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Immigration and Housing: The Facts

As a housing provider working in several local authorities across south Wales, Beacon is aware of growing concerns and confusion surrounding the allocation of new and existing homes to ‘migrants’.
This page contains accurate information on the situation as it relates to the UK and eligibility for social housing through Beacon and other social housing providers.

 

Understanding migration and relevant terms

Emigration just means moving from this country to live abroad.

Immigration just means moving from another country to live here.

Anyone who moves here for any reason is a migrant, but they will have different rights and encounter different processes depending on why they’re moving.

Some reasons for moving are to work, to study, for family reasons or to escape from a dangerous situation. When a migrant is moving for this last reason and using their legal right to ask for protection under the 1951 Refugee Convention, they are known as an asylum seeker. If they are granted asylum, they are given refugee status or humanitarian protection.

If someone remains in the UK beyond the terms of their visa or after an asylum claim has been turned down, they are sometimes referred to as an illegal immigrant.

Migration levels vary from year to year. You can find more information on migration levels here.

 

Common myths about immigration and housing

 

Immigration, housing and other welfare benefits

UK Government is responsible for all immigration into the UK, including Wales, through its visas and immigration department (UKVI). When someone comes to the UK on a visa (to work, study, or join family), they get some, but not all, of the rights available to UK citizens. For example, they can use the NHS but must pay a surcharge (currently £1,035 per year for adults). However, most visa-holders cannot get welfare benefits like Universal Credit or social housing with Beacon, councils or similar organisations.

People who are seeking asylum in the UK have different rights to UK citizens and visa-holders:

  • They do not pay a surcharge for NHS services whilst their claim is being processed.
  • They are not allowed to choose where they live and cannot access social housing. They are housed in temporary accommodation by UK government and this can be anywhere in the UK.
  • They cannot work or claim welfare benefits like Universal Credit or Child Benefit etc. Instead, they receive limited support from the Home Office, which is set according to their housing situation:
    • £9.95 per week, if accommodation includes meals
    • £49.18 per week, if accommodation only
  • Because these payments are so low and they are not allowed to work to earn more money, lots of asylum seekers rely on foodbanks, multibanks and other charities that help people on low incomes with food, clothes, hygiene products and sometimes electrical appliances and phones.

If they are granted asylum, they are given refugee status or humanitarian protection that provides similar rights to those of UK citizens. This can include access to welfare benefits and social housing with organisations like Beacon, depending on the outcome of their claim.

About 71,000 asylum cases (c. 91,000 people) were awaiting an initial decision in the most recent official release (end-June 2025).

 

Key facts about immigration and housing:

Migrants are people coming to the UK for a variety of reasons, either with a related visa or to make a legal claim for asylum under the 1951 Refugee Convention.

Most social housing is partially funded through public funding from government.

Asylum seekers do not have recourse to public funds and so are not eligible for social housing with organisations like Beacon.

Asylum seekers are housed in temporary accommodation by UK Government. This can be anywhere in the UK.

If an asylum claim is accepted, refugee status or humanitarian protection is granted, which can include access to social housing, depending on the claim outcome.

If an asylum claim is rejected (and any grounds for appeal are also rejected) or a visa period ends and the person remains in the UK, this is known as illegal immigration.

No-one is here illegally whilst their asylum claim is being processed, regardless of how they arrived in the UK.

 

 

As a housing provider working in several local authorities across south Wales, Beacon is aware of growing concerns and confusion surrounding the allocation of new and existing homes to ‘migrants’.

Resident Satisfaction Survey 2025

Beacon’s first resident survey is now closed. 

At Beacon we want to understand what matters to residents and will use the feedback you provided to improve our services. We shared our Resident Satisfaction Survey to hear your thoughts on how we’re doing.

This year we asked Knowledge Partnership, who are market researchers working independently to Beacon, to carry out the surveys between August 2025 and mid October 2025. They did this through a combination of emails, online surveys, mailing out paper based surveys and telephone calls.

Every household that completed the survey had the option to be entered into a prize draw to win one of five, £50 Love to Shop vouchers (you can read the terms and conditions here).

