Forum Topic

Afghan refugees

Does anyone know whether WBC has offered to house some?

Matt Palmer ● 1383d9 Comments

All London boroughs have extreme pressure on their waiting lists and from memory WBC have various quotas and targets of thise to rehouse permanently, those to place in short life(up to 3 years) leased properties and those placed in b and b. Also those ex servicemen with a connection to ths borough. It's a very difficult area due to more demand than supply . Of course the look after our own demand is not unreasonable but Boroughs have to take a wider responsibility as part of the national picture.And yes sales of properties have reduced available stock but that's been done to death and we have to move on and deal with what we have.

Andy Pike ● 1382d

oh fair enough, like i said I have no idea how it works!

Matt Palmer ● 1382d

@MattI would think rent exceptions/adjustments could be made if the uptake is small from private landlords. I was friends with a guy who owned 3 large properties in Shepherds Bush which were used by the Council for b&b temporary accommodation and he was paid a small fortune by LBHF.

Sue Hammond ● 1382d

Looking at the link Sue I think the council will only pay the going rate for council tenants. Could be wrong though as i'm not sure how it works.

Matt Palmer ● 1382d

I am sure some greedy landlords will if they are paid enough.  However I would prefer WBC prioritise our own homeless in the borough.  Especially ex service personnel who need permanent accommodation, and women and their kids who need a home of their own to get away from abusive partners are more important in my opinion.  Expecting a backlash from the faux woke brigade.🙄

Sue Hammond ● 1382d

https://www.wandsworth.gov.uk/news/news-august-2021/wandsworth-ready-to-support-afghan-refugees/thanks Andy, very useful. Let's hope some people respond :)

Matt Palmer ● 1382d

Are they all categorised as "asylum seekers" as I thought those working with the British Government, Military, etc have already been granted safe haven in the UK? 

Michael Ixer ● 1382d

There is a statement on the WBC website under Housing on this issue.

Andy Pike ● 1382d

Good question Matt, I have not seen any announcement.Not sure how this will sound but having looked at the allowance that asylum seekers actually get (£39,63 per person per week) for food, clothing, toiletries etc - I'm not sure it is actually wise to locate people on that budget in an expensive city.On the plus side you have lots of free stuff such as museums, galleries and parks etc but some of those would require a bus journey to and back that would be half your allowance!I know that there are lots of other people that live on tight budgets too and a lot of those people are working some with more than one job. And I know that asylum seekers are not allowed to work.Thoughts/correction welcome.https://www.gov.uk/asylum-support/what-youll-get

Ed Robinson ● 1383d