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 while the UK Borders Agency (UKBA) decides if they can stay permanently. For more information, see its website at www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk  

What should you do if you are an asylum seeker looking for accommodation?

If you haven't yet registered your claim for asylum, you should contact Immigration Services as quickly. You can only use this service if you:

• have dependent children under 18
• are under the age of 16 and have no one else
• are pregnant or have special needs.

If none of these apply to you, you must go to the nearest immigration screening unit.

If you are awaiting a decision on your application and the UKBA has provided you with accommodation, you should seek advice from the person helping you. If you cannot sort out the problem contact The Refugee Council  at www.refugeecouncil.org.uk .

What should you do if you are 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 to apply for housing help from a local authority. You are treated as a refugee if you have been given one of these:

• full Refugee status
• humanitarian protection
• discretionary leave
• the right to remain in the UK.

What are your housing rights?

People with indefinite leave have the right to help from us 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 past 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 here.

People with the right to remain can also get help from housing associations, even if they do not 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 and may be offered bed & breakfast on a temporary basis.

For more information, contact us on 01329 236100, or e-mail: customerservicecentre@fareham.gov.uk.