Winners will be notified by 22nd December 2025.

Once we have the results of the survey they will be published online. 

Unveiling the brand identity for our proposed merger company

RHA Wales and Coastal Housing Group have unveiled the brand identity for our proposed merger company. If the planned merger proceeds as intended, the two companies will move forward from 2nd January 2025 as:

beacon

(noun)

  1. a light or fire in a place that is easy to see, such as on the top of a hill or cliff, that acts as a signal:

As part of the centenary celebrations a chain of beacons was lit across the region.

 

  1. a good example that gives people hope or encouragement:

She was a beacon of hope in troubled times.

 

Beacons have illuminated human history as symbols of hope, guidance, and connection. They have been used consistently, by countless cultures, to communicate across vast distances, their glow uniting people, providing direction, carrying messages, and marking cultural celebrations.  Whether lit on inland mountaintops or coastal cliffs, their enduring presence reflects a shared understanding, a shared purpose and the human desire to connect with others.

RHA and Coastal have been progressing the planned merger since November 2023 and have reached a number of significant milestones including the appointment of the merger company board, CEO and Executive Team designates.

Read more about what the merger could mean for tenants.

Board of Management Designate Appointments Announced

Work on the proposed merger between Coastal and RHA Wales has taken another step forward with completion of recruitment to the new merger company’s board of management.

Following a selection process, we are pleased to announce the following appointments:

  • Aaron Hill
  • Bethan Evans
  • Dawn Mitchell
  • Ed White
  • Gurmel Bhachu
  • Jane Howells
  • Jonathan Roberts
  • Scott Allin
  • Scott Caldwell

All appointees currently serve on either the Coastal or RHA boards of management and will thus bring significant skills and experience to the new merger company. They will form the new company’s board of management at point of merger, along with the previously-announced roles below:

  • Chief Executive Designate, Debbie Green
  • Deputy Chief Executive Designate, Luke Takeuchi
  • Chair Designate, Peter Hughes
  • Vice Chair Designate, Patrick Hoare


If you would like to find out more about our organisation’s merger then please visit our dedicated webpage:

www.rhawales.com/merger

RHA and Coastal Housing Group Merger Update

As per our previous news article, RHA Wales is progressing a planned merger with Coastal Housing Group to create a new organisation.

This work is well advanced, and we are making good progress against our plan. We have now reached a significant milestone, with the first executive and non-executive appointments being made after a thorough assessment process.

 

Peter Hughes has been appointed as Chair Designate and Patrick Hoare as Vice Chair Designate of the new organisation. They are currently the Chairs of RHA and Coastal respectively, so will bring lots of relevant experience.
Coastal’s current CEO, Debbie Green, has been appointed as the Group CEO Designate of the new organisation and RHA’s current CEO, Luke Takeuchi, has been appointed as Deputy CEO Designate. This means that Debbie will head up the new merger organisation as Chief Executive from day one, working closely with Luke as Deputy Chief Executive. Debbie and Luke will also become members of the new organisation’s board of management.
Having these key leadership roles in place will ensure both a smooth transition at point of merger and strong succession planning.

 

For more information or to chat to a member of our team then get in touch:

Telephone: 01443 424200   Email: [email protected]

New Hospital Discharge Facility

We are proud to have worked with Cwm Taf Local Health Board & Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council on our new hospital discharge facility provision which is providing essential and much needed hospital discharge accommodation.

Dan Yr Allt, in Rhydeflin was developed by P&P Building and Roofing Contractors utilising land owned by RHA Wales.  Our collaborative approach enabled us to design and develop an adapted property alleviating hospital bed demand on the NHS and providing individuals with adaptions to ensure independent living can be achieved and quality of life improved.

A funding package of Integrated Care Funding, Housing with Care Funding and private finance from ourselves at RHA Wales, enabled delivery of this special project. This new home enables individuals to move from a hospital setting to an accessible and suitable property, whilst they complete their recovery journey and/or until they are ready to return to their own home full time or until permanent suitable accommodation is identified for them.

