Ukrainian house guest doesn't want to leave!

[reallyneedmoresleep]

We've had a Ukrainian house guest for the last six months via the Homes for Ukraine scheme. When she came to live with us, we said it would be for a six month period and at the last welfare check we confirmed that she would need to move out by mid-May.
She doesn't want to leave. She has asked several times if she can stay, we have said no. She says our house is much nicer than where she can afford to move to.

I have visited estate agents with her who advise that to rent privately, she either needs a guarantor (we are not prepared to do this) or to pay six month's rent plus the deposit up front. She cannot afford this.

What do we do?

I know the situation in Ukraine is appallling and I am writing from a position of immense priveledge but we have found it really difficult having someone else in our home. She is not an easy person to be around, does not work, has refused all offers to be taken to support groups and frequently just hangs around us when we are in the house when we are trying to work or just to chill. Our son is home from uni in a couple of weeks and we need the room back.

There has been radio silence from the council Homes for Ukraine scheme.
How can I help her to move on?

I have a relative who had similar problem, they are wealthy people and put the extended family up in a luxury barn conversion on thier land. None of them looked for work!

Exactly why I wouldn't host anyone. There is no where for them to go

Did they live remote

What have the authorities suggested

Yes I would do the above and then ask my young adult dc and their uni friends to move in until they left (may have to wait until end June for that).

No good deed goes unpunished

I read a story about a house guest that ran off with the ladys husband.

I've heard so many stories of them taking the piss, so sad when people were so generous.

@Tr11ciddxxott

Erm.... pardon?!!

The OP needs her son's bedroom back, who will be coming home soon from university. She's done her bit by letting the Ukrainian come to stay in the first place!!!

Her 'helping' has come to an end and it's time for the Ukrainian to move on!!

Change the locks. She NEEDS a short sharp shock to realise that she's got a responsibility to provide for herself.

Oh do be quiet. I have read stories about a resilient, brave set of people who have given far too much, and keep doing so, to ensure that the rest of us don’t have to do the heavy lifting.

They can get a job but as you’ve seen some
are refusing to work or others are working but want to live rent free so find another host.

@Tr11ciddxxott

Six months rent and household bill free is generous. The vast majority should have found work, any work they can do, and saved for upfront rent in that time. Only those with disability, long term illness, or caring responsibilities that mean they are unable to work would need further support.

Couldn't have paid me ten times what the government were offering to have a lodger sharing my space. Has potential to be very problematic written all over it. Best of luck.

Exactly. I think we all know why the Ukrainians got special treatment. I’d love to know how many of the martyrs who took in a Ukrainian guest have also hosted a non-white refugee who has similarly escaped appalling conditions in their home country…

There is actually a similar scheme for Syrians and Afghans in our area, but they’re all male guests. I wouldn’t feel comfortable with a male in the house. It’s nothing to do with race. PS. I’m not a martyr. I felt very privileged to help our guests and they’re like family to us now.

What an unpleasant post.

Nobody wants brown people. We were sold some schtick about Eastern Europeans with a strong work ethic. Guess what ? They turned out to be normal people warts and all.

Please, please don’t turn this into a Ukrainian-bashing thread. Some Ukrainians, like some British people are fantastic, brave and hardworking; some, like some British people are work-shy chancers.
And I’m not a racist, nor a martyr. I do what I can to support the refugee population in my area. I thought I was doing a kind thing by offering a space in my house for six months but I just want it to end now.

Not sure why pointing out injustices and disparity of treatment is unpleasant. What is unpleasant is people only extending empathy to those who look like themselves. I’m sorry that the truth is an unpleasant reality for you and you’d rather bury your head in the sand.

@reallyneedmoresleep

What sort of benefits do Ukrainian refugees receive under this scheme? It must be quite generous if she can afford to hang around the house all day.

I'm sure I read recently the Irish have slashed rates so maybe it was getting too costly to finance.