Guidance

Afghan Resettlement Programme: policy guidance (accessible)

Updated 30 April 2025

1. Introduction

1.1 Purpose of this guidance

This guidance sets out the detail of elements of the Afghan Resettlement Programme (ARP). The ARP was announced on 18 December 2024 by the Ministry of Defence and sets out the Government’s position on its approach to Afghan resettlement from 1 March 2025 until further notice. The ARP brings together existing Afghan resettlement and relocation schemes into a single, efficient pipeline, which will improve efficiency, value for money and outcomes across Afghan Resettlement.

Existing schemes brought under ARP include:

The Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS): This is a referral-based resettlement scheme which prioritises vulnerable people and those who assisted UK efforts in Afghanistan.

The Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP): This is for Afghan citizens who worked for or with the UK Government in Afghanistan in exposed or meaningful roles and may include an offer of relocation to the UK for those deemed eligible by the Ministry of Defence and who are deemed suitable for relocation by the Home Office.

It will also include any relevant instances where leave outside the rules has been granted.

This guidance sets out sets out how existing and new arrivals will be managed under the ARP. This guidance remains subject to review and change at the discretion of HM Government.

1.2 Background

The Home Office has been at the heart of the UK’s response to the fast-moving and challenging events in Afghanistan following the fall of Kabul in August 2021. Operation Pitting was the biggest UK military evacuation for over 70 years and enabled around 15,000 people to leave Afghanistan and get to safety.

Since then, we have resettled and relocated over 30,000 Afghans with the support of Local Government.

Supporting Afghans on their arrival into the UK is critical in providing a strong foundation for those rebuilding their new life in the UK. Transitional accommodation is short-term accommodation and was established to provide safe and secure time-limited accommodation for Afghan arrivals since December 2023.

Under the ARP transitional accommodation will be offered for up to 9 months, within which households will be expected to move on to their settled home.

Settled homes are the best long-term solution providing newly arriving individuals and families with the best opportunities to fully integrate, put down roots, and build their new lives in the UK.

1.3 Departmental Responsibilities

There are three main departments who are responsible for delivering different elements of the ARP, Home Office (HO), Ministry of Defence (MoD) and Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government (MHCLG).

A breakdown of the responsibilities of the departments is displayed in the table below.

Responsibility	Activities	Department
Transitional accommodation procurement	MoD will procure and contract hotels/buildings for transitional accommodation purposes as required. Commercial procurement and contract management with suppliers for the provision of all relevant requirements including but not limited to accommodation, security, transport, baggage and payment cards. Initial engagement with stakeholders in the regions where selected hotels are located. Performance management of the hotel contract. Physical assurance of hotels prior to and during contract, including physical visits to operational hotels in line with an agreed assurance approach.	MoD
Transitional accommodation management	HO will support and report hotel (including serviced apartments) occupancy and departure on behalf of MoD. Conducting triage and updating regularly. Day-to-day engagement with Eligible Persons. Supporting Eligible Persons property decision making.	HO (and LA, and MoD in Defence estate)
Accommodation matching policies	One allocation policy. Complex household policy. Non-complex household policy.	HO
Local Authority Housing Fund (LAHF)	Lead the policy design and provide grant funding to local authorities in England to obtain settled housing. Support LAs with delivery. Monitor delivery performance	MHCLG
Communities for Afghans (CfA)	Lead the policy and delivery for the project in conjunction with Principal Sponsors and Local Authorities. Ensure sponsor groups and properties meet suitable standards before matching of families to properties.	MHCLG
Find Your Own (FYO) Pathway	Policy and guidance on the FYO pathway. Supporting LA case working on the MOD estate and other transitional sites as needed. Delivery of FYO (including housing casework & move on support) led by LAs.	MHCLG
Transitional accommodation policy	Transitional accommodation offer policy. 9-month transitional accommodation policy. Voluntary withdrawal policy. Ending transitional accommodation policy	HO
Integration tariff	Ownership of Funding Instructions. Administering integration payments	HO

2. Transitional Accommodation

2.1 What is transitional accommodation?

Transitional accommodation is temporary, short-term, and time-limited accommodation provided for up to 9 months on behalf of HM Government. From 1 March 2025 all households accommodated in transitional accommodation are covered under the ARP. This includes households who were accommodated in transitional accommodation before 1 March 2025 and were relocated through ACRS or ARAP. All ARP households are eligible to receive up to 9-months transitional accommodation starting from 1 March 2025.

