Living With a Host

This page is designed for guests and hosts on the Homes for Ukraine scheme, 18-month Ukraine Permission Extension (UPE) and the newly announced 24-month Ukraine Permission Extension (UPE). To understand each visa, their background and key information please head to our Visas, Sponsoring and Hosting page.

When Ukrainian guests initially arrive to their hosted accommodation, some hosts find it useful to sign an agreement with their guests so that everyone is clear on the terms of their stay. Written agreements can help with setting boundaries and outlining dos and don’ts for both parties. Certain mortgage lenders may also ask for an agreement to be signed (check with your lender).

If your guests are sharing accommodation with you, for example using guest bedrooms and sharing a kitchen or bathroom with you, the Excluded Licence Agreement is most suitable:

• English
• Ukrainian
• Russian

If your guests are living in self-contained accommodation (such as a holiday let), and the host does not live on-site, and the guests pay council tax, bills, and have exclusive possession of the accommodation, this arrangement may legally create an Assured Shorthold Tenancy by default:

• Model agreement for an assured shorthold tenancy

All hosts on the Homes for Ukraine scheme have made a commitment to offer accommodation to their guests for at least six months.

In most cases we know that hosting relationships are being sustained for 6-months or longer. However, in sometimes there are reasons why a hosting arrangement may need to end at or before the 6-month point.

Between 4-6 months into the hosting arrangement, hosts and guests are encouraged to have an open and honest conversation about future intentions and next steps.

If this has not happened yet in your arrangement and the guest has been staying with the you for several months, we encourage you both to have this conversation. Each arrangement will be different and it may be that the host is happy for the arrangement to continue for a longer period of time. Where this is the case, this is usually going to be the best option for the guest.

We ask you to email homesforukraine@lincolnshire.gov.uk regarding your plans so we can update our records and support you should you need it.

Government guidance for hosts and guests sets out the options available to Homes for Ukraine guests and hosts who need to end the arrangement after six months.

Some options available to guests are:

• Where possible, to continue in the existing arrangement. The host’s monthly Thank You payments will continue for the duration of their Homes for Ukraine visa and for those that extend their stay, until the end of the guest’s 18-month Ukraine Permission Extension visa. Thank You payments end after this point.
• Guests and Hosts may decide to enter a private rental arrangement where the guest rents accommodation directly from their host.
• If the existing arrangement cannot continue, a guest can find a new host within or outside of Lincolnshire. Many people find new hosts through faith groups, other community groups, their work or their current host. If they find a new host this way, please email homesforukraine@lincolnshire.gov.uk with details so we can start the necessary suitability checks. You can also find more advice on how to find a new host within the Government guidance.
• If a guest is considering independent accommodation, they can look to rent private accommodation within or outside of Lincolnshire, please see our Privately Rental page.
• If it is safe and they wish to do so, guests might choose to Ukraine. Please inform homesforukraine@lincolnshire.gov.uk if you intend to do this.
• Social housing has a very long waiting list and families can wait many months to be offered a property and, when offered, it may not be in the area you want to live. Guests can explore this option and get more information on our Social Housing page.

Whatever your next steps are please email homesforukraine@lincolnshire.gov.uk to inform them of your intentions.

If you are hosting guests with Homes for Ukraine or 18-month Ukraine Permission Extension visas you may be eligible to receive a monthly Thank You payment of £350. For more information on Thank You Payments, please see our dedicated information: Visas, Sponsoring and Hosting.

Hosts who are receiving monthly Thank You payments cannot charge their guest rent. However, hosts may request a reasonable contribution towards household bills, such as gas, electric and water to help cover shared living costs.

The UK Government confirmed on 13 November 2025 that the monthly £350 “Thank You” Payments to hosts will stop after the end of the first18 months of their guest’s UPE visa.

This means that hosts will no longer be eligible to receive monthly £350 “Thank You” Payments for guests in the 24-month extension of their UPE visa.

Even though the guests may get a 24-month extension to their UPE visa – there will be no monthly payments during this 24-month period. It is important that hosts and guests clearly understand that the monthly £350 payments will stop when the guests reach the end of their original 18-month UPE visa.

Hosts who have multiple guests whose visas end on different dates will receive Thank You Payments until the final guest reaches the end of their 18-month UPE visa.

In Lincolnshire, the earliest point at which guests will reach their 18-month UPE date is October 2026. Whilst the end of the first 18 months of a UPE visa may seem a long way away – and a lot can happen before then, especially in Ukraine itself - it is important that hosts and guests start planning for the end of the monthly £350 payments now if you think this may have an impact on the hosting arrangement.

When the monthly £350 payments stop, we understand this could mean that some hosting arrangements may need to change. We have set out some options you may wish to consider.

If hosting without the monthly £350 payments is not feasible, hosts can consider switching to a formal rental arrangement where the guests continue to live with them but pay rent instead each month.

The UK Government has a helpful website about becoming a resident landlord. This includes details of the “Rent A Room” scheme which is designed to simplify the process of renting out a room in your home.

In renting a room, the guest would become a lodger if they lived in the same home as the host (landlord) and they shared certain facilities. Being a lodger would mean the individual has basic protection and would require reasonable notice to leave.

Some guests may need to check whether they are eligible for an increase in their Universal Credit to help cover rental costs or contribute towards their rent. Benefit calculators and information about local housing allowances can help with this.

Guests can also contact the Job Centre/Department for Work and Pensions to discuss eligibility for help with housing costs. There is further information on the UK Government website.

We do not recommend that hosts switch to an informal/undocumented rental arrangement. Always use a written agreement to avoid disputes and protect both parties.

Council Tax is a tax which goes to local councils to pay for local services such as schools, police and social care. Homes for Ukraine guests who move into privately rented property or a home of their own will become liable for paying Council Tax.

Council Tax requirements can vary depending on who is living in the household and their circumstances, including their immigration status. If all people living in a rented property have Homes for Ukraine visas, then the group may be eligible for a 50% discount on their Council Tax. Council Tax is collected by district councils - if you have any questions about your Council Tax you should contact your local district council in the first instance.

The national guidance about Council Tax is published here within the Homes For Ukraine guidance for guests.

As the monthly £350 “Thank You” Payments will stop after 18 months of a guest’s UPE visa, this could mean that the guest will start being counted for Council Tax purposes. If so, this might impact on the amount of Council Tax hosts have to pay – for example, single hosts may lose their single person Council Tax discount once their guest reaches the end of their 18-month UPE visa.

The UK Government have not yet confirmed whether the current council tax disregards will be changed. We will keep you informed on this via the monthly newsletter and here on our website.

In the unlikely event that you are asked to leave your host accommodation immediately, have nowhere else to go and need assistance, you can contact your local District Council Homeless Team.

Please also contact homesforukraine@lincolnshire.gov.uk so we can support you with your options.

• You will need to change your address with the following organisations:
• Bank
• GP (or you may need to register with a new GP if moving out of area)
• Dentist
• School (you may need to apply for a place with a new school if you are moving out of your current local area)
• Consider the implications for school transport
• Any bills (such as mobile phones), will need to be updated them with your new address
• DVLA if you have purchased a car in the UK you will need to update your vehicle log book
• If you pay for your vehicle tax by direct debit, you will have to tell the DVLA when you change your address. You can do this by telephone: 0300 790 6802
• If you have a UK driving licence you will need to change your address
• Car insurance