London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Thursday, Oct 23, 2025

Spot to stay top worry for BNO arrivals

Spot to stay top worry for BNO arrivals

Finding accommodation is the main difficulty Hongkongers expect to face when arriving in Britain, with 73 percent saying so.
A majority of those arriving with the British National (Overseas) visa do not have previous UK records showing their rental history, employment record and financial status -making it difficult for them to rent houses, said three Britain-based civil society groups assisting Hongkongers.

Under the BNO visa route, an estimated 2.9 million BNO status holders and 2.3 million dependents are eligible to live, work and study in Britain. After five years, they will be able to apply for settlement and, after a further year, citizenship.

The three civil society groups -Hongkongers in Britain, Hackney Chinese Community Services, and Hong Kong Assistance and Resettlement Community - were invited by the British government to find out more about the housing situation for BNO holders moving to the UK.

HKB's survey published in December showed that 73 percent of 315 Hongkongers interviewed said finding accommodation is the most challenging issue they expect to face upon arriving in Britain.

Julian Chan, the cofounder of HKB, said most new BNO arrivals checked into Airbnbs or hotels for the first few weeks and immediately began house hunting. Few had arranged to rent properties before arrival.

One of the most frequently mentioned difficulties that HKB has found from 230 online respondents between March 28 and April 4 is that new BNO arrivals do not have UK records that are often required by landlords such as rental histories, employment records, credit histories and a bank references.

"In the absence of the above, many landlords also request upfront rental payments for at least six months, sometimes up to 12 months," Chan said, adding that financial statements and references from Hong Kong are often rejected by landlords or rental agents.

When signing tenancy agreements, Chan said usually a current address is required. However, for those seeking accommodation after arriving in Britain, property agencies are unlikely to accept a temporary address such as in hotels.

The lack of a permanent address also hinders new arrivals from Hong Kong from opening bank accounts.

"Currently, seemingly only some branches of a few UK banks [known successful applications are with Lloyds Classic Current Account, Barclays, Halifax] allow new BNO arrivals to apply for accounts with no permanent address proof yet," Chan said.

HKB also found that children of the newly arrived families who live in hotels or Airbnbs are unable to obtain school places as British authorities do not accept hotels or Airbnbs as proof of residence.

The three civil society groups have called on the government to clarify in the current BNO visa guidance the right to rent for BNO holders. They also suggest the authorities consider using vacant houses awaiting redevelopment as temporary accommodation for newly arrived Hongkongers.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
US Administration Under President Donald Trump Reportedly Lifts Ban on Ukraine’s Use of Storm Shadow Missiles Against Russia
‘Frightening’ First Night in Prison for Sarkozy: Inmates Riot and Shout ‘Little Nicolas’
White House Announces No Imminent Summit Between Trump and Putin
US and Qatar Warn EU of Trade and Energy Risks from Tough Climate Regulation
Apple Challenges EU Digital Markets Act Crackdown in Landmark Court Battle
Nicolas Sarkozy begins five-year prison term at La Santé in Paris
Japan stocks surge to record as Sanae Takaichi becomes Prime Minister
This Is How the 'Heist of the Century' Was Carried Out at the Louvre in Seven Minutes: France Humiliated as Crown with 2,000 Diamonds Vanishes
China Warns UK of ‘Consequences’ After Delay to London Embassy Approval
France’s Wealthy Shift Billions to Luxembourg and Switzerland Amid Tax and Political Turmoil
"Sniper Position": Observation Post Targeting 'Air Force One' Found Before Trump’s Arrival in Florida
Shouting Match at the White House: 'Trump Cursed, Threw Maps, and Told Zelensky – "Putin Will Destroy You"'
Windows’ Own ‘Siri’ Has Arrived: You Can Now Talk to Your Computer
Thailand and Singapore Investigate Cambodian-Based Prince Group as U.S. and U.K. Sanctions Unfold
‘No Kings’ Protests Inflate Numbers — But History Shows Nations Collapse Without Strong Executive Power
Chinese Tech Giants Halt Stablecoin Launches After Beijing’s Regulatory Intervention
Manhattan Jury Holds BNP Paribas Liable for Enabling Sudanese Government Abuses
Trump Orders Immediate Release of Former Congressman George Santos After Commuting Prison Sentence
S&P Downgrades France’s Credit Rating, Citing Soaring Debt and Political Instability
Ofcom Rules BBC’s Gaza Documentary ‘Materially Misleading’ Over Narrator’s Hamas Ties
Diane Keaton’s Cause of Death Revealed as Pneumonia, Family Confirms
Former Lostprophets Frontman Ian Watkins Stabbed to Death in British Prison
"The Tsunami Is Coming, and It’s Massive": The World’s Richest Man Unveils a New AI Vision
Outsider, Heroine, Trailblazer: Diane Keaton Was Always a Little Strange — and Forever One of a Kind
Dramatic Development in the Death of 'Mango' Founder: Billionaire's Son Suspected of Murder
Two Years of Darkness: The Harrowing Testimonies of Israeli Hostages Emerging From Gaza Captivity
EU Moves to Use Frozen Russian Assets to Buy U.S. Weapons for Ukraine
Europe Emerges as the Biggest Casualty in U.S.-China Rare Earth Rivalry
HSBC Confronts Strategic Crossroads as NAB Seeks Only Retail Arm in Australia Exit
U.S. Chamber Sues Trump Over $100,000 H-1B Visa Fee
Shenzhen Expo Spotlights China’s Quantum Step in Semiconductor Self-Reliance
China Accelerates to the Forefront in Global Nuclear Fusion Race
Yachts, Private Jets, and a Picasso Painting: Exposed as 'One of the Largest Frauds in History'
Australia’s Wedgetail Spies Aid NATO Response as Russian MiGs Breach Estonian Airspace
McGowan Urges Chalmers to Cut Spending Over Tax Hike to Close $20 Billion Budget Gap
Victoria Orders Review of Transgender Prison Placement Amid Safety Concerns for Female Inmates
U.S. Treasury Mobilises New $20 Billion Debt Facility to Stabilise Argentina
French Business Leaders Decry Budget as Macron’s Pro-Enterprise Promise Undermined
Trump Claims Modi Pledged India Would End Russian Oil Imports Amid U.S. Tariff Pressure
Surging AI Startup Valuations Fuel Bubble Concerns Among Top Investors
Australian Punter Archie Wilson Tears Up During Nebraska Press Conference, Sparking Conversation on Male Vulnerability
Australia Confirms U.S. Access to Upgraded Submarine Shipyard Under AUKUS Deal
“Firepower” Promised for Ukraine as NATO Ministers Meet — But U.S. Tomahawks Remain Undecided
Brands Confront New Dilemma as Extremists Adopt Fashion Labels
The Sydney Sweeney and Jeans Storm: “The Outcome Surpassed Our Wildest Dreams”
Erika Kirk Delivers Moving Tribute at White House as Trump Awards Charlie Presidential Medal of Freedom
British Food Influencer ‘Big John’ Detained in Australia After Visa Dispute
ScamBodia: The Chinese Fraud Empire Shielded by Cambodia’s Ruling Elite
French PM Suspends Macron’s Pension Reform Until After 2027 in Bid to Stabilize Government
Orange, Bouygues and Free Make €17 Billion Bid for Drahi’s Altice France Telecom Assets
×