Is my friend being unfair for wanting her Ukrainian guests to leave

[Cucucucu]

I hope I can give as much info as possible .
My friend had 2 sets of Ukrainian guests in her home , the first ones where 2 girls early 20s friends , they left after 4 months having found a 3 rd friend to rent an apartment, had jobs and studied and no issues at all .
She then decided to host a mum and daughter , but turns out it was a mother , daughter and son . Mum in her 30s , daughter 12, son 15 . She had told them from the start it was a short stay of 6 months as they are staying in a apartment attached to her home that she normally rents as a holiday home in the summer . The 6 months have come and gone and they refuse to go .
None of them is working or going to school , oldest has since turned 16 . They claim universal credit and she found out PIP they claim pip ( found out as the mum wanted to install a electric car charger as she is expecting a motability vehicle ) .
The mum and son smoke , she has asked them multiple times to not smoke inside . Twice she left the girl and son alone for days as she went back to Ukraine , first for dental implants , second for skin treatment ( she is unsure of what it was ) . They all went back to see the grandparents this week .
Unknown to her they adopted a kitten so when they went they asked her to feed the cat . She called me last night distressed , she went in the apartment and it’s a mess , the kitten peed everywhere , it stinks of cat pee , they clearly smoked in the house . They haven’t cleaned for ages and there are 3 kitchen cupboard doors broken , toilet seat broken , what looks like punches on the walls .
She is beyond stressed , this apartment was fully redone 20 months ago , new plaster , bathroom and kitchen .
She wants them out now , but last time she told them to leave the mum and son kept saying things as “ what will your neighbors think , throwing out refugees on the street “.
We are in a small Scottish village , everyone welcomed refugees with open arms so she is scared people will think she being unfair . I’ve told her nobody will think that .
My friend is a widow with 2 kids , that apartment renting in the summer in income to help her pay her bills , she probably lost all income for this summer as even if they leave it will need go be fixed .
Is she being unfair for wanting them out ?

So true. 😢

It is not the responsibility of the host to find them a new home. They are taking advantage of her so the only thing she can do is to refer them back to the agency who placed them with her and change the locks.

As well as the length of time it takes to apply for PIP and get it awarded, there's a UK residency rule for PIP that means you have to have resided here for 2 out of the last 3 years if you've come from abroad for any reason. My claim was first disallowed in December because of this and I'm a UK citizen. I've been waiting since last November for PIP and still no joy and I was already in the medical system by then to get the medical evidence they needed so you can see why it's raised eyebrows after you mentioned PIP that someone has managed all this in that short time.
However, in Scotland it's Adult Disability Payment which has different rules and timescales.

The council should help, my parents have been hosting a Ukrainian mum and her son since it all began. The arrangement was that they could stay until the son finished his exams this summer.

The council are now supporting them in helping them with finding a new place, help with rent (I think) and beds etc. They are upset about it, but it's time to move on. Mum and Dad will definitely stay in touch and have requested they are kept local so they can

Your friend should change the locks now while they are away and bag up their belongings for connection. If she has contact details, she should tell them that is what is happening and how to collect their belongings - ideally making sure that she has moral and physical support from someone else when they come. As suggested, she should take photos of the place as it is currently. I can't see anyone thinking your friend has done anything wrong.

It would make sense to let the council and agency know that they will probably be applying for housing.

@Cucucucu From your further updates, they are lodgers, not tenants, therefore the council are wrong. She has already given them notice, and as it is also her own home, she can change the locks and leave their stuff outside.

I would not let them back inside the property, it's too risky, they could be violent towards her, they could trash the place (further), it's not worth the risk.

She needs to have these threats officially logged with the police. They have threatened her and any lodger who does that can immediately be removed without notice. Police should be assisting her with this.

Of course she's not unreasonable. Take photos of the damage, she can show them to anyone who gives her a hard time! Refugees or not, they need to show some respect.

I’m aware as my own young adult child receives pip due to severe autism , his initial claim was around 5 months . It’s my understanding they received it recently and she run to order a car , she doesn’t have a car yet , it was last week my friend was asked if she would allow a charger to be fitted for a electric car , so I’m assuming they must have been awarded recently and are ordering or orded a car , my friend said no since she did not expect them to stay long term and because they pay no bills anyway . She also mentioned a backpay ( hence why they went to Ukraine again just a few days ago ) . But she had no details on any of this as their relationship is obviously not great .

If you are in Scotland I think the law is different but in England she could get a section 21 no fault notice or section 8 damage to property, your friend needs photos, and breach of contract of no smoking is in lease agreement.