 

The two-bedroom bungalow is suitable for one person and an additional bedroom for a family member or a carer. It comprises of a fully adapted kitchen and bathroom, tracked hoist system, power assisted doors, external scooter store and level access all around the property to enable the occupants to easily access external areas and enjoy the peaceful and tranquil setting that surrounds the bungalow.

Designed and built to be non-fossil fuel, the property meets EPC A standard utilising air source heat pump and solar pv as opposed to traditional methods, WDQR – Beautiful Homes and Spaces Standards and Lifetime Homes Standard.

The long-term aim is that this home is a model for what can be delivered by working collaboratively with health, housing as in Local Authority and RSL. Often these sorts of initiatives are considered on large scale builds, what we have demonstrated together is small builds like our Dan Yr Allt project can have a big impact and play a part in elevating pressures on our NHS and move individuals to a more suitable setting to aid their recovery.

From a project delivery perspective, and a mixed funding model, smaller, often less financially viable projects can be delivered and improve lives. And that’s key. Without this approach the land at Dan Yr Allt would likely remain as vacant land. However, through collaboration, a shared aim we have delivered something special that is having a positive impact, and together we are providing a vital resource for a recently discharged hospital patient whose is integrating herself back into the community, regaining her independence whilst waiting for her permanent accommodation to be sourced.

Rent & Affordability Survey 2024

Like all housing associations, RHA Wales is regulated by Welsh Government. We are currently considering our policy on rents and what the increase in rental charges from April 2025 should be and we want your views.

XL Bully Dogs – What Owners Need To Know

Following a rise in attacks caused by XL Bully dog breeds across England and Wales, the government has added this breed to the list of dogs banned under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991. RHA Wales is encouraging its tenants who own XL Bully dogs to get their animals registered for exemption ahead of the January 31st 2024 deadline.

We know this can be worrying and upsetting time for owners whose dogs are affected by this legislation. As a landlord we have no intention of banning XL Bullies or acting against tenants solely based on owning such dogs. However, we do have a duty to inform and remind tenants of the new laws coming into effect and to ensure that dogs do not cause a nuisance to neighbours.

WHAT IS AN XL BULLY DOG?

A suspected XL Bully breed type does not need to fit the physical description perfectly. The general impression is a large dog with a muscular body and blocky head, suggesting strength and power for its size. If your dog meets the minimum height measurements and a substantial number of the characteristics outlined in the link below, it could be considered an XL Bully breed type. This includes:

  • If it was not sold as an XL Bully
  • Cross breeds that look more like XL Bully dogs than any other type of dog

Please see the Governments website for more information: Check if a dog is an XL Bully – GOV.UK (gov.uk)

 

IS IT ILLEGAL FOR ME TO OWN AN XL BULLY DOG?

As of 31st December 2023, it is now illegal to sell, breed or give away an XL Bully dog, prohibited under the Dangerous Dog Act. Owners have until the 31st of January 2024 to exempt their dogs they suspect of being a XL Bully under the Government process or ensuring they are humanely euthanised.

It’s important to know that from 31 December 2023, XL Bully dogs must wear a muzzle and be kept on a lead when in a public place. It’s important to introduce your dog to a muzzle gradually and positively. There’s some really good guidance on how to do this from our friends at the Blue Cross. Click here: Blue Cross muzzle training advice.

 

KEY DATES FOR XL BULLY BREED LEGISLATION: 
  • 31 October 2023 — the Government announced that the American Bully XL type dog had been added to the banned breeds list in England and Wales.
  • 31 December 2023 — it became illegal to breed, sell, advertise, rehome, abandon or allow an American Bully XL type dog to stray.
  • 15 January 2024 — deadline to apply for a Certificate of Exemption by post.
  • 31 January 2024 — deadline to apply for a Certificate of Exemption online (12 noon).
  • 1 February 2024 — it will become illegal to own an XL bully type dog if you are not registered on the Index of Exempted dogs. Owners must also have third party public liability insurance in place, and dogs must be microchipped and neutered (unless they’re too young, see other dates below).
  • 31 March 2024 — deadline to have your dog microchipped and give the microchip number to Defra, if your dog was less than eight weeks old when you applied for a Certificate of Exemption.
  • 30 June 2024 — deadline to have your dog neutered and give evidence to Defra, if your dog was more than one year old on 31 January 2024.
  • 31 December 2024 — deadline to have your dog neutered and give evidence to Defra, if your dog was less than one year old on 31 January 2024.