Transitional accommodation will continue to be offered to new ARP arrivals from 1 March 2025 who arrive through HM Government arranged or approved flights (with the exception of immediate and/or additional family members of ACRS and ARAP Eligible Persons (EPs) where the principal EP is already in the UK and not in transitional accommodation).

Those who are offered and accept transitional accommodation will be required to sign an Accommodation or Conduct Charter which sets out our commitments to EPs, as well as EPs’ responsibilities while in transitional accommodation.

2.2 Types of transitional accommodation

Transitional accommodation is any form of accommodation that is provided, funded and allocated on behalf of HM government. Transitional accommodation may be catered or uncatered. In both types of transitional accommodation, rent, council tax and utility bills are paid for by HM government.

In catered transitional accommodation, the provision of meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) and laundry services are included. Snacks, toiletries, sanitary products and other products are not provided by HM government. In uncatered transitional accommodation, arrivals will be responsible for arranging and paying for their own meals and laundry services in addition to snacks, toiletries, sanitary products and any other products. Additional services may be provided at different transitional accommodation sites at the discretion of the transitional accommodation providers.

EPs may be provided transitional accommodation based on HM government estate capacity. EPs cannot choose which type of transitional accommodation they will be placed in.

As part of estate capacity management, and to ensure good value for money for the UK taxpayer, those in transitional accommodation may be required to move from one transitional accommodation site and type to another within their 9-month stay. EPs may be required to sign new Accommodation or Conduct Charters when entering new transitional accommodation. Refusal to move to different transitional accommodation within the 9-month stay will constitute a breach of the Charters. Those who refuse will be provided with a minimum of 28 calendar days’ notice to quit which will run from either the issuance of their eVisa or the day they refuse to move into different transitional accommodation, whichever is later and will need to make their own onward accommodation arrangements.

2.3 Who can be offered a space in transitional accommodation?

9-months of time-limited transitional accommodation may be offered on behalf of HM government to those who have previously been or are relocated to the UK under the existing schemes that make up the ARP and all new ARP arrivals from 1 March 2025.

The provision of transitional accommodation is not guaranteed for EPs under ARP. From 1 March 2025 transitional accommodation is offered to those who arrive in the UK via HM government approved and/or arranged flights.

Self-moving households who make their own way to the UK without HM government support are viewed as voluntarily withdrawing from the offer of transitional accommodation and support to find a home. Households will not be entitled to sign out/leave transitional accommodation for longer than 3 weeks. If part or all of the household exceeds this time frame the entire household will be considered voluntarily withdrawn. Self-moving households must find their own accommodation on arrival into the UK which includes but is not limited to staying with friends or family, arranging their own hotel stay at personal cost or entering any form of agreement to occupy accommodation that has not been allocated and funded directly by HM government.

Local authorities (LAs) continue to be eligible to receive tariff funding for self-moving households. If the household require housing advice and guidance, they are recommended to discuss this with the LA where they are currently residing.

Newly joining immediate or additional family members of ARP Eligible Persons (EPs) where the principal EP is not in transitional accommodation, will only be offered transitional accommodation for up to 3 months (with the exclusion of immediate family members arriving through ACRS separated families pathway Afghan citizens resettlement scheme: Separated Families Pathway - GOV.UK).

Once the 3 months has elapsed the accommodation for these individuals will be the responsibility of the principal EP in the UK who does not occupy HM government provided transitional accommodation who made the immediate and/or additional family member application. These immediate and additional family members will be provided with a minimum of 28 calendar days’ notice to quit transitional accommodation before being required to leave when the 3 months of transitional accommodation expires.

Important – newly joining immediate and additional family members will not be entered into the HMG property matching pool and will therefore not be in scope to receive any allocations for a settled home from the Home Office Matching Team. Immediate and additional family members can be supported during their 3-month stay in transitional accommodation through the Find Your Own (FYO) pathway.

The provision of transitional accommodation may end before the 9 months when:

• a household moves into a settled home through an allocation or the Find Your Own (FYO) pathway
• a household leaves transitional accommodation during the 9 months for more than 3 weeks
• all or part of a household is found not to be using transitional accommodation as their only ‘living accommodation’
• a household decides not to take up the offer of transitional accommodation
• immediate and additional family members enter transitional accommodation to join part way through the 9-month term which commences when the first member of the same household enters transitional accommodation
• the principal EP is not accommodated in transitional accommodation; immediate and additional family members will receive up to 3-months in transitional accommodation
• the terms of the Accommodation or Conduct Charter are breached

2.4 Exceptions to 9-month time limited transitional accommodation offer

The 9-months of time-limited transitional accommodation begins when the first member of a household aged 18 or over enters into transitional accommodation. Where the principal EP is in transitional accommodation, newly arriving immediate and additional family members will be offered transitional accommodation for the time remaining of the 9-month limit from when the first member of the same household entered transitional accommodation.

