Q. Where does it show on the Home Office/UKBA website that a property inspection or assessment report is required for UK Entry Clearance Visa and Settlement applications?

 

Please refer to page 3 under ‘Accommodation details’ in Home Office/UKBA Guide to supporting documents.

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Q. Who needs a property inspection or assessment report for UK entry clearance visa and settlement purposes?

 

A property inspection or assessment report is required for all applications leading to/for the purposes of settlement, these are:

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• Spouse(s) and civil partners;

• Fiancé(e)s and proposed civil partner;

• Unmarried and same-sex partners;

• Children;

• Parents, grandparents and other dependent relatives.

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Q. Why does the Home Office/UKBA require a property (or housing accommodation) assessment report?

 

It is essential to demonstrate that the Applicant(s) will have no further need to be re-housed once in the UK.  The Sponsor needs to provide evidence that they have the funds to maintain and accommodate the Applicant(s) without recourse to public funds.  The Home Office/UKBA must be satisfied that the Sponsor can house the Applicant(s) in accommodation that will not become statutorily overcrowded under the provisions of Part X of the Housing Act 1985 and that the accommodation is safe and fit for human habitation under Part 1 of the Housing Act 2004.

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Q. What information do you require from me?

 

 The following information will be required to support the application:

 

• Name, date of birth and NI number of the sponsor.

• Name, date of birth, country of origin and passport reference number of the person(s) seeking entry to the UK;

• Name, date of birth and relationship to the sponsor of all other occupants in the property;

• Name and address of the owner/agent/landlord of the property;

• Confirmation of a current Gas Safe Certificate for the property (if rented).

• The measurements of all sleeping rooms in the property to enable the area to be calculated, in m/cm.

• A full description of the property including type of building and what rooms are contained on each floor, supported by plans or photos and video's.

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Further details of the information required can be found on the application form. ​​​ 

 

At the end of the process, you will be supplied with a signed PDF report and a paper copy via first class post if required (at extra cost), which will state:

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• Sponsors details and those of the person(s) seeking entry to the UK;

• The address and full description of the property including all sleeping room measurements and maximum occupancy levels;

• Who owns and who occupies the property;

• Whether the property is free from Category 1 hazards in respect of bathroom and kitchen facilities;

• An explanation of the standards that the property is being assessed against;

• Whether the property would be overcrowded by the addition of the person(s) seeking entry to the UK. 

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Q. How long does the report last?

 

The report is valid for 3 months from the date it is issued, and the UK Border Agency will not accept reports that are greater than 12 weeks old.

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Q. Can I use the lounge as a bedroom?

 

If you have two separate lounges partitioned with a solid wall and individual doors from the hallway you can class one as a bedroom.  If there are dividing doors or you have a walk-through lounge you cannot use it as a bedroom. Any additional ground floor room which is not a 'through room' and does not contain a principal exit route out of the building can be classed as a sleeping room, providing it meets the size requirements (see room sizes link at top of page).  You will be required to provide photos/video's of these rooms together with the measurements.  In essence, if the room has a single door and you do not have to walk through the room to access another room or exit the building, it can be classed as a sleeping room.