 

HOW CAN I APPLY FOR AN EXEMPTION? 

You can now apply for a Certificate of Exemption to legally keep your dog and information about how to do this is on Government website. You will have until the end of February to do this. Owners will have to pay an application fee of £92.40.

As part of the process to exempt your dog, you will also need third-party liability insurance, this is insurance against your dog injuring other people and this is provided through Dogs Trust. Take a look at their website, click here: Companion Club | Dogs Trust.

  • Your dog must be microchipped (which is already a legal requirement).
  • Your dog will also need to be neutered.
  • If your dog is less than one year old on 31 January 2024, they must be neutered by 31 December 2024.
  • If your dog is older than one year old on 31 January 2024, they must be neutered by 30 June 2024.

We recommend that you arrange for your dog to be neutered as soon as possible to ensure that you meet these deadlines. Once your dog has been exempted you must adhere to the conditions otherwise you could be committing a criminal offence, and your dog could be seized. You must be able to show the Certificate of Exemption when asked by a police officer or a council dog warden either at the time or within 5 days.

RHA Wales will also need to have a copy of your Certificate of Exemption, if you are keeping your dog in one of our homes and we will be amending our Pet’s Policy to take account of these legislative changes.

Christmas Support & Festive Cheer

We understand that the festive season can be challenging for many. We know that people are struggling with the cost of living crisis and energy bills rising.  Our RHA Wales colleagues worked hard to fundraise during 2023 to ensure we are able to help to offer some festive cheer this Christmas.

Our festive hampers are offered to those identified by our Housing and Payment Advisors as well as offering everyone into help themselves to our community fridges.

The festive hampers include:

* Items for Christmas dinner

* Treats for families like selection boxes, chocolates and mince pies

* Food cupboard staples to batch cook

*Pet food for furry companions

*Toiletries, sanitary products and home essentials

We’re also providing winter warm packs are through funding from the local authority. Our front line staff  identify those in need, and offer to those struggling with heating or aren’t appropriately clothed for the cold weather.

Through working with generous partners we have donated the hampers this week to tenants and community members, our colleagues and our awesome tenant volunteers made sure hampers were delivered to doorsteps in time for Christmas. Ensuring those in need were provided with festive food and gifts for their children, it’s been lovely to brighten Christmas day for those who need a helping hand.

We would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and thank you all for your donation, support and volunteering.

Fundraising and working with partners and awesome volunteers to donate almost 100 hampers to those in need this Christmas!

Coastal Housing and RHA Wales are now Beacon Cymru

We’re pleased to share that Coastal Housing Group and ourselves have merged to form a new organisation.

We have created a 10,000 home organisation for the future; one which will constantly raise the bar to deliver improved services and homes for our residents. This exciting new merger means we will have increased capacity and resilience to deliver a greater number of new, high-quality homes each year.

We are focused on growth and investment in existing homes and services, and will create a more resilient organisation with a wider geographical reach.

There are strong, shared values across RHA and Coastal and combined new organisation, Beacon, will have an even greater impact across the communities within which we operate and beyond.

The key drivers for the merger were jointly identified:

  • To be in the strongest position to meet the challenges and expectations for housing associations in the coming years
  • To achieve increased capacity for growth and greater organisational resilience
  • To maintain and improve the quality of homes and services to our residents by combining our resources and expertise
  • To maintain and improve our community regeneration work
  • To enable greater capacity and resilience to learn, explore and develop new and enhanced services for our tenants
  • To be an employer of choice, able to recruit and retain talented skilled colleagues
Contact telephone numbers and emails for staff and services remain unchanged whilst we work to deliver a unified experience for residents and stakeholders later this year.

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Get in touch

Got a question? Get in touch! [email protected] 01443 424200 CF40 1BE