Number of asylum hotels falls to 185 after 11 close

Number of Asylum Hotels Drops to 185 Following 11 Closures

The closure of eleven hotels has reduced the total number of asylum seeker housing sites to 185, down from a high of approximately 400. Home Office Minister Alex Norris attributed the decline to increased removals of individuals without the right to remain in the UK and the use of alternative accommodations such as military barracks.

Norris described asylum hotels as a “point of significant frustration” for local communities, adding that they act as a pull factor, motivating people to arrive in the UK illegally. The Conservative opposition criticized the move, accusing the government of “shunting people from hotels into residential apartments to hide what is going on.”

Asylum seekers are typically not permitted to work during their first 12 months while awaiting claim processing. When they cannot afford their own housing, the Home Office is legally required to provide temporary shelter. The use of hotels surged in 2020, fueled by processing delays and limited long-term housing options.

The government reported that 103,426 people were in asylum accommodation as of December, with 30,657 residing in hotels. Two-thirds of asylum seekers are housed in dispersal accommodations, usually community-based housing. For the 2024-2025 fiscal year, £2.1bn was spent on hotels, compared to £3bn in the previous year—equivalent to £8.3m daily.

Norris claimed that ending hotel use would lower the number of people attempting to reach the UK via the English Channel. “We know the traffickers say ‘come to the UK, live in a hotel, work illegally,’” he stated. “We’re changing that reality, trying to reduce that pull factor.” Despite this, over 100,000 individuals arrived in 2025, contradicting Labour’s pledge to cut small boat crossings.

The Labour government aims to phase out hotel accommodations by July 2029, stating the closures would save nearly £65m annually. It plans to announce further reductions in the coming weeks. Asylum hotels peaked at more than 56,000 in 2023 under the Conservatives, with numbers rising again after Labour took power before declining.

Protests have emerged in local areas, with some officials questioning the government’s approach. Councillor Rachel Millward told the BBC that the Home Office had not adequately engaged with communities or detailed its strategy. Reform UK’s Zia Yusuf condemned the policy, calling it “shocking” to shift migrants between taxpayer-funded shelters. The Green Party has been contacted for a response.

Political reactions have been varied. Max Wilkinson of the Liberal Democrats emphasized that while closing hotels is beneficial, it does not resolve the broader issue. “The Liberal Democrats would slash the backlog and end the need for hotels by using Nightingale processing centres,” he said. Chris Philp, Conservative shadow home secretary, argued that the government’s plan “leaves the ECHR so that illegal immigrants are deported within a week of arrival—without being placed in hotels or apartments.”

Local protests and legal challenges have highlighted concerns over costs and community impact. The shift to alternative sites, including Crowborough military barracks in East Sussex, has seen up to 350 illegal migrants relocated. While the government asserts it is moving toward permanent solutions, critics remain skeptical about the long-term effectiveness of the strategy.