Research

Our work is grounded in research within our community.

Before we launched our first programme, we conducted extensive desk research and in person research with people seeking asylum and people with refugee status. This work ensured we understood deeply what their experiences are of accessing homes in the UK. Here is what we learned. 

Current context

When you are granted refugee status you have 28 days to leave Home Office accommodation (temporarily increased to 56 days until July 2025). In this time, you need to get your National Insurance number, find a job and/or access Universal Credit, open a bank account and find a home. There are numerous challenges with this including:

  • Delays in receiving necessary documents: For example, not having national insurance information can significantly hinder the ability for refugees to be able to secure employment or housing.

  • Delays in receiving benefit payments: the in-built delay for new Universal Credit applicants prevents the cashflow new refugees need to secure alternative housing.

  • Lack of funds for a housing deposit, alongside the money they require for rent, also creates further barriers to the private rental sector, for those needing to move on quickly from home office accommodation.

  • Many banks don’t accept the form of ID you get as a refugee (biometric residence permit) so reject applications for bank accounts. 

  • Landlord discrimination against people receiving benefits/ on a low wage/ with refugee status.

Statistics on housing and homeless 

From research RootsMove conducted, we learned that:

  • 76% of refugees said it was either difficult or very difficult to secure housing. 

  • Over 50% of respondents cited a lack of savings and not being able to afford the deposit as a key barrier.

  • 12% of the respondents were unhoused at the time of responding to the survey and a further 

  • 30% had previously been homeless. 

  • These statistics are comparable with research conducted by NACCOM, which found that around a third (32%, n=1,097) of the 3,471 people accommodated by its members in 2018 were refugees.

What the refugee community says about accessing housing

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“I looked into Universal Credit, but the application form was very, very long and by the time you get the money, it takes about six weeks.”

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“After I was granted leave to remain, my experience with housing was very challenging. First of all, I didn't have the requirements that they were asking for in terms of renting. So they asked you for a bank statement, six months bank statement and six months pay slips. I wasn't working as I was going through my asylum process. I didn't have that documentation. And also, I remember when I went to the estate agent, I gave them my refugee card and none of the people knew about it because it says refugee status.”

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“According to my experience, looking at the spare room...some of them wanted to have some deposits which I don't have at the moment. And in my head I was like…can I borrow from someone? So yes, you find a place…this is the place that you would like to live, but that deposit basically stops you.”

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“My income was actually enough. I made the affordability in terms of the rent what I was earning, but because I didn't have a history of renting previously, that was a problem. So they say because you can afford the rent, but because we can't, we don't have a paper trail of you, the best thing is to have a guarantor who can guarantee that if you don't pay rent.”