Those who are not relocated to the UK through the ARP will not be offered a place in transitional accommodation. Immediate and additional family members joining EPs who are already in the UK will only receive up to 3 months of transitional accommodation provision. Thereafter, it will the responsibility of the principal EP in the UK, who made the application, to support the onward accommodation of arriving immediate and additional family members who have been relocated to the UK through the ARP.

2.5 Ending Transitional Accommodation Provision

When will the provision of transitional accommodation end?

This provision may end once one of the following occurs:

• the acceptance of an allocation of settled accommodation which will specify when the move into the property will take place.
• a household signs a tenancy agreement securing a property through the Find Your Own (FYO) pathway.
• the rejection of an allocation for a settled home under the one allocation policy pre-arrival into the UK. EPs may be provided with a minimum of 28 calendar days’ notice to quit accommodation after receiving their eVisa before being required to leave and make their own onward accommodation arrangements.
• the rejection of an allocation for a settled home under the one allocation policy post-arrival into the UK. EPs may be provided with a minimum of 28 calendar notice to quit accommodation after the issuance of their eVisa or their rejection of accommodation, whichever comes later, before being required to leave and expected to make their own onward accommodation arrangements.
• voluntary withdrawal from the one allocation matching process. EPs may be provided with a minimum of 28 calendar days’ notice to quit accommodation after the issuance of their eVisa or their rejection of accommodation, whichever comes later, before being required to leave and expected to make their own onward accommodation arrangements.
• EPs being accommodated in the transitional accommodation breach the terms of their Accommodation or Conduct Charter.

2.6 What notice will EPs receive before their stay in transitional accommodation ends?

EPs may receive a minimum of 28 calendar days’ notice to quit transitional accommodation if there has been a breach of the Accommodation or Conduct Charter. Should the circumstances justify it, then a shorter notice period may be given.

Any case involving a known pregnant woman must be considered sympathetically and on its own merits. To avoid detrimental maternal stress, a mother may be able to remain in transitional accommodation for periods during her pre- and post-natal care, as recommended by a healthcare professional.

3. Finding your settled home in the UK

Under ARP you will be expected to find and move on into your settled home. Households who enter transitional accommodation on arrival will receive up to 9-months accommodation and support to find their settled home. Transitional accommodation has been designed to provide arrivals with a strong foundation for life in the UK, to begin the journey to self-sufficiency and integration.

3.1 Accommodation Matching Prioritisation

There are two main policies that govern accommodation matching:

• One allocation policy
• Complex household identification

The government will continue to provide a pipeline of settled homes that can be matched to ARP households. The government’s ambition is to provide up to fifty percent of households with a settled home through this pipeline. The demand for government-sourced settled homes far outstrips the supply. It is important to recognise that the majority of households under ARP will not receive a government sourced allocation for a settled home, even prioritised households.  However, all households who enter HM government funded transitional accommodation will receive support to help find your settled home.

3.2 The one allocation policy

There is a one allocation policy in place for ARP. This policy applies to ARP arrivals who are accommodated and living in transitional accommodation provided and funded on behalf of HM Government before and from 1 March 2025. While all households are eligible to receive an allocation for a settled home through the ARP most households will not receive an allocation. Therefore, all ARP arrivals should look for settled accommodation in the private rented sector with the support from a local authority caseworker, via the Find Your Own (FYO) pathway.

The one allocation policy only applies to all EPs under ARP in transitional accommodation from 1 March 2025. The one allocation policy does not apply to EPs who do not live in transitional accommodation. Households may receive a maximum of one allocation for a settled home under this policy. This home can be a property located from all 4 UK nations (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland). An allocation for a settled home may be made either while a household is outside of the UK or while accommodated in transitional accommodation in the UK. A household could receive a settled home allocation from the Home Office accommodation matching team through one of the following means:

• a Home Office Matching Team (HOMT) settled accommodation match
• a Communities for Afghans (CfA) settled accommodation match
• community sponsorship (Currently applicable to ACRS Pathway 2 only)

Households cannot choose the type of settled home allocation they receive. Information provided as part of the accommodation matching triage questionnaire, completed pre-arrival by our international partners or upon arrival in the UK by Home Office Liaison Officers (HOLOs) or military personnel, provide the information used to identify suitable accommodation. The term ‘suitable accommodation’ in the context of the one allocation policy means that allocations are made on the basis of household requirements (for example, family size, accessibility needs, etc.) and not based on preferences (for example, location).

