Essential Guidelines For UK Spouse Visa Accommodation Requirements

Applying for a spouse visa can be complicated. To reside with their partner in the UK applicants must submit proof of “adequate accommodation” to the home office under the family migration route. 
 
“Adequate accommodation” means having a safe, appropriate place to stay that fulfils all the conditions and has sufficient room space. However, being unable to provide enough living space is one of the major reasons why applications for UK spouse visas might get rejected. 

Fulfilling accommodation requirements for Spouse Visas: Important documentation and assistance 

Applications for spouse visas must have documentation of fulfilment of the accommodation requirements. The supporting spouse needs to provide documentation to support this need, even if it is clear from their place of employment and earnings that they can afford suitable accommodation. 

The following examples of evidence satisfy the minimum requirements of the accommodation requirement: 

1. The land approval title entries and any mortgage company correspondence are replicated in the house. 

2. The name of the sponsoring partner or the visa applicant should appear on a copy of the rental contract you have signed. To verify that you have been consistently paying your rental fee on time, you should attach a letter from your owner or agent. 

3. Evidence of the residence status of the sponsoring partner from the housing organisation or local government. 

4. It is essential to have an official document from a family member who lives on or rents the property. The documents must indicate that the supporting partner and the visa applicant should have personal accommodation that meets the conditions for their occupation. It must verify the applicant’s legal tenancy status and the offer of housing to them and their sponsored partner. 

What are the UK Spouse Visa accommodation requirements? 

The accommodation requirements for a spouse visa application include four essential guidelines: 

1. Legal ownership or primary residence for you and your family.
2. Acquisition without relying on public funds.
3. Absence of overcrowding.
4. Adherence to public health and safety standards.

Every guideline includes comprehensive rules and regulations that need to be fulfilled to satisfy accommodation needs.

Here is a summary of these rules to give you a clear picture and complete awareness. 

1. Legal ownership or primary residence for you and your family: This document should prove that this property, that you own or rent, provides your spouse and children exclusive home in the UK. 

2. Acquisition without relying on public funds: According to the UK spouse visa accommodation criteria, public funds can’t be used to finance the intended UK residence. You may still be able to obtain a spouse visa even if your partner’s benefits are utilised to cover the cost of housing. You can additionally satisfy this condition if you’re applying from within the UK and possess the right to claim joint benefits with your spouse.  
   If applicants obtain other public funds, they generally won’t match the criterion of partner accommodation in the UK. Moreover, if they migrated to the UK to survive. 

3. Absence of overcrowding: When inspecting your application, the Home Office will look for proof that your new residence will not be crowded and that there is enough space. 
    
   Depending upon the number, age, and gender of occupants in the home, the applicant’s family and any dependents must have sole and separate access to their bedroom(s), while other areas of the property may be shared with other persons. 
    
   Under the Housing Act of 1985, the maximum number of people allowed to sleep in each room is limited. 
4. Adherence to public health and safety standards: Public health and safety minimal criteria are mandatory for all forms of accommodation in England, and acceptability is primarily concerned with meeting those standards.  
   If any of the following, among other public health regulations, are broken by a property, it will be considered inadequate:
   a. Contamination and insect infestation. 
   b. Mould development. 
   c. Absence of gas certification. 
   d. Internal or structural damage. 

Even if these circumstances aren’t common for the majority of UK-based homes, the home office still would need to ensure whether your accommodation is secure and satisfies other criteria for residence. 

Getting a property inspection report from a local government or professional may help prove its legality. The acceptability of your accommodations can be verified by this report. 

Utilise the following steps to determine whether the accommodation is overcrowded: 

1. Determine how many people are residing in the family’s apartment. A baby under one-year-old is not considered in this calculation. Consider a child between the ages of one and ten to be half a person, and each individual as a whole. 
2. Compute the number of rooms in total that are used for sleeping, including living rooms and other similar spaces. Don’t include places that aren’t bedrooms, such as restrooms and kitchens, or rooms that are less than 50 sq. feet. 
3. To estimate how many bedrooms are available, compare the number of inhabitants with their ages, genders, and status as a pair. 
4. How many people and what kinds of rooms are available determines how adequate the accommodations are in terms of room availability. 

The table below can be used to compare the number of residents with the number of available bedrooms. 

The floor area of the room	Maximum number of people who can occupy the room
110 square feet or more	2
Between 90 sq ft and 109.99 square feet	1½
Between 70 sq ft and 89.99 square feet	1
Between 50 sq ft and 69.99 square feet	½

Number of viable bedrooms	Maximum number of occupants allowed in the property.
1	2
2	3
3	5
4	7.5
5	10
More than 5 rooms	Additional 2 people for each room

How can Claim Time Immigration assist you? 

Claim Time Immigration is available to assist you with any questions you may have about the requirements for your spouse’s visa. Our group provides educated, specialised immigration counsel. We make use of our vast expertise in UK immigration law. You can get assistance from our experienced legal advisors while applying for a UK visa. They can also help with documentation proof and evidence, as well as explaining the rules for accommodations under the spouse visa. 

For additional information regarding the services we offer, please contact us via our website or by phone at 0800 970 2727. We are prepared to help you understand the complex rules and regulations involved in the UK immigration procedure.