Helping Your New Recruit Find a Home
Securing suitable accommodation is one of the most important steps to ensure international recruits settle well in the UK. Planning housing should begin alongside recruitment to ensure accommodation is ready when the worker arrives.
Providers should consider:
- Meeting workers at the airport and escorting them to their accommodation
- Handling landlord agreements, deposits, and rent arrangements
- Providing at least the first month’s rent free, if possible
- Deciding if and when accommodation costs will be reclaimed
Key Considerations
- Understand Worker Needs
- Are they arriving alone or with family?
- Will their family join later?
- What matters most to them in terms of location, transport, or community?
- Short-term vs Long-term Accommodation
- Short-term option: Initial accommodation to help the worker get settled, then find permanent housing.
- Long-term option: Provide longer-term accommodation from the start with an initial rent-free period.
The choice depends on local housing availability, worker circumstances, and budget.
Note: The current cost-of-living crisis and local housing shortages may affect availability, especially in Winchester, the Isle of Wight, and Solent areas.
Accommodation Options
1. Staff Spare Rooms
If you have staff willing to host, they may earn tax-free income via the Government Rent-a-Room Scheme.
2. Charity and Host Programs
- Refugees at Home – Connects hosts with refugees and asylum seekers for short-term accommodation
- Home stay programs – Short or long-term stays with local hosts.
- Living with a host family may help your new recruits to settle more quickly into life, make friends and get to know the local community
3. Homeshare Options
- Homeshare UK matches volunteers to support someone in exchange for accommodation
- Share and Care is a program with light support and companionship
- A Helpful Housemate offers lodgings in exchange for a few hours support
4. Employer-Provided Accommodation
- Purchase or rent property to house international staff temporarily
- Use spare rooms in residential care homes if available
- Ensure proper safety, cleanliness, and suitability
5. Private Rental / HMO
- Rent a house of multiple occupancy (HMO) and sublet rooms
- Consider: upfront deposit, landlord agreements, maintenance, and rent guarantees
- Useful websites for local rentals:
- Local landlord organisations:
Shared Accommodation Considerations
- Often necessary due to salary limitations (approx. 30–33% of monthly rent recommended)
- Initial rent and deposit can be paid by employer
- Furnished shared housing provides a community of peers to help workers settle
Guide for International Care Workers Searching for Accommodation
Good Practice for Providers
Good housing support helps recruits feel secure, welcomed and ready to focus on their role. To support this, Providers can:
- Plan Early: Arrange housing alongside recruitment so it’s ready on arrival.
- Airport Welcome: Meet and escort your recruit to help them settle.
- Cover Initial Costs: Pay first month’s rent, deposit, and act as guarantor if needed.
- Tailor Accommodation: Consider family status and personal needs.
- Short- or Long-Term Options: Offer initial short-term housing or longer-term accommodation with a free introductory period.
- Provide Essentials: Furnished home and welcome pack to help them settle.
- Local Guidance: Share info on transport, shops, and community resources.
- Support Transition: Help find permanent housing and understand tenancy responsibilities.
