If you are an asylum seeker with granted status, this video will help explain the housing options process.

This step‑by‑step guide explains how to access housing support, understand your rights, and find accommodation in the UK.

Step 1: Access Initial Support

If you have recently been granted refugee status contact New Citizens Gateway as soon as possible for support with:

  • Initial advice
  • Setting up your E-visa
  • Opening a bank account
  •  Applying for benefits

Where available, bring the following documents to the first appointment: Refugee status (grant) letter, Asylum support discontinuation letter, Bank account details (if already have a bank account), eVisa and login details, Notice to Vacate from accommodation provider.

Step 2: Contact Barnet Homes

  • Telephone: 020 8610 3539 (Opening Hours: Monday to Friday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM; Thursday: 11:30 AM – 5:00 PM; Closed on bank holidays)
  • Email: Housingadvice@barnethomes.org

Get in touch with Barnet Homes Housing Options Team to assess your situation as soon as you receive your decision letter. You do not need to wait for an eviction letter.

They will determine whether you are:

  • Priority need, or
  • Non‑priority need

You may qualify as priority need if you are:

  • A family with children under 18 years of age
  • Pregnant
  • Vulnerable due to health or disability

If you are non‑priority need (single adults, with no medical issues, without dependents, etc.) you will need to find your own accommodation.

This usually means:

  • Renting a room in a shared house
  • Renting privately

You may need to:

  • Provide supporting documents (like Home Office decision letter, E-visa, any medical evidence, etc.)
  • Complete a medical assessment

More information:

Step 3: Understand Your Housing Options

If you are priority need:

  • You will be offered Temporary Accommodation
  • You usually have 24-48 hours to accept the offer
  • It is important you do not refuse the offer as you may NOT receive another offer
  • Accommodation may be located anywhere in the UK, not only London
  • You may be placed outside your local area depending on availability

If you are non‑priority need (single adults, with no medical issues, without dependents, etc.)

You will need to find your own accommodation but will also get advice and assistance to find alternative accommodation.

If You Are a Single Adult or a Non-priority Need Family options may include:

  • Private renting
  • Shared accommodation (under 35 years old)
  • Hosting schemes
  • Refugees at Home
    A UK charity that connects refugees and asylum seekers with volunteer hosts who can offer a spare room, providing safe, temporary accommodation.

Finding a property independently

Check how much housing allowance you will get from Universal credit to work out how much rent you can afford:

  1. Go to https://lha-direct.voa.gov.uk/Search.aspx
  2. If under 35, select shared accommodation, if over 35, select one bedroom
  3. Enter the postcode of the area you are looking in
  4. This gives you the weekly allowance. To calculate the monthly allowance, multiply the weekly rate by 52, and then divide it by 12. This is the maximum price your rent can be if you are on universal credit and not employed.

 Useful resources:

Tip: When looking on these websites, filter properties to only show those that ‘accepts DSS’ to make sure that the landlord will allow payments from benefits.

  • Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rates  – A government resource where users can check LHA rates by postcode or local authority to understand how much housing benefit they may be entitled to.
  • Homefinder – A national housing mobility scheme that helps people find social housing across the UK, often outside their local area, with support to move.
  • Help to Rent Database – Crisis UK  – A database for professionals and clients that lists schemes, landlords, and organisations offering support to help people (including those at risk of homelessness) access private rented accommodation.
  • http://www.dssmove.co.uk –  A housing website focused on people receiving benefits, helping them find landlords and properties that accept tenants on housing support.
  • DSS / Housing Benefit Rooms to Rent | SpareRoom.co.uk – A platform to find rooms in shared houses or flats. Useful for people looking for more affordable housing options or short-term accommodation.
  • https://www.openrent.co.uk – A platform connecting tenants directly with landlords, often with lower fees and quicker communication. Many listings are from private landlords. Select ‘accepting DSS’ in the advanced filter.
  • http://www.rightmove.co.uk – One of the UK’s largest property websites, listing homes to rent and buy through estate agents. Suitable for a wide range of rental options.
  • https://www.zoopla.co.uk/to-rent – A UK property website that lists rental properties from estate agents and landlords, with tools to compare prices and local area information.
  • www.lettingaproperty.com/private-landlords-accept-dss – A property rental platform that includes listings from private landlords, some of whom accept tenants receiving benefits. Useful for finding privately rented accommodation without going through traditional estate agents.
  • www.nuroa.co.uk/rent/dss-welcome-london/ –  A property search website that aggregates rental listings from multiple sources. The linked search focuses on properties in London that may be suitable for people receiving benefits
  • www.gumtree.com/flats-houses/property-to-rent/uk/london/srpsearch+dss – A classifieds website where landlords and agents advertise properties directly. It can be useful for finding private rental opportunities, including some landlords who are willing to accept tenants receiving housing support.
  • London Lettings Network – Housing Justice – A service provided by Housing Justice that advertises rental properties across London available to people receiving housing benefit or Universal Credit. It also offers support to those who may have difficulty accessing the private rented sector.

