Council Tax support for Ukrainian guests

Milton Keynes City Council supports people who have come to the UK under the Government's Ukraine schemes. Council Tax rules may protect eligible sponsors from losing discounts and may provide Council Tax discounts for some Ukrainian nationals.

If you are hosting a Ukrainian guest

If you live alone and receive a Single Person Discount, you will not lose your discount because you are hosting someone under the Homes for Ukraine scheme.

You must still tell us when someone moves into your property.

If you make an empty property available to Ukrainian guests

You may qualify for a 50% Council Tax discount if you make an empty property available to Ukrainian nationals under the Homes for Ukraine scheme.

When you apply, you will need to provide:

• the names of everyone living in the property
• the date they moved in
• evidence that they have permission to stay in the UK under the Homes for Ukraine scheme

The people living in the property will usually be responsible for paying the Council Tax and will be named on the bill. A sponsor may choose to pay the bill on their behalf.

If you are a Ukrainian national living independently

You may qualify for a 50% Council Tax discount if you:

• are a Ukrainian national
• have permission to stay in the UK under an eligible Ukraine scheme
• live in accommodation that is not your sponsor's home
• meet the conditions of the discount scheme

We will assess your application based on your individual circumstances and immigration status.

Ukraine Permission Extension (UPE)

The Ukraine Permission Extension (UPE) scheme was introduced on 18 February 2025 for people who previously held permission under the:

• Homes for Ukraine scheme
• Ukraine Family Scheme
• Ukraine Extension Scheme

Moving to the UPE scheme may affect your entitlement to certain Council Tax discounts and disregards.

Most UPE visa holders do not qualify for the Council Tax discount unless BOTH apply:

1. You are living in sponsor‑provided accommodation (you do not pay rent), and
2. Your sponsor is still receiving “thank you” payments

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has confirmed that Council Tax support linked to sponsorship arrangements will normally end when Government "thank you" payments stop. In most cases, this will be 18 months after a guest moves onto the UPE scheme.