Homes for Ukraine: Help with Council Tax

Homes for Ukraine Scheme

The Homes for Ukraine (HFU) scheme allows sponsors in the UK to nominate a Ukrainian individual or Ukrainian family to stay with them in their home or another property.

Ukrainian nationals who are granted leave to remain through the HFU scheme will be granted a three-year visa. Later, if they wish, they may find their own accommodation but will still be covered by the HFU visa.

Find out more about how you can offer help and support for Ukraine. 

Council tax reductions for sponsors

Sponsors will not lose their council tax discounts if they invite Ukrainian guests to stay with them under the HFU scheme.

For example, if you get a 25% discount because you are the only adult in a property, you will continue to receive the discount as the Ukrainian nationals will be disregarded.

If a sponsor’s property is exempt from council tax, they will not lose their exemption.

For example, if your property is exempt because all the residents are students, then you will continue to receive this exemption even if your Ukrainian guests are not students themselves.

Council tax reductions for Ukrainian nationals with an HFU visa

If your sponsor provides separate accommodation for you, for example in another property the sponsor owns but does not live in, then you will be responsible for the council tax yourself.

If all the residents have HFU visas then you will receive a 50% discount. You will be responsible for paying half the council tax on the property, but you may be able to claim an additional benefit called 'council tax support' to help you pay for this. 

Ukrainian guests finding their own property

If a Ukrainian national has an HFU visa and the sponsorship arrangement ends, they can look for their own property to rent.

They will be responsible for the council tax themselves, but if all the residents have HFU visas then they will receive a 50% discount and they may also be able to claim council tax support.

A Ukrainian national may also be able to claim Universal Credit for support with their day to day living expenses and help with the rent.

Council tax reductions only apply to the HFU scheme

This help with council tax only applies to Ukrainian nationals who have received a visa under the Homes for Ukraine scheme. It does not apply to other schemes such as The Ukraine Family Scheme or The Ukraine Extension Scheme.

Ukraine Permission Extension scheme

The Ukraine Permission Extension (UPE) came into operation on 4 February 2025. It allows eligible Ukrainian nationals or their family members already in the UK to continue living here for up to a further 18 months. 

How the changes affect those moving from HFU scheme to UPE

Sponsors will still receive any discounts, disregards or exemptions whilst they have Ukrainian guests staying with them in their home.

Your responsibilities:

You will be responsible for paying council tax if a sponsor provides you with separate accommodation, for example in another property the sponsor owns but does not live in.

You will receive a 50% discount if all the residents of the household have moved to the UPE scheme. 

You will be responsible for paying half the council tax on the property, but you may be able to claim an additional benefit called 'council tax support' to help you pay for this.

If you are in privately rented accommodation:

Under the UPE scheme, you will no longer be entitled to council tax disregard. 

You may be entitled to a sole occupier discount and council tax support if you are the only adult over 18 years living in the property.

Apply for help with council tax 

The sponsor must provide:

• the names of the Ukrainian guests 
• the date they moved in 
• evidence that they have permission to enter or stay in the UK under the HFU scheme 
• the address of the property the Ukrainian nationals occupy either with the sponsor or provided by the sponsor 

If the Ukrainian national has moved to independent accommodation, they must provide evidence that they have permission to enter or stay in the UK under the HFU scheme.

Contact us

If you require guidance on how to apply and for all other queries regarding council tax contact us: 

Email: Croyctax@croydon.gov.uk

Telephone: 020 8726 7000 (select option 2)