Ukrainian Refugees in Mid Devon

For more information about the sponsor process in Devon please click here.

The following sections provide information about how the scheme operates in Mid Devon.  Thank you for your support.

Financial Support for Guests and Sponsors

Once you are registered as a host through the government portal, your details will be sent to Mid Devon District Council to arrange a property inspection.  A claim form will be emailed to you which, once the guests arrive, should be completed and returned to us at refugeehelp@middevon.gov.uk, to allow us to set up payments securely.

Each guest is entitled to a one-off £200 payment

Your guest will be required to provide either an email address or mobile phone number - there is space on the form to provide this.

They will be sent a Post Office Payout voucher either by email or text, which enables them to collect a one-off payment of £200 as a subsistence payment to help purchase essential food and items. If they have children in the group a further £200 per child will be included if you have completed that section of the form.

Once they have received the voucher simply visit the local Post Office, who will scan the barcode from their mobile device or a printed copy, and give them their funds.

They will be required to bring photographic identification in order to collect the funds. The guest does not need a bank account to collect this payment.

To find your local Post Office branch visit the Post Office Branch Finder.

You are also entitled to a £350 per month ‘thank you’ payment from the government for the first 12 months your guest is in the UK.

This is optional and we realise that not everyone will want to claim this.

The host ‘thank you’ payment will be made monthly directly to your bank account. It will be paid in arrears one month after you notify us of your guests arrival date. It will be paid on or around the same date each month for the length of the scheme or until the guests leave, whichever is sooner.

After your guest has been in the UK for more than 12 months the 'thank you' payment increases to £500pcm.

Payments will start once all the checks have been passed and your guests have arrived.

If you have any queries please contact us at refugeehelp@middevon.gov.uk.  Thank you for your kindness and generosity.

Housing help and advice for Ukrainian Refugees

Private Rented Accommodation

If a host placement is coming to an end, renting a home in the Private Sector offers more choice about where you live and the type of property you rent.

The Government has produced How To Rent guides in Ukrainian and Russian.

Ukrainian Guest Grant

Subject to eligibility and available funding, the Council can pay the deposit and first months rent to help secure a property. We will also carry out a free property check to make sure the accommodation is suitable.

The Council can help pay for furniture and essential items when moving into a first rental home.

Please email refugeehelp@middevon.gov.uk for more information and an application form.

Landlord Incentive Payment

If you are considering letting a property to a Ukrainian in the UK under the Homes for Ukraine scheme the following information may help with your decision.  Please contact us on refugeehelp@middevon.gov.uk if you have any questions or would like more details about any aspect.

As a thank you for taking on a tenant with no rental history or references in the UK you can claim a one off payment when your new tenant moves in.  The payment is equivalent to one months rent if you offer an initial 6 month tenancy, or if you're happy to offer an initial 12 month tenancy the payment increases to equivalent to two months rent.

The council may also pay for an insurance policy that can be bought to cover potential legal costs associated with ending a tenancy.

Additional guidance: Landlord's guide to right to rent checks

Other information and Support

This information has been provided in good faith at the time of publishing. The council is not responsible for any services provided by other organisations.

• Barnardo's Ukrainian support helpline
• British Red Cross Help for displaced people from Ukraine Information and support for displaced people from Ukraine in the UK, including family migration visa and the Homes for Ukraine scheme
• Devon Ukrainian Association
• Devon County Council - Migration & Resettlement Team
• GOV.UK - UK visa support for Ukrainian nationals