✅ Key fact: Ukrainians on HfU visa have full access to council help under the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017. Full recourse to public funds. The council must help you.
If your host matching is ending or has ended — your local council (municipal authority) must help. This is law, not charity. The key is to approach them early and correctly.
📜 What is the Homelessness Reduction Act
A 2017 law obliging all councils in England to help anyone at risk of becoming homeless. Operates in 2 phases: Prevention Duty (56 days before losing home) and Relief Duty (56 days after losing home). Separate Main Housing Duty for those who pass the Priority Need test.
⏰ Three phases of help
1
Prevention Duty — before losing home
56 days
When to apply: as soon as you know you are losing accommodation. Even if it's "in a month" or "in 2 weeks" — don't wait.
What the council does:
- Develops a Personalised Housing Plan (PHP) — written help plan
- Helps negotiate with the host if possible
- Searches for private rent options for you (often with council deposit)
- Connects you with charity and support services
- Checks other housing options (re-matching via HfU)
Important: Apply earlier — more options. After 56 days Prevention Duty ends and moves to Relief Duty, where there is less time and more stress.
2
Relief Duty — already homeless
56 days
When: host has evicted you, you are on the street or staying with friends, your address is no longer yours.
What the council does:
- Active search for housing for you
- Interim accommodation (temporary housing) — if you have Priority Need
- Considers Priority Need assessment (see below)
- Contacts landlords directly
3
Main Housing Duty — long-term help
If Priority Need confirmed
The council must provide permanent housing (social housing or guaranteed private landlord) — but only if you are:
- Eligible (Ukrainians on HfU — yes)
- Homeless
- Unintentionally homeless (not your fault)
- Have Priority Need
- Have local connection (live in the council area)
⭐ Priority Need — who gets immediate help
👨👩👧 Families with childrenChildren under 18 in household
🤰 PregnantAny stage of pregnancy
👵 Elderly (65+)Or inability to cope
♿ DisabilityPhysical or mental health
🆘 Abuse victimsDomestic abuse, gender violence
🎖️ Armed forcesEx-military vulnerability
Single healthy adults usually do NOT qualify for Priority Need. The council will help with advice and PHP but won't guarantee housing. This is a major shortcoming of HfU schemes, but it is the law.
📋 Checklist: documents for the council
What to bring
- Ukrainian passport (internal + foreign)
- BRP or eVisa share code (get at gov.uk/view-prove-immigration-status)
- Visa grant letter (HfU confirmation)
- National Insurance Number (NI number) — if you have one
- Letter from host about ending sponsorship OR eviction messages
- Current address + date you must leave
- Children's documents (birth certificates)
- Marriage certificate (if applicable)
- Proof of income (payslips, UC statement)
- Medical documents (if you have disability/pregnancy)
- Bank statements for the last 3 months
- Proof of local connection (job, children's school, GP registration)
🚶 Step-by-step action plan
1
Find your local council
At gov.uk/find-local-council enter your postcode. The council for your actual area (where you live, not where you are registered) is the one that must help.
2
Contact the housing options team
On the council website find "housing options", "homelessness", or "housing advice". Call or submit online. Say: "I am on Homes for Ukraine visa and I am at risk of homelessness."
3
Attend the housing options interview
Bring all documents from the checklist. Explain the situation, show evidence. If you need an interpreter — the council must provide one (free).
4
Get your Personalised Housing Plan (PHP)
The council must give you a written PHP with steps both they and you must take. Read it carefully — this is your "contract" with the council.
5
If refused — demand a written decision
Any council decision must be in writing (Section 184 letter). If they verbally refuse — insist on the letter. This gives you the right to a Section 202 review within 21 days.
🚨 Red flags — the council is doing it wrong
Signs of wrongful refusal: - "You have no local connection — go to another council" (often incorrect)
- "You are intentionally homeless because you left the host" (no, if there was a valid reason)
- "HfU visas don't entitle you to help" (this is a LIE — you are eligible)
- "Return to your host, negotiate" (without advocacy or risk assessment)
- Refusing to give a Section 184 letter (it is your right to demand)
In such cases — contact Shelter (free housing help), Citizens Advice, or find a free legal aid solicitor specialising in housing.
❓ Frequently asked questions
🏛️
Can I approach the council as homeless on a HfU visa?
▼
Yes. Ukrainians on HfU have full access to council homelessness help. Full recourse to public funds. Contact your local council housing options team as soon as you know you are losing accommodation (don't wait until you are already homeless).
🏠
Will the council give me housing immediately?
▼
Not always. The council first assesses your Priority Need. Families with children, pregnant women, disabled people, domestic abuse victims — get interim (temporary) accommodation immediately. Single healthy adults — get advice and help with the search but may wait longer or not receive guaranteed housing.
💼
Will contacting the council affect my visa?
▼
No. Contacting the council and receiving temporary accommodation is part of your legal entitlement under HfU. It does not affect your visa validity or future UPE extension.
🌍
What is "local connection" and why does it matter?
▼
The council is generally obliged to help those with a local connection — people who live, work, study, or have family in their area. For Ukrainians on HfU there is a special protection: your original council (the one where the host was) has obligations even if you only lived there a few months. The council cannot refuse with "go elsewhere".
📝
What if the council refuses help?
▼
You are entitled to a written decision (
Section 184 letter). If you disagree — submit a
Section 202 review within 21 days. For review help —
Shelter (free),
Citizens Advice, or free legal aid solicitor. Don't give up — half of refusals are overturned on review.