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Original poster

Will you be opening your home up to Ukrainian refugees?

999 replies

musicalfrog · 11/03/2022 08:03

Interested to see how popular this will be considering so many of us want desperately to make a tangible difference.

My OH wouldn't be up for it I don't think, and we don't have a spare room so I will avoid that particular argument. But otherwise I think it would be such a great thing to do.

The govt is asking for a minimum commitment of 6 months. Will you be signing up?

OP posts:
KnowingMeKnowingYouAhaaaa · 12/03/2022 20:29

I think everyone has completely lost their senses if they agree to this. My sister was having work done to her house last week, her fil had to go round and be there so the work could be done, you know because you don't hand your keys over to complete strangers and trust them in your house with all your stuff. I think there needs to be a better solution than this idea, it isn't safe for those hosting or those being hosted. Also people have lives, go on holidays etc I don't even give our neighbours the key to our house (I trust them and have known them years, but still!) so allowing complete randoms to just live in your house, its madness. I think a more reasonable solution would be to rent out some large travelodge style hotels and keep families there, much safer all round and help and support could be provided on site. There'd be no need to encroach on families in this country or trap people into hosting strangers for years.

crosstalk · 12/03/2022 20:31

I would also be concerned about safety checks being done on hosts. It's all very well complaining that some refugees may be sex pests, robbers or exploiters, but so can British hosts. As happened during WW2.

We only have one bathroom and both have urgent needs so not ideal. But I will be offering to cook, have children around during the day or do some teaching if wanted.

HELLITHURT · 12/03/2022 20:34

@KnowingMeKnowingYouAhaaaa

I think everyone has completely lost their senses if they agree to this. My sister was having work done to her house last week, her fil had to go round and be there so the work could be done, you know because you don't hand your keys over to complete strangers and trust them in your house with all your stuff. I think there needs to be a better solution than this idea, it isn't safe for those hosting or those being hosted. Also people have lives, go on holidays etc I don't even give our neighbours the key to our house (I trust them and have known them years, but still!) so allowing complete randoms to just live in your house, its madness. I think a more reasonable solution would be to rent out some large travelodge style hotels and keep families there, much safer all round and help and support could be provided on site. There'd be no need to encroach on families in this country or trap people into hosting strangers for years.
My and OH went away when our kitchen was being fitted, meant the work took a lot less time as they didn't need to clear up each evening.

We've had foreign students, left them alone in the house.

One of our students we told her to invite her whole group round for a BBQ, we went out. The place was left pristine! They wanted us to stay home and join them, but we had a prior engagement. They cooked fabulous food and left us done for the next day.

So, I trust people and at near 60 have never been let down.

The dog Walker cones into the house to collect the dog, the cleaner to clean all when I'm not there.

I'd hate to have your distrusting attitude.

Parker231 · 12/03/2022 20:35

@Crikeyalmighty

No, it’s a nice rented house and I don’t think our landlord would be remotely ok with it.
Why don’t you think your landlord would agree. We are landlords and would agree.
Blossomtoes · 12/03/2022 20:36

I would also be concerned about safety checks being done on hosts

Apparently those of us offering rooms will be subject to DRB checks.

User9805637 · 12/03/2022 20:37

We only need a new covid variant and people could end up being in lockdown cramped in with strangers sharing the house but unable to see their own family members.

HELLITHURT · 12/03/2022 20:38

@User9805637

We only need a new covid variant and people could end up being in lockdown cramped in with strangers sharing the house but unable to see their own family members.
Oh give over!! Covid gone, no more lockdowns, but keep using it as an excuse!
NothingIsWrong · 12/03/2022 20:40

I would like to. Not sure how it would work with my 2 days WFH as I work on security sensitive projects, suspect I would need permission from work and due to one project I'm not sure it would be allowed as there is nowhere to work where I can't be overheard.

TedLassosMoustache · 12/03/2022 20:41

@LoisLane66

If they do get a job and go to work or even go out of the property, will they be sure to lock up securely when they go out? Will they know how to use the alarm system? Will they keep odd hours coming and going or be watching a TV channel you don't want to watch...too much to sign up to and no-one can give promises. Will your mortgage or insurance be invalidated. You will need to tell them.
They’re from another European country. Not the moon!
AlwaysLatte · 12/03/2022 20:45

