Boris Johnson’s council in row after charging to take in Syrian but not Ukrainian refugees

Boris Johnson's local council has charged householders for offering their homes to Syrian refugees but not Ukrainians in a move that has sparked complaints of discrimination.

Hillingdon Council told a householder she would lose her single person's discount – worth around £500 a year – if she took in refugees from countries other than Ukraine under the Government's Homes for Ukraine scheme.

One of Britain's biggest charities specialising in matching refugees to homes said it was "astonished and disappointed" at the "discriminatory" decision, which it believes has been replicated by other councils.

The policy emerged after a 71-year-old widow was told last month by Hillingdon Council – which covers Mr Johnson's constituency – that her council tax discount would be docked for hosting a Syrian refugee while he underwent four weeks of job training.

Elaine, a mother of three, said she had decided to inform the council when she offered to take in a 32-year-old, who needed to be near Pinewood Studios in order to undergo training.

It was the first time she had taken in a refugee and the authority emailed her back last month, saying: "If another adult moves into the property the single person's discount will need to be removed; however, if that person is a full-time student an alternative discount may be awarded."

‘I don’t see why I should be penalised’

She took in the Syrian, who was not a student, and wrote back to say she did not believe she should be docked for her generosity.

"It just goes against the intention of what I was doing," she said. "I don't see why I should be penalised for doing something for charity because there is no question of hosts being paid for anyone staying with them."

Hillingdon replied that it would continue to honour the single person discount for those eligible to host Ukrainian refugees.

But in an email it added: "In normal circumstances, if one or more additional adults move into a property, the full rate of council tax is payable. Residents who are the only adult living in a home can get a 25 per cent discount on their council tax bill.

"There is currently no direct government legislation that allows individuals to retain the single person discount when one or more adults move into a property unless they fall into specific disregarded categories (eg full time student)."

‘Discriminating against generous hosts’

Sara Nathan, the co-founder of Refugees at Home, said: "We are astonished and disappointed that Hillingdon Council is discriminating against generous hosts welcoming Syrian, Afghan and other refugees into their homes.

"These refugees have fled the same bombs, often  in similar circumstances. We don't understand why they are seen as unworthy of a generous welcome."

A council spokesman on Friday indicated that the authority could reverse its decision, saying: "We will not knowingly remove the discount from a council tax payer housing for free a refugee from any country.

"If residents housing refugees of other nationalities have had their single person discount removed, we will use the council's discretion to reinstate it following investigation."

A spokesperson for the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities said: "Council tax discounts will not be affected for sponsors under the Homes for Ukraine scheme.

"For refugees arriving from other countries, councils have the power to offer discounts on council tax at their own discretion."