Crediton to welcome Afghan refugees

Accommodation offered for three families

Three families from Afghanistan are to be housed in Mid Devon as part of the government’s resettlement scheme for refugees.

The properties are all in Crediton, a meeting of the district council’s homes policy development group was told, with two landlords already signed up and the third set to do so by the end of the month. One took part in a previous refugee scheme.

District authorities across Devon are working with the county council to house families who fled the Taliban this summer. Up to 20,000 refugees will eventually be resettled in the UK, but it could take years and it is unknown how many will make the move.

Anyone resettled through the scheme will receive indefinite leave to enter or remain in the UK and will be able to apply for British citizenship after five years.

Mike Parker, Mid Devon District Council’s housing options manager, told members there had been a number of initial enquiries when the appeal for landlords went out, but some offers were “not appropriate, due to the location or the size of the properties.”

The families don't yet have a moving-in date, partly due to the county council being busy working with other Devon districts on the scheme.

As the properties will be managed by Devon County Council and a lettings company, Mr Parker said there would be no cost for Mid Devon, with any money spent being reimbursed through the county council and central government.

He added: “Our only involvement at this stage will be, over the next couple of weeks, kitting those three units out with flatpack furniture and making them home for a refugee family.”

Chairman of the group Councillor Ron Dolley (Independent, Westexe) said it was a “topic we’ve seen in the press and all the help possible is needed,” and later added: “We’ve got to be as humanitarian as possible within our resources.”