No, it’s a nice rented house and I don’t think our landlord would be remotely ok with it.
Why is a nice rented house off limits? We'd be very happy for our tenant to house a refugee. I'm sure if you check they'd be glad to ❤️

daisypond · 12/03/2022 20:45

@KnowingMeKnowingYouAhaaaa

I think everyone has completely lost their senses if they agree to this. My sister was having work done to her house last week, her fil had to go round and be there so the work could be done, you know because you don't hand your keys over to complete strangers and trust them in your house with all your stuff. I think there needs to be a better solution than this idea, it isn't safe for those hosting or those being hosted. Also people have lives, go on holidays etc I don't even give our neighbours the key to our house (I trust them and have known them years, but still!) so allowing complete randoms to just live in your house, its madness. I think a more reasonable solution would be to rent out some large travelodge style hotels and keep families there, much safer all round and help and support could be provided on site. There'd be no need to encroach on families in this country or trap people into hosting strangers for years.
Et, you do hand over keys to builders doing work in your house. That’s common. And it’s common to hand over keys to neighbours when you go on holiday. We have our neighbours’ spare keys permanently. We also have had strangers staying in our house. We’ve had lodgers, young homeless people and we’ve done house swaps before.
Catclean · 12/03/2022 20:45

We count ourselves to be really fortunate in that we have separate accommodation that could be used. We are in the middle of nowhere, so not sure if any of the charities would find that useful. However we have been put in touch with a couple trying to bring family over and might be able to do something for them.

Would we invite complete strangers in if we were living in a 3 bedroom house? I'm not sure. I used to be uncomfortable with even friends staying in close proximity in a small house. It's a difficult one for sure.

Idkiibu · 12/03/2022 20:45

I’m ready to help, but no, I can’t be hosting people I don’t know with young children of mine. I don’t think anyone should be ashamed if they can’t. People are just… people, there are different people and I don’t know them, I can’t trust my children being safe. I never used services of a babysitter I personally don’t know, so I can’t host people I don’t know either. Im helping other ways.

ChardonnaysPetDragon · 12/03/2022 20:45

We have two spare rooms but we couldn't even have our own family inside a few months ago and now we are expected to take in strangers.

Why do you think you are expected to take in strangers? Do it, don't do it, up to you.

Jack80 · 12/03/2022 20:45

No sorry, no room

Quackpot · 12/03/2022 20:46

No, that's too much of a risk to my children. I know it's unlikely that the person(s) placed with us would be a predator or a killer but that's not a chance I am willing to take. However there are hundreds of flats in our local area that refugees could be housed in that locals don't want to live in, not poor areas, just costs the same for a 2 bed flat as a 2 bed house so what's the point in paying for a flat.

Eve76 · 12/03/2022 20:48

If I had a bigger house I would but only have a 2 up 2 down and a teenage son !

Sceptre86 · 12/03/2022 20:48

Nope. We don't have a spare room although we could put two of the kids in one bedroom if we wanted to. We are an asian household and I think someone from Ukraine would find living at my home even more alien, being in a foreign country would be hard enough. We are trying to help in other ways so donating baby milk, nappies etc and making small regular donations to charities working there.

Cactuslove · 12/03/2022 20:49

No because I'm a single mum with two babies and no spare rooms. But I do get this sense that you really need a good reason when people discuss this in rl but also on here and on the radio. It feels as though there's a real pressure to do somehing that should be secondary to what the Government are doing. The Government are relying yet again on the willingness of the British people.

HunterCarrie · 12/03/2022 20:49

If I would have a spare room wouldn’t hesitate a second. My friend is hosting a family at the moment and said the Ukrainian community is amazing, her hosting family is mainly looked after by other Ukrainians , she is only providing a safe place to stay. They are all talking about returning home soon, so is their’s hope. Hearing some of their stories is really heartbreaking…as is reading some of the replies.

Tonkerbea · 12/03/2022 20:49

Do I want to?

Honestly, no. I know I'd find this a strain, as I'm very introverted.

Will we offer?
Yes, I have a spare single room and en suite. I don't think I could in good conscience leave it empty when there's so many in need.

These are horrific times for Europe, it's going to require ordinary people making extraordinary sacrifices to get through it.

HELLITHURT · 12/03/2022 20:50

@User9805637

We have two spare rooms but we couldn't even have our own family inside a few months ago and now we are expected to take in strangers.
So you'll never move on from the pandemic? You could day this time last year, you can carry that on for years!

It's not the refugees that said you couldn't have visitors, they've had covid and now are fleeing a war! So I think they're worse off than us in the UK?

DearlyBeloathed · 12/03/2022 20:52

@AlwaysLatte

No, it’s a nice rented house and I don’t think our landlord would be remotely ok with it. Why is a nice rented house off limits? We'd be very happy for our tenant to house a refugee. I'm sure if you check they'd be glad to ❤️
Most landlords don't even let you have a pet let alone other people!
User9805637 · 12/03/2022 20:53

Where are all the 2nd home owners, they could easily house families with hardly any inconvenience

Blossomtoes · 12/03/2022 20:54

The Government are relying yet again on the willingness of the British people.

When did the government last rely on the willingness of the British people?

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