Households in the UK who receive an allocation should contact their on-site support provider (Home Office Liaison Officer (HOLO), LA, delivery partner or military personnel) to discuss an allocation further. Households are not expected to make decisions on an allocation alone. If your household receives an allocation contact your on-site support provider to help you make an informed decision about your allocation. Households outside of the UK who receive an allocation will have a call arranged to support decision making. This will ensure that households outside of the UK can make an informed decision for an allocation of accommodation.

Households will have 5 working days (7 calendar days) from receiving an allocation to make a decision. We strongly encourage households to accept an allocation for a settled home as they will not receive another allocation. Rejecting an allocation for a settled home means that households will be provided with a minimum of 28 days’ notice to quit. This means they will then be required to leave transitional accommodation and make their own onward accommodation arrangements.

If a household receives and rejects an allocation for a settled home before arriving in the UK, they may be provided with a minimum of 28 days of transitional accommodation only. The household will be served notice on arrival before being required to leave and make their own onward accommodation arrangements.

EPs will be required to leave transitional accommodation once the notice period elapses or the 9-months of transitional accommodation provision ends, whichever comes sooner.

Refusal to sign a tenancy agreement or to move into settled accommodation previously accepted will be considered a rejection of a settled home under the one allocation matching process. Reasons for rejection are not routinely considered. Rejections of settled home allocations are taken as final and may not be overturned.

3.3 Complex household identification

Households may be identified as ‘complex’ pre-arrival into the UK through a medical health assessment (MHA) which include assessments of psychological and special educational needs. MHAs will be completed for the majority of ARP arrivals independently out of country by the International Organization for Migration (IOM). Households already in the UK may be identified as ‘complex’ through information provided during triage on arrival, independent OT assessments (pre-1 March 2025) or LA identification. Households identified as complex will be prioritised to receive an allocation for a government sourced settled home. Prioritisation does not guarantee a government sourced allocation for a settled home and complex households will still be expected to engage in the ‘Find Your Own’ accommodation process.

A household may be identified as complex where certain information is captured and provided on their MHA, provided on arrival in the UK through triage or identified by a LA. These factors include but are not limited to:

• Serious medical needs (including serious psychological needs)
• Mobility issues
• Complicated needs (requiring a high level of support or assistance with tasks and activities associated with daily life including special educational needs)

We recognise that household circumstances can change throughout their time in transitional accommodation. Therefore, Local Authorities (LAs) are also able to make referrals for households they deem to be complex when in the UK. LAs may refer households to be identified as complex for reasons including but not limited to:

• Serious safeguarding issues/concerns
• Serious medical needs (including serious psychological needs)
• Mobility issues
• Complicated needs (requiring a high level of support or assistance with tasks and activities associated with daily life including special educational needs)

Complex households will be prioritised for government sourced allocations for a settled home over non-complex households. If or when a property becomes available, property suitability will be first checked against identified complex households. A suitable complex household located in transitional accommodation within the same region as the settled home may be prioritised to receive an allocation over suitable complex households outside of the region. Should a match be found, the household will receive an allocation.  If multiple suitable complex households are identified within the same region the allocation will be made to the suitable complex household within the region who has been in transitional accommodation the longest.

Where no suitable complex household is identified within the same region, or where the complex household within the region reject the allocation, the property will then be allocated to the next suitable complex household. This will first be to any remaining suitable complex households in the region and then suitable complex households outside of the region starting with the household that has been in transitional accommodation the longest. There may be exceptional cases where discretion needs to be applied by Home Office Matching team to prioritise individual/family cases.

If a household reject an allocation, they will be treated in accordance with the ‘one allocation policy’ and provided with 28 days’ notice to quit after which they will be expected to leave transitional accommodation and make their own onward accommodation arrangements.

Those with medical conditions may be asked to sign a medical consent form to allow HM government to have a medical expert assess evidence of and/or medical conditions to inform a decision on the type of transitional or settled accommodation that will be suitable for new arrivals to be accommodated in.

