Homes for Ukraine sponsors

Homes for Ukraine scheme

If you sponsor a Ukrainian refugee, who holds permission to enter or stay in the United Kingdom under the Homes for Ukraine sponsorship scheme, you will not lose out on your council tax discount or exemption.

There is also a 50% discount for empty or second homes that are used to house Ukrainian refugees on this scheme.

If you receive a single person discount

If you are the only adult aged 18 or over in your household and currently entitled to a single person discount, the entitlement will continue if you are hosting a Ukrainian refugee as part of the Homes for Ukraine scheme.

Telling us about your sponsorship

If you are taking part in the scheme and you are receiving a discount, you will need to let us know in writing about the sponsorship.

We need to know:

• The new resident's name(s)
• The date they moved in
• That they have permission to enter or to stay in the United Kingdom under the Homes for Ukraine sponsorship scheme, along with evidence to support this

Please email this information to our council tax team using the details below. 

Properties that are exempt from council tax

If you are entitled to the following council tax exemptions, your entitlement will continue if you are hosting a Ukrainian refugee as part of the Homes for Ukraine scheme:

Occupied properties that are exempt

• Class N – occupied only by students
• Class S – occupied only by people under 18
• Class U – occupied only by people who are severely mentally impaired

Empty properties that are exempt

• Class B – owned by a charity that is unoccupied for less than 6 months
• Class D – left empty by someone who is in prison or detained
• Class E – left empty by someone who has moved into a hospital or care home
• Class F – left empty as the former owner has died and awaiting grant of probate
• Class H – left empty awaiting occupation by a minister of religion
• Class I – left empty by someone who lives elsewhere to receive personal care
• Class J – left empty by someone who has moved out to provide personal care
• Class K – left empty owned by a student
• Class L – repossessed property
• Class Q – left empty by bankrupt individual
• Class T – unoccupied annexe which cannot be let separately

Telling us about your sponsorship

If you are taking part in the scheme and you are receiving one of these exemptions, you will need to let us know in writing about the sponsorship.

We will need to know:

• The new resident's name(s)
• The date they moved in
• That they have permission to enter or to stay in the United Kingdom under the Homes for Ukraine sponsorship scheme, along with evidence to support this

Please email this information to our council tax team using the details below.

Empty properties where full council tax is paid

If  only Ukrainian refugees, who have permission to stay in the United Kingdom under the Homes for Ukraine sponsorship scheme, are living in the property, there will be a 50% discount on the bill.

In most cases, we will need to issue a council tax bill in the names of the residents, but they may also be entitled to council tax support. If the property becomes a House in Multiple Occupation, the landlord will be eligible for the bill. 

Applying for a 50% discount

Please email our council tax team using the details below. You will need to tell us:

• The full name of the Ukrainian refugee, contact information and the date they moved in
• Proof that they are living at the address
• Documented evidence that they hold permission to enter or to stay in the United Kingdom under the Homes for Ukraine sponsorship scheme