Housing in Swansea View Map
Renting a flat/house - the procedure
Asylum SeekersSwansea City Council has a contract with the Home Office department called the UK Border Agency to provide accommodation for asylum seekers. Asylum seekers who are given housing support have no choice about where their accommodation is allocated. In summary, the UK Border Agency provides:
- human habitable accommodation as defined in the housing act 1985
- safe electrical equipment
- furniture to a reasonable standard, including cot/high chair for babies/young children
- gas
- electricity
- water
- sign posting to local services
The UK Border Agency does not provide :
- telephones (landlines or mobile)
- televisions, television licences or hi-fi equipment
- new electrical goods
- new furniture
- cars
- cleaning
- gym or leisure club membership
- computers
If an asylum seeker is given refugee status or leave to remain in the UK they are entitled to apply for social housing if they are in priority need. This information has been taken from the www.newport.gov.uk website and for more information click here.
RefugeesAccommodation and Benefits: After receiving your refugee Status, you will receive a UK Border Agency letter 35, in conjunction with a warning letter, confirming the date from which your UK Border Agency support (Benefits and accommodation) will end.
The period of transition is 28 days, but be aware, for bureaucratic reasons sometimes these letters may be delayed. Your refugee status entitles you and your family to welfare benefits, social housing and support, and educational and employment rights on the same basis as any other UK citizen. You will qualify for these benefits from the date of your new status.
Housing: The warning letter from the UK Border Agency will threaten you and your family with homelessness. As soon as you show this letter to your support worker from your local authority, or to the local housing associations, you will automatically be dealt with under Part 7 of the Homelessness Act (1996). You should also be given information on how to access independent housing advice.
Referral Agencies
Either of the following two services will provide 'housing' information and support to asylum seekers and refugees. If you are a refugee they will provide you with a support worker who will assist you with your benefits claim and your housing application and will make sure that you have been successfully through the transition period (see above).
1. British Red Cross: The British Red Cross helps vulnerable asylum seekers and refugees access essential services and adjust to life in a new country.
Most of these services are provided in the Unitary Authority of Swansea:
- Tenancy Support Services
- Health and Wellbeing Mentoring Scheme
- Clothing Project
- Voucher Scheme for British Red Cross Shops
- Training
- Opportunities to Volunteer with the Society
- Befriending Scheme for young people
For more information about the services offered to refugees and asylum seekers provided within South & West Wales please contact the service manager, Joanna Fowles at: Villiers House, Charter Court, Phoenix Way Enterprise Park, Swansea. SA7 9FS Tel 01792 772 146 / Fax 01792 784 910
2. Swansea Asylum Seekers and Refugees Support Team: Refugees Resettlement Service: The Asylum Seekers and Refugee team was set up to provide accommodation and a range of associated services to ensure the successful settlement of families arriving in Swansea under the Home Office dispersal National Dispersal Programme.
The team work very closely with departments within the Local Authority, private organisations, voluntary services and the NASS, to seek to ensure that families are supported and sign posted to appropriate services and service providers throughout Swansea.
The team has forged strong links with communities to help encourage the spirit that enables those seeking refuge to integrate successfully in Swansea.
Its members are able to converse in several languages between them and some have personal experience of being refugees or living as foreigners abroad - this assists them in their vital role in helping families who arrive as strangers after fleeing their home country.
If you are an asylum seeker and lucky enough to be accomodated by the City & County of Swansea, the asylum team will provide you with a support worker who will help you to settle in Swansea. For more information have a look on the following websites: http://www.swansea.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=1043 and http://www.asylumsupport.info/nass.htm Tel 01792 483 158
Housing centres/letting agents
Sheltered Accommodation-
Sheltered housing is a term covering a wide range of rented housing for older and/or disabled or other vulnerable people
The following are contact details for sheltered accommodation in Swansea. For more information on these, click here.
- Hafan Brynheulog Sheltered Housing
3, Hafan Brynheulog, Pontardawe, Swansea, West Glamorgan SA8 4JW Tel: 01792 864612
- Waverley Close
Waverley Close, Clydach, Swansea, West Glamorgan SA6 5LS Tel: 01792 845990
- Gelli Gardens
2, Gelli Gardens, Birchgrove, Swansea, West Glamorgan SA7 9PW Tel: 01792 813894
- The Princess of Wales Sheltered Accommodation
Princess of Wales Court, Mansel Rd, Bonymaen, Swansea, West Glamorgan SA1 7ES Tel: 01792 790887
Letting Agents
Look at our map to find a local letting Agent, or for more information on letting agents in Swansea, have a look at the yellow pages.
City and County of Swansea: Housing
The City and County of Swansea manages approximately 14,000 properties through its Housing Services Unit and is one of the largest providers of housing in Wales. They have a mixture of properties - houses, flats, bungalows and sheltered housing schemes for the elderly, mainly clustered on estates all over the Swansea area. They provide the majority of their services through their nine District Housing Offices.
The main responsibilities of the Housing Services Unit are -
- The management of Council Housing
- The preparation of the Council's Housing Strategy
- Improving the condition of private sector Housing
- Providing access to Housing for a range of vulnerable groups (i.e. homeless, disabled etc.)
Useful Information
Shelter Cymru
Shelter Cymru is wales's housing and homeless charity. It prevents people from losing their homes by offering free, confidential and independent advice. It is located at 25 Walter Road, Swansea, SA1 5NN. Telephone: 01792 469400. For more information have a look on the Shelter Cymru website.
|
Discover Swansea 