3.4 Non-complex household prioritisation

If a property becomes available and is found not be suitable for any complex household the property will then be checked for suitability against non-complex households. A suitable non-complex household located in transitional accommodation within the same region as the settled home may be prioritised to receive an allocation over other suitable non-complex households outside of the region. If multiple suitable non-complex households are identified within the same region the allocation will be made to the suitable non-complex household within the region who has been in transitional accommodation the longest.

Where no suitable non-complex household is identified within the same region, or where the non-complex household within the region reject the allocation, the property will then be allocated to the next suitable non-complex household. This will first be to any remaining suitable non-complex households in the region and then suitable non-complex households outside of the region starting with the suitable non-complex household that has been in transitional accommodation the longest.

3.5 Discretion in the Accommodation Matching Process

There may be some exceptional cases where discretion may be applied by Home Office Matching team to prioritise household allocations outside of standard operational practices if requested by a LA.

Reasons for discretion being applied by Home Office Matching team at LA request may include but are not limited to:

• Medical reasons such as required specialist medical treatment in a specific facility.
• Cases where a large family is being divided across two nearby properties (given the lack of supply of large properties).
• To meet particular needs identified by the LA.

3.6 Voluntary withdrawal and ending of the one allocation policy

There are a number of ways in which households will be regarded as voluntarily withdrawing from the one allocation policy under ARP. All households who voluntarily withdraw will be ineligible to receive an accommodation allocation through the matching process. Households who voluntarily withdraw will not be allowed entry or re-entry into transitional accommodation. LAs remain eligible to claim the integration tariff for all households they support who voluntarily withdraw from the scheme.

The following reasons are viewed as voluntary withdrawal;

• Arrivals who make their own way to the UK on non-government approved or arranged flights or any other means.
• Arrivals who make their own accommodation arrangements on arrival in the UK, which can include, but are not limited to, staying with friends or family, arranging their own hotel stay at personal cost or entering any form of agreement to occupy accommodation that has not been allocated and funded directly by HM government.
• Those who enter transitional accommodation and go on to successfully sign a tenancy agreement (or other agreement to occupy), moving into accommodation they have independently arranged.
• Those who leave transitional accommodation during the 9-month term for up to 3 weeks and do not inform supporting staff of their departure.
• Those who leave transitional accommodation during the 9-month term for longer than 3 weeks, with or without informing supporting staff of their departure.
• When the Accommodation or Conduct Charter is breached, and provision of transitional accommodation ends for a household before the 9-month term ends. Households will need to leave transitional accommodation and make their own onward accommodation arrangements which may include making a homelessness application.

All who voluntarily withdraw from the one allocation policy may be given a minimum of 28 calendar days’ notice to leave transitional accommodation. This will be from either the date that their eVisa was issued, the date on which they voluntarily withdrew, or 28 days before the 9 months of provision of transitional accommodation for a household is set to end, whichever is first.

3.7 Routes into settled homes – ARP in UK

Below are diagrams showing the routes into settled homes for ARP arrivals who enter transitional accommodation. All households will enter the property matching pool and be expected to engage in the FYO at the same time. The processes are shown consecutively illustrative purposes only. Both the FYO and HMG property matching routes run simultaneously.

Note: Any pilot schemes that take place may not be subject to the same accommodation matching policies or processes. Pilots are developed to test potential interventions to improve business processes. If any pilot interventions become part of ‘business as usual’ processes the guidance will be updated to reflect changes.

1. ARP households are identified as ‘complex’ or ‘non-complex’.
2. All ARP households begin engagement with FYO and enter the property matching pool.

FYO route

1. ‘Complex’ and ‘non-complex’ ARP households engage with LA caseworks to find their own accommodation in the private rental sector.
2. Household finds and secures their settled home in the private rental sector within 9 months.
3. Household leaves transitional accommodation and moves into settled home. Participating LAs will provide integration support. Integration support will end in non-participating LAs. HMG support ends.

or

1. ‘Complex’ and ‘non-complex’ ARP households engage with LA caseworks to find their own accommodation in the private rental sector.
2. Household does not find and secure their settled home in the private rental sector within 9 months.
3. Household must leave transitional accommodation at the end of 9 months. Supported to make a homeless application.

