Homes for Ukraine

Local residents (sponsors) have stepped forward to host Ukrainian families (guests) in their homes and properties. This is to help provide much needed stability to allow families to plan their futures.

The government launched the Homes for Ukraine scheme in 2022 and we have worked with Hampshire County Council and others to help make the scheme a success.

This scheme is coordinated by Hampshire County Council, and more information can be found in Hampshire County Council’s guidance for sponsors page.

Numbers of guests in Aldershot and Farnborough

As of December 2024, Rushmoor has welcomed 167 Ukrainian guests in total. Some of them remain with their hosts, others have returned to Ukraine, moved to private rent, or moved to other areas.

Please see the government's Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme statistics for more information.

Become a Homes for Ukraine sponsor

The Homes for Ukraine scheme offers Ukrainian nationals a way to come to the UK. They will stay with someone willing to provide them with a home, for a minimum of six months.

The scheme matches Ukrainian nationals that do not have families already in the country to:

• Sponsors
• Charities
• Businesses
• Community groups

There is a need for more sponsors to come forward in our local area and to offer accommodation for Ukrainian families.

We recommend both sponsors and guests to read the government information on private renting advice, to make sure everyone understands their responsibilities.

Information for sponsors

Hampshire County Council coordinates the Homes for Ukraine scheme in Aldershot and Farnborough. Please visit the Hampshire County Council - guidance for sponsors pages for full information about the scheme.

Thank You payments

Under the Homes for Ukraine Scheme, sponsors are eligible to receive an optional monthly Thank You payment for the duration of their guest's visa permission.

This can be up to 36 months for a guest on a three-year visa, or up to 18 months for those on the new 18-month visa.

However, sponsors and guests who are in a close family relationship are not eligible to receive Thank You payments.

All payments are managed by Hampshire County Council.

Help with council tax

If your guest has a Ukraine Permission Extension scheme visa, it will not affect the council tax discount or exemption that you have.

If you are eligible for the thank you payment because you are a Homes for Ukraine host, the following will apply:

• Your guest is disregarded for the purposes of council tax. This protects your single person discount (or the 50% discount received by households where all the occupants are already disregarded)
• The bill of guests forming their own household in accommodation provided by you will be reduced by 50%
• Your guest will not affect any council tax exemption you have on your accommodation

If your guest leaves the Homes for Ukraine scheme, for example moving to their own property, part way through a calendar month, the discounts or exemptions above will expire at the end of that month.

Please see the government’s Council Tax information letter 3/2025: Ukraine Permission Extension council tax regulations for more information.

Information for Ukrainian guests

Hampshire County Council coordinates the Homes for Ukraine scheme in Aldershot and Farnborough. Please visit the Hampshire County Council - guidance for guests pages for full information about the scheme.

Finding a new sponsor

Your sponsor may be happy for you to continue to stay with them for longer than six months, but not every sponsor will be able to offer accommodation for longer. We encourage guests to plan with their sponsor for what happens next.

Hampshire County Council look after Homes for Ukraine re-matching register in our area. They do not currently have any alternative sponsors on the re-matching register in Aldershot and Farnborough. If you are concerned about where you will live after your sponsorship ends, please contact our housing options team on 01252 398 634.

There are some other places that may be able to help you too:

• City of Sanctuary's list of local refugee support and solidarity groups
• Vita Network safe refuge

Ukraine Permission Extension scheme

If your permission to stay in the UK is soon to expire, there is a new scheme from the government called Ukraine Permission Extension scheme. 

Please visit it the Ukraine Permission Extension scheme - guidance for guests page for more information and to apply.

Council tax discount

If you are a Ukrainian guest living here under the Homes for Ukraine scheme you can get a 50% council tax discount on your accommodation.

If you move to the Ukraine Permission Extension scheme your discount will stay, if you live at your host’s accommodation. However, if you move out of your host's accommodation, for example into private rent, the council tax discount stops.

If you are living in private rented accommodation and need council tax support, please contact our benefits team at benefits@rushmoor.gov.uk.