Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will conduct an audit of vacant public estate and accommodation to assess whether it can be repurposed as accommodation for refugees.

We work on a daily basis with local government to ensure we meet our international and statutory obligations to provide accommodation for asylum seekers and refugees.

Accommodation for refugees is offered by local authorities. Before committing to offering resettlement places a local authority should think about whether they have, or are able to put in place, the accommodation, infrastructure and support networks needed to ensure the appropriate care and integration of people in need of our help.

We are in regular dialogue with local authorities to encourage greater participation, and to understand and address reasons for not doing so.

For those seeking accommodation under the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP) and Afghan Citizen’s Resettlement Scheme (ACRS), DLUHC have created a new Housing Portal to make it easier for councils to assess the suitability of properties prior to contacting landlords. Offers of property are triaged by DLUHC and sent directly to councils. We are also looking at ways to make more suitable homes available in the private rental sector by engaging with landlords, letting agencies and industry bodies to promote the housing portal and encourage participation in the resettlement programme. We are also working with the estate agent, Rightmove, to identify potential properties available in the private rental sector.

The Home Secretary recently announced a humanitarian sponsorship pathway, which will provide those fleeing the conflict in Ukraine with a route to the UK. Under the scheme, sponsor groups will provide housing and integration support to those eligible.