Do this! Then change locks and message them saying they're no longer welcome, and let the police know via 111 that she might have some difficulty when they come back to get their stuff. Also alert a couple of local neighbours of what is happening and why. Honestly people will understand.

I've always been very pissed off at the government for making this scheme. It shouldn't be regular households taking refugees in, the govt should have handled this so much better. As we all know now, though, the cabinet seemed to be pissing it up on the quiet when they should have been doing some actual work so that's probably why we got lumped with this scheme.

Your friend will have a contact at the local council who will help. She needs to contact them explaining the situation and also give them a date that they need to leave. The council can then register them as homeless and it will be the council’s responsibility to find them accommodation.

Stop with the doubts. Agencies are falling over themselves backwards to help Ukrainians here under the H4U Scheme and it is entirely feasible their PIP claim has been prioritised.

Honestly your friend needs to speak to the council liaison and tell then the relationship has irretrievably broken down and that they need rehousing the moment they return.

It isn't a separate tenancy so your friend would be within her rights to change locks too.

Fortunately I am having a good experience with my guest but hear so many tales like this as I live in an area that has a high number of guests.

No need in England. Its not a tenancy. The friend simply needs to ask the council to rehouse them as the relationship has broken down and they are homeless

There is no lease, no contract. They are guests in the sponsor's home, and can be asked to leave at any time. It is the council's responsibility to find alternative accommodation.

I'd be inclined to put out a request on the local Facebook page for help sorting out the Ukrainian accommodation. Nothing more than that. The volunteers will be horrified and word (and support for your friend) will rapidly spread without her having to say anything negative herself.

This is simple to deal with as they are classed as guests, not tenants. Take plenty of photographs of the damage and change the locks. Email the Council to tell them that the guests will not be permitted to return and attach the photos.

Message the guests to say you have changed the locks and that their belongings are packed up and if they wish to arrange collection they will be left outside at an agreed time.

If they cause a disturbance call the police.

Let the village rumour mill work in her favour by showing the photos to a few gossips. Get a local workman in to fix the damage who can then gossip about the state they caused.

The council will only require 2 months notice if your friend is planning to terminate her host status altogether. But not if she simply wants to “evict” her current guests. She just needs to notify the council of the fact the she no longer wishes to host this particular family. I would mention safety concerns (threats, cannabis smoking etc.) She needs to write to the council so that she has a record of notifying them and then boot the family out. I would also let the young chap know that his threats have been forwarded to the police.

Does the 2 month notice apply even after a 6 month stay has been completed?

Your friend will have to have had gas safety checks and dbs etc to give to a contact at the council to get her Homes 4 Ukraine payments up and running. She needs to email/call this contact and say she is ceasing the arrangement immediately. The council should arrange for somewhere for the guests to stay (although it could be a hostel) but they won’t be on the streets and the council sort out transfer of any belongings. She just needs to state she is no longer happy to accommodate the arrangement and insist they action it immediately. The council will kick in to action but there is no obligation for them to accommodate them nearby, if you explain that she feels particularly uncomfortable and vulnerable having them around they will try to help. They’ll be reluctant at first as there’s tens of thousands of Ukrainians that are all coming to the end of their agreements with their hosts. They may end up in a hotel with Syrians/Afghans which will encourage them to get on their own two feet hopefully.

You should tell the council there is a 12 year old child who is not at school

Your friend needs to call the police she has been threatened

Change the locks and remove their stuff from the house, they can go to the council. They've outstayed their welcome so time to go. They are lucky she isn't taking them to court to get the money to repair her flat, cheeky sods.

As well as the length of time it takes to apply for PIP and get it awarded, there's a UK residency rule for PIP that means you have to have resided here for 2 out of the last 3 years if you've come from abroad for any reason. My claim was first disallowed in December because of this and I'm a UK citizen

Really? I didn't know that.

OFC, the friend is well within her rights to evict them regardless of details, but it always makes me wonder why people throw unlikely details in. Maybe it's just the sensational quality third hand gossip has.

Check your facts. Refugees are exempt from normal residency rules for PIP. They can claim straightaway

Sounds like this woman is quick at getting to grips with the what she can and can't do or get. Prob been trying for a while to claim. Make sure your friend has plenty of evidence keeps the threats to show police photos off all the damage mention children not going to school. If police don't come she needs to tell them she is scared for her safety. As they are staying as guests in her house she should just be able to change the locks and tell them to leave. Also get her to check her credit history just incase !