Renting a property to a refugee family is a significant way in which individuals can support refugee resettlement and make a difference to the lives of a refugee family.
We spoke to a current landlord, Anthea, whose property is being lived in by a remarkable family of 6 who were evacuated from Afghanistan in 2021 and spent 7 months living in a bridging hotel. Anthea shared her experience of renting her property to a refugee family and had the following to say…
Tell us a little bit about yourself
I retired about 5 years ago and have lived in Devon for much of the past 40 years.
What made you consider offering your property to refugees?
I’ve felt conscious of the plight of refugees for a long time and was involved with a local group where we were asking the district council to agree to resettle a number of families under the Syrian Resettlement Scheme. However once the council pledged to accept 5 families in Mid Devon we discovered how hard it was to find rental accommodation for the Scheme. Even though refugees in displaced persons camps overseas had been given the right to come to Britain, they couldn’t leave their camp overseas until a rental property here was available.
We were actively searching for private landlords who would rent their homes under the Resettlement Scheme and were surprised and disappointed to realise how few came forward.
At that time my mother died and I inherited money from the sale of her house. It seemed an obvious solution: to use that money to buy a house to offer to the Resettlement Scheme.
Were you a landlord prior to renting you property to refugees?
No.
What did the process of renting to refugees entail?
I made contact with the relevant person in Devon County Council who put me in touch with the housing section of the district council. They checked the house for suitability and also the area: would there be spaces at the local school, was the house close enough to shops and public transport, were there any reasons to fear racial prejudice, etc. Once approved the house was accepted onto the Resettlement Scheme and I had no further direct responsibility for the house. The council, funded by the Scheme, went ahead to fully furnish it, ready for a family to move in.
What has been the most challenging aspect of this process? What has been the most rewarding?
After the house had been accepted and fully furnished there was a long delay due to bureaucratic processes. This was disappointing, knowing that a family was continuing to live in totally unsatisfactory conditions while a fully ready house was waiting yet empty. Although this wait was extremely frustrating it had no financial impact on me. I started receiving rent from the time the house was accepted and throughout the empty period.
How is renting to refugees through this scheme different than renting to anybody else?
There is an apparent financial disadvantage in that I receive rent pegged at local housing benefit rates. While this is less than rent on the private market I pay no management fees and have a 3 year contract. I suspect that financially it may balance out more or less evenly and emotionally, with the satisfaction involved, I gain significantly.
What would you say to those considering renting their property to refugees?
I hear concerns from potential landlords that refugees would not care properly for their home. From my experience nothing could be further from the truth. I couldn´t wish for more responsible, respectful and reliable tenants. In fact it makes sense that people displaced from their own home for years would want to care for a new home as if it were their own.
Would you recommend renting to refugees to other landlords?
Undoubtedly yes.
There are still many people awaiting resettlement both within the UK and waiting in host countries overseas. Central government announced on 28th March that all Afghan bridging hotels are set to close in the coming months, with a renewed push to find homes for these families. This is where we need your help.
We are searching for landlords who have properties that they are willing to use to resettle refugee families across Devon. In particular, we are seeking self-contained properties (houses or flats) that can be used to resettle refugees.
Renting your property to be used by a refugee family has many benefits for you, for the refugee family and for the wider community.
If you are a landlord who would consider renting a property to accommodate a refugee family – or you know someone who is – please email us at refugeeresettlement@devon.gov.uk