UK Government Plans Closure of 11 Asylum Hotels as Part of Broader Accommodation Shift

The UK government plans to announce the closure of 11 hotels used to house asylum seekers in the coming days. These closures represent one step in the effort to eliminate the use of hotels for migrant accommodation before the current parliament ends.

Nearly 200 hotels across the country currently shelter about 30,000 asylum seekers, while another 70,000 individuals live in alternative setups such as shared residences and former military sites.

The use of hotels for asylum accommodation began expanding during the coronavirus pandemic. This practice has led to protests in various locations.

Robert Bates, Research Director at the Centre for Migration Control, stated to GB News that the government is relocating asylum seekers to houses in multiple occupation, old student blocks, and other sites.

He described these alternatives as inappropriate and said they increase risks to communities from unvetted individuals and raise the chance of absconding. Bates suggested redirecting funds from accommodation providers to detention facilities and deportation efforts. Organizations supporting refugees have said hotels are not suitable for long-term stays.

A parliamentary inquiry found the asylum accommodation system to be inefficient and costly, with billions spent. The Red Cross reported withdrawing £220,000 from emergency reserves to supply clothing to hotel residents, some of whom had developed scabies.

The Home Office has scheduled a confidential meeting this week, called an "industry day," for current and potential suppliers of asylum accommodation.

Attendees must sign non-disclosure agreements, and details on timing and location will be provided shortly before the event. The meeting relates to new contracts under the Future Asylum Contracts Accommodation package, running from September 1, 2029, to August 31, 2036, with a possible extension to August 2039, valued at approximately £10 billion.

These contracts aim to decrease reliance on hotel housing.

Some senior figures among existing suppliers have expressed concerns that involving more providers could raise costs for taxpayers. A Home Office spokesman said the government is closing all asylum hotels and moving seekers to basic accommodations, including former military sites.

The spokesman noted that the asylum hotel population has decreased by nearly 20 percent in the last year and by 45 percent since the peak under the previous government, resulting in cost savings of nearly £1 billion.

" The shift affects asylum seekers, local communities near alternative sites, and accommodation providers involved in the contracts.