Number of asylum hotels falls to 185 after 11 close
Asylum Hotel Numbers Drop to 185 Following Closure of 11 Sites
The government has shut down 11 hotels used for accommodating asylum seekers, cutting the total number of such facilities to 185 from a high of approximately 400. Home Office Minister Alex Norris attributed the decline to a combination of factors, including the deportation of individuals without the right to remain in the UK and the shift toward alternative accommodations such as military barracks.
Norris highlighted that asylum hotels had become a “point of significant frustration” for local communities and a catalyst for people to enter the country illegally. He argued that by reducing the reliance on hotels, the policy aims to diminish the incentive for migrants to cross the English Channel. “We know the traffickers say ‘come to the UK, live in a hotel, work illegally,’” he explained. “We’re changing that reality, trying to reduce that pull factor.”
Work Restrictions and Legal Obligations
Asylum seekers are typically barred from working during the initial 12-month period while their applications are processed. If they lack their own housing, the Home Office is legally required to provide them with temporary shelter. The use of hotels surged in 2020 due to a backlog in asylum decisions and limited long-term housing options, sparking widespread criticism.
Controversy over the practice led to protests and legal challenges from local councils. In 2024-2025, £2.1bn was allocated for hotel accommodations, compared to £3bn the prior year—a cost of around £8.3m per day. By December’s figures, 103,426 people were in asylum accommodations, with 30,657 residing in hotels. Two-thirds of those were in “dispersal accommodation,” usually homes within communities.
Political Reactions and Future Plans
The next official report is expected in May, but Norris projected that the number of asylum seekers in hotels would drop below 29,585, the level recorded when Labour took office. The peak of over 56,000 asylum seekers in hotels occurred in 2023 under the Conservatives, though numbers began rising again after Labour’s victory and have since decreased.
Labour has pledged to phase out hotel use by July 2029, claiming the move would save nearly £65m annually. Additional closures are planned in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, the Conservatives faced backlash for allegedly relocating asylum seekers to residential apartments to conceal the situation. Councillor Rachel Millward criticized the lack of community engagement, stating the Home Office had not adequately explained the changes.
Chris Philp, Conservative shadow home secretary, accused the government of “shunting people from hotels into residential apartments to hide what is going on.” He noted that apartments are no longer available for young people facing housing shortages. Reform UK’s Zia Yusuf called the policy “shocking,” arguing it merely transfers taxpayer-funded support between accommodations. He added that thousands of illegal migrants have already entered the UK this year, with more anticipated unless Reform UK secures power.
The Liberal Democrats proposed using Nightingale processing centers to address the backlog and reduce the need for hotels. The Green Party has been contacted for its stance on the issue. As the government continues to prioritize reducing small boat crossings, the debate over asylum accommodations remains a central topic in political discourse.