Information for Asylum Seekers

 

An Asylum seeker is someone who has fled from their home country and is seeking protection in the UK. Asylum seekers are given temporary admission whilst the government UKBA (UK border agency) decide if they can stay permanently.

For more detailed information please visit the UK Border Agency website at www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk (this is an external hyperlink)

 

What should I do if I am an Asylum seeker looking for accommodation?

 

If you haven’t yet registered your claim for Asylum, you should contact The Immigration Services as quickly as possible to apply.  You can only use this service if you fall under the following criteria.

• Have dependant children under 18.
• You are under the age of 16 and have no one else.
• Are pregnant or have special needs.

If you are not one of the above groups you must make your way to the nearest immigration screening unit.

If you are awaiting a decision on your application, and the UKBA (UK border agency) has provided accommodation, you should first seek help and advice from the person who is helping you.

If you cannot sort out the problem contact The Refugee Council website at www.refugeecouncil.org.uk (this is an external hypertlink).

 

What should I do if I am a Refugee looking for accommodation?

A Refugee is someone who has been given leave to remain in the UK after fleeing their home country. Refugees are entitled to live in the UK and are entitled to apply for housing related assistance from the local authority. You are treated as a refugee if you are given one of the following.

• Full Refugee status
• Humanitarian protection
• Discretionary leave
• If you have been given the right to remain in the UK you have the same rights as any other UK resident.

 

What are your housing rights?

People with indefinite leave have the right to an allocation from the Council and to help if they are homeless, as long as two other conditions are met:

• They must be habitually resident (people who have lived in the UK for two years will be automatically habitually resident)
• They must not have had an undertaking to support and accommodate them signed by a relative within the last five years, although if all the people who have signed it are dead this will not apply.  An undertaking is sometimes required where a person resident in the UK wants to bring an elderly dependent relative to live with them in the UK. 

People with indefinite leave to remain can also get accommodation from Housing Associations.  This applies to all of them including those who might not be able to meet the two conditions .

In the first instance

• Contact your local housing authority
• Ask for help with your housing needs
• You may need to make a Homeless application

You may be offered bed & breakfast on a temporary basis.

 

For more information and assistance please contact the Housing Options Team in the Strategic Housing Division on Tel: 01329 236100, or e-mail: customerservices@fareham.gov.uk.