A couple who the prime minister thanked for housing Ukrainian refugees have been told by their local council they may have to evict their current guest due to planning rules which the couple describe as “bureaucracy gone mad”.
Rosemary Duckett, 80, a retired magistrate and former chair of her local YMCA, and her husband, Anthony, 88, have been providing accommodation in a room above their garage to Ukrainian refugees since 2022.
The couple were dismayed when the council recently told them they could no longer use the room, which has a small bathroom attached, to provide somewhere for Ukrainians to live without applying for a “change of use” for the room, at a cost of £600-800.
“I don’t mind applying for a change of use,” said Duckett. “But I don’t want to have to pay up to £800 to do so. We are not making any money from hosting the Ukrainian lady. The whole thing feels like bureaucracy gone mad.”
The Ducketts inside the garage room. Photograph: David Levene/The Guardian
The Ducketts live in Henley-on-Thames, an upmarket area described as “arguably one of the most beautiful towns in England”. Rents are high and available properties in the area are scarce.
They first offered to accommodate Ukrainian refugees when the government appealed for people to come forward soon after Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.
Officials from South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse district council visited the couple’s home and approved the room as suitable for Ukrainian refugees.
Liubava Ignatcko and her daughter Ariana stayed there for a year before the current Ukrainian guest moved in. She has a job as a cleaner and the couple do not charge her rent, due to her low income. They ask her only to cover the cost of the utilities like electricity and heating that she uses.
As a host of Ukrainian refugees, Duckett was invited by the prime minister to a reception at 10 Downing Street in February of this year marking the anniversary of the invasion of Ukraine.
But her current guest now faces having to leave with little prospect of finding alternative affordable accommodation in the area. Even if the application fee is paid, there is no guarantee it will be successful.
Dr Krish Kandiah of the Sanctuary Foundation, which supports Ukrainian refugees and knows the couple, said: “The Homes for Ukraine scheme was a historic moment of Great British hospitality. One of the big challenges has been long-term independent accommodation. Rosemary and Tony represent the best of us – both in their 80s and yet willing to offer kindness and hospitality to people in need.
skip past newsletter promotion
Our morning email breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what’s happening and why it matters
Privacy Notice: Newsletters may contain information about charities, online ads, and content funded by outside parties. If you do not have an account, we will create a guest account for you on theguardian.com to send you this newsletter. You can complete full registration at any time. For more information about how we use your data see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
after newsletter promotion
“We should celebrate stories like theirs, not just as examples of generosity in a time of crisis, but as a reminder of the values that define us: compassion, resilience and a willingness to stand alongside strangers as friends.”
A spokesperson for South Oxfordshire district council said: “Our council has put significant effort and resources into supporting and housing refugees from a variety of locations, including Ukraine and Afghanistan. Our dedicated team has helped 846 Ukrainian guests find suitable accommodation and settle in, and when the time is right, supporting them in finding good-quality, suitable homes of their own for the longer term.
Rosemary Duckett outside 10 Downing Street. Photograph: Courtesy: Rosemary Duckett
“To support the government in placing tens of thousands of refugees around the UK at very short notice, the Homes for Ukraine scheme involved rapid council checks of hundreds of properties to ensure they were safe, suitable and habitable for short-term emergency placements – these were not full detailed planning inspections and were never intended to act as that.
“On an ongoing basis, for the sake of long-term safety and security, and the quality of living conditions, existing planning regulations do need to be met. We strongly welcome our communities joining us in supporting refugees and will always aim to work with them positively and constructively to ensure their property meets the required standards rather than immediately pursuing enforcement action.”