HMG property matching route

1. ‘Complex’ ARP households are prioritised to receive a government provided allocation for a settled home.
2. When a property becomes available Home Office Matching Team (HOMT) will first check if the property is suitable against all prioritised households.
3. If suitable, allocation made to the ‘complex’ household in the same region that has been in TA the longest.
4. Household accepts allocation and moves into settled home, or household rejects allocation and must leave transitional accommodation 28 days after rejection received.

or

1. ‘Complex’ ARP households are prioritised to receive a government provided allocation for a settled home.
2. When a property becomes available Home Office Matching Team (HOMT) will first check if the property is suitable against all prioritised households.
3. HOMT will check if the property is suitable for ‘non-complex’ households.
4. If suitable, allocation made to the ‘non-complex’ household within the same region that has been in TA the longest.
5. Household accepts allocation and moves into settled home, or household rejects allocation and must leave transitional accommodation 28 days after rejection received.

3.8 Accommodation or Conduct charter breaches

Transitional accommodation is provided on behalf of HM Government. Individuals who breach the terms of the Accommodation or Conduct Charter may be required to leave transitional accommodation. Where minors or individuals who are part of a family group breach the terms of the Accommodation or Conduct Charter, the linked family group may also be required to leave transitional accommodation.

It shall be at the discretion of the HM Government as to how much notice to provide to leave transitional accommodation once a family member or members has/have breached the Accommodation or Conduct Charter. The notice period will be determined on a case-by-case basis but will be a maximum of 28 days. Family members will then be required to leave transitional accommodation and make their own onward accommodation arrangements.

Individuals are not eligible to access or re-enter transitional accommodation where they:

• do not enter transitional accommodation on arrival into the UK.
• are absent from their transitional accommodation for more than ‘3 weeks’ unless they have informed and gained consent from supporting staff (HOLOs, MoD staff, on-site delivery partners).
• move directly into an allocated settled home on arrival into the UK.
• are required to leave through Accommodation or Conduct Charter breaches.
• have left transitional accommodation after the 9 months of  provision ends.

3.9 Find your own (FYO) accommodation pathway

The Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) have designed the Find Your Own (FYO) Accommodation Pathway.  This is a process to support households to move into the private sector (PRS). The aim of this route is to source affordable, sustainable accommodation most conducive to longer term integration of Afghan arrivals.

All Afghan arrivals under ARP will be expected to actively engage with the search for settled housing via the FYO pathway. This will be reflected in communications pre and post arrival. Any household that does not find a home through FYO or receive an allocation of settled housing via the Home Office may be at risk of homelessness.

The FYO process runs in parallel with the Home Office’s One Allocation policy through the matching prioritisation process set out above. Searching for a property through FYO does not stop households receiving a property allocation and provides a layer of protection against potential homelessness.

During their time in transitional accommodation, EPs should be supported by local authority caseworkers to navigate their housing options, including access to the PRS, to make informed choices based on information about the UK housing market and affordability assessments. Support should also be given, including to search for PRS properties, manage expectations and challenge common misconceptions about housing in the UK, liaise with councils where the family may be moving to and support with property checks.

The FYO process allows households to receive ongoing resettlement support via the revised Integration Tariff paid to LAs of £24,110 over three years, where the receiving council agrees to provide this.

The Find Your Own Pathway steps are summarised below:

1. Engage: Caseworkers to work with newly arrived Afghans to establish affordability, property requirements and area(s) of interest, and engage with potential receiving councils.

2. Search: Caseworkers support households to begin property search; other organisations and agencies (e.g. third-party contractors) and receiving councils can support where applicable. Caseworkers should manage expectations about renting in the UK.

3. Secure: Once a property is identified, the receiving council may be able to support with property checks. The revised tariff can be used flexibly, including to help secure accommodation. Caseworkers support the household to sign the tenancy agreement.

4. Prepare to Move: Caseworkers to support households with preparing a budget and reiterate expectations around renting privately. Once a tenancy agreement is signed, the Home Office should be notified and take the household off the matching list.

5. Move: The household is ready to move into the property at this stage. The MoD or Home Office may be able to provide transport to the new property. The receiving council should be notified within 7 days of the move. Integration support moves to the receiving council at this stage (where the council is providing it) and can draw down on the remaining integration tariff.

Households may receive help with transport to move their belongings to the new property. Home Office Liaison Officers, MoD staff or on-site delivery partners can help arrange this.

More information on how to find accommodation is available in the ‘how to rent’ guide on GOV.UK.

