Priti Patel yesterday announced 100,000 more Ukrainians refugees will be permitted to seek sanctuary in the UK under relaxed immigration rules.
The home secretary told MPs that Ukrainian refugees with family already in the UK would be able to stay for up to 12 months under the new regulations.
After a year they will be required to apply for points based or family reunion visa to stay longer.
The move widens the UK’s current offer to those fleeing war in Ukraine, although it does not go as far as the EU’s policy that states those fleeing the Russian invasion will not have to apply for asylum prior to entering its 27 EU member states for up to three years.
Patel told the Commons on Monday: “Through this extension alone I can confirm that an additional 100,000 Ukrainians will be able to seek sanctuary in the UK, with access to work and public services.
“We are enabling Ukrainian nationals already in the UK, giving them the ability to switch free of charge into a points-based immigration route or through the family visa route.
“We are extending visas for Ukrainian temporary workers in some sectors and they can now stay until at least December 2022.”
Following the announcement that 100,000 additional Ukrainian refugees will be allowed to come to the UK, the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) is calling for greater clarity on how landlords can help those in need of accommodation.
Ben Beadle, chief executive of the NRLA, said: “The scenes unfolding in Ukraine have been shocking. It is right that the UK provides all the support needed to those fleeing the conflict.
“We urge all private landlords to consider what accommodation they might have available to house those who want to come here.
“To assist with this, it is vital that the government swiftly provides details as to how landlords can easily register properties that might be suitable for those who need homes.”
Comments (13)
I will help genuine refugess as much as I can but I run a letting business and require rent guarantees for all my tenants, a constraint which has been forced on me by the constant government attacks on landlords. When the government (or Shelter) guarantees the rent and damage costs I will welcome Ukrainians with open arms.
Only Guarantee Shelter will give is their 6 figure ‘ charitable ‘ [sic] salaries !
We have no room at the inn.
Why doesn’t Shelter be asked to use the £m’s it receives in donation and Gocernment grants to ACTUALLY PROVIDES HOMES FOR SOME PEOPLE IN NEED.
Oh! Like THAT is it! ‘We hate you and want to kill you off, but can you help us out with other people at risk?!’. Tell you what govt – and Ben Beadle would do well to mention this occasionally too – you make it possible for me to keep providing rental homes easily and I’ll consider helping you out with that accommodation. Until then, you’re on your own!
Britain has for many years had a severe Lack of Housing provision and with the levels of ( Legal ) immigration each year, versus the new homes built, there is Always, an ever-increasing shortfall. It seems whenever there’s ANY humanitarian crisis, Anywhere in the world, its countries like Britain, usually the farthest away from the issue, that seems to be in the spotlight. We have British homeless, veterans on our streets, yet the Home Office can accommodate Illegal mainly young Male Dinghy divers into 4* hotels. This country has longgg got Housing drastically wrong and its British tenants that are suffering the most, albeit the pain is directed at those who provide for them ( in the main, Private Landlords )
Perhaps, merely as a matter of logistics, we have to totally and entirely declare ourselves out of the refugee game. I mean completely. Until we’ve sorted our housing mess out. It’s not sustainable. Government’s own advice would be very very similar for many other comparable situations…take someone with spiralling debt, for example. They wouldn’t advise to carry on taking on more borrowing whilst simultaneously ‘trying’ to pay off the older debts!
To the person that ‘dumbed-down’ my comment…what do you think the outcome of a referendum on illegals/refugees/economic migrants (yes, I’m lumping them all into the same category) being allowed to come in would be, huh?
You know full-well (unless you’re London/South-East bubble-based having never left or opened your eyes) that overwhelmingly we’d say no. No more.
Perhaps, internationally, it should be agreed to only take those from your own continent. No. More. Dinghy. Divers. I WANT the space to offer Ukrainians refuge, but unfortunately that’s been spoiled by Governments and Lefties.
Almost certainly the same person who’s left thumbs down on most of the posts. I wouldn’t worry about it. Clearly the fool can’t argue his or her point.
Most Likely a Shelter – Tenant troll
Surely we could offer them luxury accommodation in central London when we confiscate all of Putin’s mates property?
What is happening in Ukraine is indeed shocking and I for one would dearly love to help anyone fleeing Putin’s brutal assault. However Ben Beadle might like to be a little pro-active for a change, and suggest to Priti Patel that her Government should also end her Government’s ‘war’ on private landlords.
Yes, Ben. Remember the old adage, “You scratch my back and I will scratch yours”; or as this government would say it, “You scratch my back and we will stab you in yours”.