Let your property and give a refugee family a home

You can download the latest version of this document as a PDF here.

Information for landlords

This pack is provided for private landlords who might be willing to consider offering accommodation to refugees, through the London Borough of Richmond’s resettlement schemes. Refugees Welcome in Richmond (RWinR) is a registered charity that aims at providing help to all refugees coming to the Borough. Among other things it tries to help refugees get suitable accommodation. RWinR therefore supports the work of the Council Resettlement Team in identifying private-let properties for refugee families.

In response to the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan and the conflict in Ukraine the London Borough of Richmond Upon Thames is supporting Afghan and Ukrainian refugees under the Government’s Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP) and Afghan Citizens’ Resettlement Scheme and Homes for Ukraine Scheme. This is a changing landscape and often schemes change – but accommodation is needed.

These resettlement schemes rely on the good will of local councils and private landlords. In boroughs like Richmond there are already long waiting lists for social housing, so refugee families can only be resettled quickly if private sector homes are found for them. Richmond Council does not hold any social housing stock.

Refugees from Afghanistan and Ukraine will be looked after by a dedicated Council team who coordinate resettlement logistics and provide intensive support tailored to each family’s needs.

What we need

Private sector properties, particularly larger properties with 4 bedrooms or more
Anywhere within the London Borough of Richmond Upon Thames
Self-contained (i.e. with own front door, kitchen and bathroom)
Basically furnished (RWinR and the Council can help with furnishing)
At least two years Assured Shorthold Tenancy (ideally longer to offer the family stability)
Rent within local housing allowance rates (lha-direct.voa.gov.uk/search.aspx)

Housing Allowance Rates by Area

Per calendar month

Whitton

1 bedroom £997.27
2 bedroom £1,296.44
3 bedroom £1,470.95
4 bedroom £1,765.08

Richmond, Kew, Ham, Twickenham, St. Margarets, Teddington, Hampton, Hampton Court, Hampton Wick, Hampton Hill

1 bedroom £1,196.69
2 bedroom £1,490.88
3 bedroom £1,795.08
4 bedroom £2,543.01

Barnes, East Sheen, Mortlake

1 bedroom £1,416.09
2 bedroom £1,695.33
3 bedroom £2,154.10
4 bedroom £2,892.06

What the Council offers landlords

Rent paid direct to landlord

Standard Assured Shorthold Tenancy (AST) agreements

Two to five-year AST agreements with a break clause after two years.

Incentive payment paid upfront
- 1 bedroom: £2,000
- 2 bedrooms: £2,500
- 3 bedrooms: £3,000
- 4 bedrooms: £3,500

6 weeks rent in advance

Rent and council tax paid from the date the property becomes available

Council pays to hold the property until a suitable family arrives.

Up to £460 towards insurance costs

Help with furnishing property if required

No obligations towards tenants beyond normal property maintenance
Family receives support from dedicated Caseworker and Resettlement Team

These incentives are offered to potential social landlords helping house refugees from Ukraine or Afghanistan. However, some of these incentives may be available to landlords supporting refugees from other countries. There may be other tax incentives that can apply to persons letting a room under the Rent-a-Room Scheme.

For further information, use our contact form.

The process

If you are considering joining the scheme, the Council makes an appointment for an officer to inspect the property.
If suitable, the officer will liaise to agree the package of payments plus the date for acceptance into the scheme, the incentive payment will be made once the family have arrived.
Once agreed, the Council contacts the Home Office to initiate the process to identify a suitable family and conduct full security screening. Details of the proposed case are then sent to Richmond Council for suitability assessment and a date is agreed for the arrival.
The Council will pay for the void property during the period between initiating the process and the family arriving and signing the Tenancy Agreement.
Once the family arrives, the Resettlement Team arranges for them to sign the Tenancy Agreement and to apply for Universal Credit.
The Resettlement Team remains available to assist the landlord with any subsequent issues relating to the tenancy.

How the Council supports the families

Assigns a dedicated case worker to each family.
Provides intensive support tailored to the family’s needs. This is ongoing if needed, though most require less support over time.
Provides basic furniture, white goods, food, bedding, curtains, utensils.
Prepares the property for the family’s arrival.
Arranges transport to the property.
Applies for all relevant welfare benefits including Universal Credit.
Helps the family register with GP, dentist and other health/social services.
Liaises with education department to enrol children into schools and nurseries.
Arranges for adults to attend English language courses at college.
Engages interpreting and translating services if required.
Takes family members to appointments (e.g. hospital) until familiar with the local area.
Takes families on tours of the local area to locate shops and other amenities.
Sets up bank accounts, utility accounts (incl. payment plans), shows how to pay bills.
Makes regular home welfare visits.
Accompanies adults to Job Centre appointments when ready to seek employment.
Signposts local services such as food banks
Provides contact details for refugee support groups including Refugees Welcome in Richmond (RWinR).

For more information see Richmond Council’s website

How RWinR supports the families

Besides working with the Council to identify properties, Refugees Welcome in Richmond (RWinR) provides the vitally important additional community support for refugees to thrive in a foreign country, often thousands of miles from family and friends.

RWinR volunteers offer befriending, mentoring and advocacy services, provide links to English language support, help with finding suitable schools, registering with medical practices and dentists, source donations of clothing, furniture and household items, and arrange social events to aid integration within the community.

In addition to refugees from Afghanistan and Ukraine, we have also supported other families from Egypt, Kuwait, Sierra Leone, Syria and Yemen who arrived independently.

Letter from a refugee family resettled in Richmond

6^th April 2017

Mayor of Richmond, The Mayor’s Office
London Borough of Richmond upon Thames
York House, Richmond Road
Twickenham TW1 3AA

Dear Mayor,

I am from one of the Syrian refugee families in Richmond. In the name of all my family and myself I offer our deep thanks to her Majesty the Queen, to the British Government, to Richmond Borough Council and to the Council Leader, to our landlord, to Refugees Welcome in Richmond and to our local parish for welcoming us into your country. We feel at home here.

May we thank most particularly our landlord, the Council Resettlement Team, and Refugees Welcome in Richmond, who have helped us in every possible way to put down roots here. We also thank everyone else who has helped us – too many to mention here.

All of our needs are being met to enable us to live a full life safely here in Richmond.

You have shown us great kindness. For our part, we will do our utmost to be good, honest members of this community, contributing positively to its welfare.

With renewed thanks,

Yours sincerely,

Father of first Syrian family to arrive in Richmond.

Contact us

Use our contact form, email or call:

landlordlettings@richmondandwandsworth.gov.uk

0208 871 7333