If the deadline for leaving the transitional accommodation is nearly at hand and they have not secured their own accommodation, we urge arrivals to seek advice from their on-site delivery partners, who will be able to advise on their next steps.

3.10 Additional considerations for accommodation matching and finding your own settled home

Single people

Those who present as a single person household may be asked additional questions during triage. These questions help to ascertain the potential suitability of properties available for allocations made and can also be used by caseworkers to best support households through the FYO route. We encourage EPs to answer all questions honestly, as this will best support their journey to find a settled home in the UK.

In the UK it is common for single person household to live in a shared home. This can mean occupying a room in a house with other single people with shared bathrooms and kitchens. If single person households receive an allocation for a settled home, it is likely that any allocation made will be to a shared home.

Large family groups considerations

Any new arrivals whose accommodation triage information suggests they may require a settled home consisting of 5 or more bedrooms will be considered to be a large family group.

Large family groups may be allocated a settled home over multiple properties across geographical locations where the following conditions are met:

• they are part of multi-generational families or;
• they are family groups containing adult offspring or other formerly dependant relatives (any person aged 18 or over)

No allocations of a settled home will be made by HM government that require children under the age of 18 to be accommodated separately from their parents, or spouses to be split. Additionally, no allocations will be made where family members will be required to be housed separately from family members for whom full time dependant caring responsibilities can be evidenced. Evidence may be based on information provided in the UK through the triage process or information collected by LA caseworkers. However, if no full-time dependant caring responsibilities can be evidenced, multi-generational large family groups will be considered as separate households. Consent will not be required.

Where a large family group consists of children under the age of 18 and young people aged 18 and over, consent will be required from those aged 18 and over to split from the larger family group. With consent, formerly dependant family members aged 18 and over can be considered a separate household and could be receive an allocation as a newly separate household.

An allocation made to part of a large family group is considered under the one accommodation policy. If part of a large family group rejects an allocation of a settled home, they will not receive another allocation or be included in another part of the same family’s accommodation allocation if this remains outstanding.

We expect LAs will work with large family groups around affordability and support them to find practical and sustainable settled home solutions.

3.11 Your Settled Home

You can find a settled home anywhere in the UK (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland), in a city, smaller town or a rural area.

Responsibilities once in your settled home

Once EPs have secured a property, they will be responsible for all rental costs, this includes as a minimum;

• Rent
• Energy bills (gas and electricity),
• Water bills,
• Council tax
• TV licence (purchase required to watch live TV and on-demand BBC programmes)

Note: this is not an exhaustive list.

These costs and responsibilities are standard for anyone renting a property in the UK. HMG will no longer be liable for any associated living or accommodation costs. Some households may be eligible for housing support. Local authority case workers and DWP can provide guidance on this.

Entitlement to benefits and public services

Arrivals under ARP are granted indefinite leave to remain (ILR), also known as settlement. Those with ILR have the right to remain in the UK permanently and have the right, without restriction, to work, education and to rent property.

Those under ARP are eligible to access benefits and public services. These include:

• UK benefits system
• public healthcare offered through the National Health Service
• public support services including translation services, and support accessing healthcare providers, education, and employment
• support with finding schools and nurseries including requesting any additional provision for children or vulnerable adults

4. Integrating into life in the UK

The integration tariff has been developed to provide financial support to LAs supporting the resettlement of EPs under ARP. Further detail and a breakdown of the integration tariff is provided below to show EPs and LAs the funding that can be claimed to support integration.

4.1 LA integration funding

LAs can claim the integration tariff of £24,110 per person over three years for all EPs under ARP who are accommodated in transitional accommodation on or before 1 March 2025.

The integration tariff funding has been designed to support LAs in assisting EPs with their journey to self-sufficiency. LAs who choose to support EPs will be eligible to claim the tariff for EPs in their area from the point of arrival.

The tariff is broken down into five payments points over three years. Payments are weighted to deliver the bulk of funding in the first year when EP support level are likely to be highest.

Year 1 - Three payments up to £12,410 per person:

• Payment 1 - £5,400 pp (month 1-3): available to be claimed by the LA hosting transitional accommodation or LA providing settled housing upon arrival. Enables LAs to provide immediate support, including casework support for those in transitional accommodation.
• Payment 2 - £3,600 pp (month 4-9): available to be claimed by transitional or settled LA. To be paid to transitional LA if EPs are to remain in transitional accommodation between 4 and 9 months or to the settled LA if EPs have moved into settled accommodation.
• Payment 3 - £3,410 pp (month 10): claimable by settled LA or the LA providing homelessness support. To be paid to the settled LA or the LA providing homelessness support if different from the transitional accommodation LA.

