This £350 refugee thing

ProDave

The great British public are being asked to provide accommodation to refugees for £350 per month (if the government website would actually work)

Has anyone looked at just what sort of tenancy would be formed doing that, what rights the tenants would have and how long they would likely stay for?

I just have the feeling a lot are going to be stuck with tenants for a lot longer than they ever expected and possibly with no way to get rid of them?

Martin_the_Unjust

Website is now live https://homesforukraine.campaign.gov.uk/

user1977

That says you're not to charge rent. So whatever status they have, it won't be tenants. Presumably some form of "excluded occupier"?

steampowered

I can't see why it would be any different to having a lodger.

It is perfectly well settled law that you can have a lodger pay you rent - but the lodger has very few rights and can be evicted with very little notice. 

If you were renting out your entire house (rather than just a room) then you would have to look at whether an assured tenancy is form, if you started taking rent in addition to £350pm government support.

MaryNB

steampowered said:

I can't see why it would be any different to having a lodger.

It is perfectly well settled law that you can have a lodger pay you rent - but the lodger has very few rights and can be evicted with very little notice. 

If you were renting out your entire house (rather than just a room) then you would have to look at whether an assured tenancy is form, if you started taking rent in addition to £350pm government support.

It's says the accommodation must be available for a minimum of six months so it appears they may be given more protection than a lodger. Doesn't make it clear how that 6 months will be enforced.

MobileSaver

ProDave said:

The great British public are being asked to provide accommodation to refugees for £350 per month (if the government website would actually work)

It's not about being paid £350 per month to house refugees, that's just a thank you to presumably help towards increased utility bills.

There's no rent to be paid, no tenancy created, no expectation of food and meals being included; simply a warm and safe place for people to stay for at least six months if they need to. However they will have the same (limited) rights as a lodger and can be asked to leave/move with little notice if things don't work out.

ProDave

Ah I see, so the £350 is not "rent" 

I cannot see any other circumstances where being given a monthly payment for accommodation is not "rent"  One rule for the government, another rule for the rest.

So when you are trying to evict a tenant, tell the court they were not paying "rent" but giving you an allowance.  do let us know how you get on.

Getting_greyer

I'm slightly worried by this.  I'm sure there's plenty of people offering rooms through altruism. I do worry that there will be some way for unscrupulous people to exploit desperate people to make a quick buck. 

sheramber

https://homesforukraine.campaign.gov.uk/

Accommodation must be available for at least 6 months,

SavingPennies_2

ProDave said:

The great British public are being asked to provide accommodation to refugees for £350 per month (if the government website would actually work)

Has anyone looked at just what sort of tenancy would be formed doing that, what rights the tenants would have and how long they would likely stay for?

I just have the feeling a lot are going to be stuck with tenants for a lot longer than they ever expected and possibly with no way to get rid of them?

From what I understand, we are not being *asked*, many people *want* to do this and the government are supporting this with the £350 payment, as MobileSaver says, this is to help with increased costs, it's not expected to cover some kind of rent

sourpuss2021

ProDave said:

Ah I see, so the £350 is not "rent" 

I cannot see any other circumstances where being given a monthly payment for accommodation is not "rent"  One rule for the government, another rule for the rest.

So when you are trying to evict a tenant, tell the court they were not paying "rent" but giving you an allowance.  do let us know how you get on.

Someone better informed will be along shortly.  But the government agency that is giving you the £350, is not the person who becomes your lodger/excluded occupier.  There is no 'consideration' paid by the Ukrainian person themselves.  So no tenancy is created.