors, who support guests with their Homes for Ukraine visa application.
After a guest has moved into their new accommodation, councils should also carry out a welfare check. Councils are expected to make at least one in-person visit. Councils should not issue thank you payments to the new host until a welfare check has taken place.
Councils are not required to undertake additional checks where a rematch involves a sponsor/host who is known to the council, and who has previously hosted a Homes for Ukraine guest.
Where a sponsorship has broken down due to concerns over the quality of accommodation or safeguarding issues related to the sponsor/host, the sponsor/host should no longer be considered for rematching.
Formalising a rematch
If a guest finds their own host for rematching and moves into their new accommodation without checks having taken place, this is at their own risk and the host is not eligible for thank you payments.
If the council later becomes aware this has occurred, the council should undertake the standard suitability and accommodation checks in order to formalise the rematch. Unless a rematch is formalised, the new host will not be entitled to thank you payments.
Thank you payments and tariffs
Rematching hosts are eligible for thank you payments, provided the standard safeguarding and suitability criteria are met.
Where all guests leave a sponsorship arrangement in order to be rematched, councils should cease thank you payments to the original sponsor/host.
Where a guest household splits, and some of the household remain in the original sponsorship arrangement, both the original sponsor/host and the new host are eligible for thank you payments,
Councils should use the Homes for Ukraine tariff to meet all costs associated with rematching.
When a guest moves between different council areas
Where a guest wants to rematch with a new host in another council area, which may include a council in a different UK nation, they should notify both their current council and the council in the area they are hoping to move to. The receiving council can then decide whether to prioritise the case for help with finding a new host, or whether the guest would need to find their own rematch.
Once a new host has been identified, it is the responsibility of the receiving council to carry out the relevant DBS and accommodation checks and, where relevant, issue thank you payments to the new host.
Councils should record completed rematches on Share to ensure data ownership sits with the appropriate council.
If a move happens without the awareness of the receiving council, and without checks having taken place, then this is at the guest’s own risk and the new host will not be eligible for thank you payments until the rematch is formalised.
Updates to this page
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Rematching guidance consolidated.
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First published.