Year 2 - One payment

• Payment 1 - £6,550: available to be claimed by the LA delivering integration support in year 2.

Year 3 - One payment

• Payment 1 - £5,150: available to be claimed by the LA delivering integration support in year 3.

4.2 Education and Healthcare

In addition to the integration tariff there are two additional tariffs that can only be claimed in the first year of funding. These payments can only be claimed during Year 1, and by the LA , Integrated Care Board (ICB) or Health Board where the EPs are being supported when the claim is due.

Education

A LA can claim up to £5,130 per child aged 5-18 and up to £2,965 per child aged 3-4 to support the provision of education for children resettled under ARP. The education tariff payments are split into three payments, aligned to the three integration tariff payments.

Payment 1 (month 1-3):

• £2,257.20 per child (5-18 years)
• £1,304.60 per child (3-4 years)

Available to be claimed by transitional or settled LA.

Payment 2 (month 4-9): 

• £1,487.70 per child (5-18 years)
• £859.85 per child (3-4 years)

Available to be claimed by transitional or settled LA.

Payment 3 (month 10):  

• £1,385.10 per child (5-18 years)
• £800.55 per child (3-4 years)

Available to be claimed by transitional or settled or LA providing homelessness support.

Healthcare

The healthcare tariff consists of two payments claimable in the first year only. This can be claimed by the Integration Care Boards (England) or Health Boards (Scotland and  Wales ). There are separate arrangements for NI Department of Health.

Payment 1 - £600 per person (month 1)

This funding may be claimed by the health provider who is responsible for primary healthcare registration in either the LA area that is hosting transitional accommodation or LA area that is providing settled housing upon arrival.

Payment 2 - £2,000 per person (month 4)

This funding may be claimed by the health provider who is responsible for secondary healthcare services at Month 4 and maybe in either the LA area that is hosting transitional accommodation or LA area that is providing settled housing upon arrival.

Funding can only be claimed once per person.

Detailed instructions and guidance will be published at the same time as the Integration Funding Instructions are published online and shared with Integrated Care Boards in England only. Information will also be shared with the Devolved Governments.

5. Supporting providers

EPs must treat partners working to support them in accommodation with respect, in line with the Accommodation or Conduct Charter. Any abuse or harassment towards partners will not be tolerated.

The following organisations/teams support EPs currently living in transitional accommodation. This is not an exhaustive list.

5.1 Accommodation matching team (Home Office)

The Accommodation Matching Team is responsible for matching Afghan EPs in transitional accommodation to settled accommodation allocated by LAs. Matching is subject to there being sufficient suitable available properties.

5.2 Local authorities

Local authorities work closely with the Home Office to provide wraparound support services to EPs in transitional accommodation and to prepare them to move on to settled accommodation. Some local authorities also pledge to support the scheme and make allocations of settled accommodation. The Home Office Accommodation Matching Team will seek to match suitable households to this accommodation in-line with their current matching process. The settled accommodation put forward by local authorities varies in type, size and tenure. Where a household takes up one of those properties, the local authority commits to providing them with integration support for 3 years. Local authorities might also provide integration support when a household moves to their area under the FYO pathway.

5.3 Home Office Liaison Officer (HOLO) Team

HOLOs support EPs throughout their stay and are the Home Office’s single point of contact for EPs in transitional accommodation. HOLOs have a presence across all hotel and service apartment transitional accommodation sites and work to resolve issues EPs may have during their stay. HOLOs are responsible for managing and supporting EPs throughout the process, ensuring that any concerns are logged and addressed. Where issues are raised by EPs that are not linked to Home Office functions, HOLOs will refer EPs to the relevant authorities or services.

5.4 Military Personnel

Military personnel provide support to EPs who are residing in transitional accommodation across Ministry of Defence sites. They are a key point of contact for EPs at these sites and will work to resolve any issues that EPs may have during their stay, ensuring that any concerns are logged and addressed. Where issues are raised by EPs that cannot be addressed on site, military personnel will refer EPs to the relevant authorities or services.

5.5 Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is responsible for helping those in transitional accommodation who are eligible to claim relevant benefits including Universal Credit and State Pension Credit and assisting with queries about employment.