Read helpful guidance and watch the video to understand what you might be eligible for:

Step 4: Financial Support for Housing

You may be able to get help with:

  • Help to Rent Database (Crisis)  – A UK-wide database that lists organisations, charities, and council teams that help people access private rented accommodation, including support with deposits, rent in advance, and finding landlords.

Loans/grants for furniture:

  • Barnet Resident Support Fund for Barnet residents – Provides financial support to residents on low income, including help with essential household items such as beds, furniture, appliances and carpets.
  • Barnet Furniture Centre – Local charity offering affordable furniture for low-income households, with reduced prices for those on benefits.
  • Reuse Network (find free/low-cost furniture) – Network of reuse charities providing affordable or free furniture to people in need across the UK.
  • Glasspool Charity Trust – Provides small grants to individuals experiencing financial hardship, which can be used for essential items such as furniture.
  • Family Fund (for families with disabled children) – Offers grants for household items, including furniture, for families raising a disabled or seriously ill child.
  • Turn2Us – Grant Search Tool – Online tool to check eligibility for grants and financial support, including help with furniture.
  • British Heart Foundation (low-cost furniture) – Sells good-quality second-hand furniture at affordable prices through shops across the UK.
  • Freecycle – Online platforms where people give away furniture for free locally.
  • Facebook Marketplace (FREE or low-cost items locally) – Community-based platform where residents list furniture for free or at very low cost, often available for quick collection locally.

Step 5: Managing Your Finances

After securing accommodation:

  • Set up:
    • Utility bills (gas, electricity, water) with the providers that operates in your area
    • Council Tax with the local council where the new accommodation is located
    • Direct debit payments to manage regular bills efficiently and avoid missed payments
  • Get advice and translation support from:
  • Use a benefits calculator to check entitlement:
  • Use trusted money guidance websites:
  • Uswitch – Allows you to compare energy, broadband, and mobile providers to find cheaper deals and reduce monthly costs
  • MoneySavingExpert – Provides practical advice on managing money, reducing bills, accessing grants, and understanding your financial rights

Important Reminder

You are responsible for paying your rent and utility bills. This applies even if you are receiving financial support or benefits to help with these costs. It is important to ensure payments are made on time to avoid debt or risk to your housing.

Step 6: Employment Support

Finding work can help you secure and sustain housing:

  • BOOST – BOOST is an employment and skills service helping Barnet residents get the support they need to overcome barriers and gain sustainable employment.
  • Shaw Trust – A charity supporting people facing disadvantage (including refugees) into employment, training, and independence through skills and development programmes.
  • Read more at Skills and employment – Barnet Homes
  • For wider employment and skills support including current job opportunities with Barnet Council and BELS, visit https://www.barnet.gov.uk/jobs-training-and-skills
  • The Job Centre can help you prepare, search and progress in work. You can find your local Job Centre at Local office search – Find your nearest office – GOV.UK.
  • Breadwinners – programme of support for refugees aged 24 and under, including paid experience working on a bread market stall, ESOL, qualifications, network building and a mentor. Apply to the London scheme via the form linked on this page: breadwinners.org.uk/breadwinners
  • Refugee Council – there are different programmes available based on your previous experience. It can include advice, support to discuss career options, training, and access to opportunities. Read more information here: Refugees Into Jobs – Refugee Council or email rjj@refugeecouncil.org.uk.
  • Refugee Action – Pathways to Work is a project providing pre-employment support to refugees across England. You must have an English level of Entry 3 and upwards. Refer yourself for their support here: Pathways to Work self referral form – Refugee Action.
  • Breaking Barriers – offer personalised employment support, education programme, skills building and workshops, re-accreditation support and language tuition.

