Housing problems in the UK for Ukrainians: a third of the support budget remains unused

Thousands of Ukrainians in the UK are at risk of homelessness because a third of the budget allocated to support them has not been used. Find out why it is difficult to find housing and how local councils are responding to the problem

Legal assistance on migration issues for Ukrainians in Ukraine and abroad

GET

Thousands of Ukrainians in the United Kingdom are at risk of being left homeless. According to The Guardian, despite significant government funding, some of the allocated funds have not been used by local councils. This creates a situation where refugees are left to face the difficulties of finding housing on their own, despite the availability of resources to support them.

A third of the allocated funds remain unused

According to the publication, English councils received about £1 billion to support Ukrainian refugees. However, almost £327 million — a third of the budget — remains in council accounts. This money was supposed to go towards finding and providing housing, but a significant portion was spent on staff salaries or partner organizations.

By comparison, only £22 million was spent on temporary housing, and another £15 million on supporting Ukrainians in the private rental sector. This is a pittance compared to the real needs.

Read also: Is the UK currently accepting Ukrainians?

Why is it difficult for Ukrainians to find housing in the UK?

One of the main problems is the need to pay a deposit and find a guarantor. For most Ukrainians who do not have relatives or close friends in the UK, this is a serious obstacle. Bureaucratic procedures in local councils are often delayed, and many Ukrainians do not receive timely assistance.

In addition, the language barrier complicates negotiations with landlords. According to a study by the British Red Cross, Ukrainian refugees are twice as likely as British people to experience homelessness. This year alone, more than 6,400 Ukrainian families are at risk of losing their homes.

Baljit Nijhar from Refugees in Ukraine notes that Ukrainians often cannot receive direct financial support, even though funds have been allocated for this purpose:

“The most common problem is the inability to rent accommodation without a guarantor. To solve this, people have to rely on councils, but access to assistance is slow and limited.”

Stan Benesh, director of the organization Opora, emphasizes the uneven distribution of support depending on the region:

“The quality of assistance is often a lottery based on postal codes. Some councils demonstrate a proactive approach, while others make virtually no use of the resources allocated to them.”

Don't want to miss important updates and useful articles? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter!

Stories of Ukrainians: when the council is powerless

Ukrainian Solomiya Baranets, a trainee lawyer and mother of two, said she had been rejected by dozens of landlords and that the city council had failed to provide her with any assistance:

"I contacted more than 50 landlords. They were all polite, but never responded. I had to look for options on my own."

Stories like this show that formally available assistance does not always work in practice.

Read also: Why is the UK refusing to protect Ukrainians in 2025?

Reaction of the British authorities

The Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government explained that funds are allocated to each Ukrainian and can be spent gradually throughout their stay in the country. At the same time, they emphasize that local councils are best placed to understand the needs of local communities.

However, civil society organizations and human rights defenders insist that clear spending targets must be set and that the use of the budget must be monitored.

If you find yourself in a difficult migration situation and need help with extending your legal status or preparing documents for work or study, qualified lawyers at Visit Ukraine are ready to help. Book a consultation or support on the website to get answers to all your questions and professional assistance from specialists.

We remind you! Ukrainian refugees in the UK are trapped. Their temporary visas are expiring, and the government is not offering any paths to permanent residence. Despite their integration into society and the dangers of returning home, thousands of Ukrainians are left with no guarantees for the future. Read why London is delaying decisions and what Ukrainians who want to legalize their status should do in our previous article.

Photo: Depositphotos

Want to know more? Read the latest news and useful materials about Ukraine and the world in the News section.

Our recommendation for a safe and comfortable trip: 

Visit Ukraine Insurance - insurance for a safe stay abroad without unnecessary expenses;

Green Card - compulsory car insurance for traveling abroad;

Visit Ukraine Tickets - book tickets for buses, trains, and airplanes to/from Ukraine and between cities around the world;

Private Lawyer service - professional legal support on visa and migration issues;

Visit Ukraine Merch - buy patriotic clothing and accessories with worldwide delivery.

© 2018-2025, Visit Ukraine. Use, copying or reprinting of materials on this site is permitted only with a link (hyperlink for online publications) to Visit Ukraine.

All rights reserved.