If You Are Sleeping Rough

  • Homeless Action in Barnet (HAB) – Day centre for people experiencing homelessness, including rough sleepers. Provides meals, showers, laundry, healthcare access, and housing advice.
    Rough sleeper drop-in: Monday to Friday, 9:00am – 12:30pm
  • Barnet Homes – Rough Sleeper Team – Council-funded outreach and housing support. Works to move people off the streets into emergency and long-term accommodation.
    Includes “Somewhere Safe to Stay Hub” and supported housing pathway.
  • StreetLink (Report or get help for rough sleepers) – National service that connects people sleeping rough with local outreach teams.
    You can make a referral for yourself or someone else.
    Telephone: 0300 500 0914
  • Threshold Housing Advice (Crisis – Barnet) – Provides housing advice, tenancy support, and help accessing the private rented sector for people experiencing homelessness, including rough sleepers.
  • Street Storage providing those experiencing homelessness with free, accessible and secure storage for their belongings. You will need to contact them a few days in advance.
  • Atlas – lhfatlas.org.uk – This interactive website provides a map of different homelessness services across London. The maps tool displays information including locations of day centres, health services and accommodation.
  • Shelter – A leading housing charity providing free advice, legal support, and advocacy for people experiencing homelessness or housing problems. 0808 800 4444 advice helpline open 8am-8pm Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm Saturday-Sunday. Interpreters available
  • Crisis – offer support with searching for somewhere to live, employment and wellbeing. They recommend that you find out what Crisis can offer you in London by emailing them first, at london@crisis.org.uk before visiting. You can visit their Crisis Skylight centre at 50 – 52 Commercial Street, London, E1 6LT
  • Streets Kitchen – offering food and other essentials to those experiencing homelessness.

Specifically for LGBTQ+ people:

  • Stonewall Housing – support LBTQ+ people experiencing or facing homelessness. Call for free housing-related advice Monday-Friday 10am-1pm 0800 6 404 404. For further housing advice you can refer yourself by filling in this form: Referral Form – Stonewall Housing. Please be aware they do not provide or have access to emergency accommodation.
  • https://microrainbow.org/ – Providing safe housing, employability, and social inclusion support for LGBTQI refugees and people seeking asylum.

Specifically for young people:

  • AKT – provide support for LGBTQ+ young people aged 16-25 that are at risk of homelessness or currently experiencing homelessness. They can provide emergency support, housing advice, support navigating benefits and budgeting, and finding community. You can email them at gethelp@akt.org.uk, or live chat on their website Monday-Friday 10am-5pm.
  • New Horizons Youth Centre – support young people (16-25) who are experiencing homelessness. Day centre is 68 Chalton St, London, NW1 1JR and is open Monday to Friday between 10:30am and 4:00pm. Tuesday is appointment only, but any other day you can walk in.
  • Centrepoint – support helpline to get advice on your housing situation and advice for 16 25-year-olds. Call free on 0808 800 0661, Monday to Friday, 9am–5pm, and ask for a translator if you need one. Or message via WhatsApp on 07557 255 965, Monday to Friday, 9am-4.30pm.
  • Depaul Night Shelter – a national homelessness charity with a focus on young people offering a range of support including:
  • Housing advice – please call on 0800 160 1650 to make an appointment to visit them at Endeavour Centre, Sherborne House, 34 Decima Street, London SE1 4QQ.
  • Nightstop London: offers emergency accommodation for young people with trained volunteer hosts. Email: london@depaulcharity.org.uk or call on 0800 160 1650.
  • Mind Connect London: sometimes facing homelessness can contribute to or cause mental health problems. To refer yourself for a free counselling service for under 25s, call 0800 160 1650.

Other useful organizations

  • Citizens Advice Barnet Immigration Drop-in Service – A free weekly drop-in service for people with immigration-related queries. The sessions take place every Wednesday from 10:00am to 12:00pm at 40–44 Church End, Hendon, NW4 4JT. The purpose of the drop-in is to carry out a short assessment to identify what support is needed. Where more detailed advice is required, an appointment may be arranged for another day, or individuals may be signposted or referred to a more appropriate service.
  • Migrant Help – Provides free, independent advice and support to asylum seekers and migrants, including help with housing, asylum applications, legal advice and accessing services.
  • Refugee Action – Delivers advice, support, and integration services to refugees and asylum seekers, helping them access housing, employment, and legal assistance.
  • British Red Cross – Provides practical and emotional support to refugees and asylum seekers, including emergency assistance, casework, and family reunion services.
  • Salvation Army – Offers a wide range of services for vulnerable people, including emergency accommodation, homelessness support, outreach, and specialist services for refugees.
  • UNHCR – The UN Refugee Agency, working globally to protect refugees, provide humanitarian aid, and support long‑term solutions such as resettlement.
  • Care4Calais – A volunteer‑led charity supporting refugees with essential items, advocacy, and integration support in the UK and northern France.

Key advice:

  • Seek help as early as possible
  • Act quickly if you receive a notice to leave
  • Keep copies of all documents
  • Do not ignore official letters
  • Always seek advice before refusing any housing offer, as this could affect your right to support.
  • Remember you are responsible for paying the utility bills (gas, electricity, water) and Council Tax.
  • Please bear in mind accommodation usually is more affordable in outer London boroughs or outside of London
  • Always ask for advice if you are unsure