Asylum hotel summary and FAQ
Updated 7 March 2024
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The Home Office has always been clear that use of hotels as temporary accommodation for asylum seekers was a short-term measure to ensure that we met our statutory obligation to accommodate asylum seekers who would otherwise be destitute during a period of unprecedented numbers of small boat arrivals.
That is why significant further steps have been taken to tackle illegal migration in line with the Prime Minister’s comprehensive ten-point plan to stop the boats. This includes elevating cooperation with France to unprecedented levels, striking tailored agreements with strategically important countries such as Albania, Belgium and Turkey, surging enforcement activity in the UK, and passing the landmark Illegal Migration Act. Small boat arrivals are now down by more than a fifth compared to last year, despite arrivals increasing by a third in Europe.
As a result of the range of measures we have implemented to stop the boats, reform the management of asylum accommodation estate and the delivery of alternative forms of accommodation sites, we have been able to stop the procurement of new asylum hotels and begin closing some hotels.
Residents currently accommodated in the hotels we will be exiting will be moving to other parts of our asylum estate. They will be notified a minimum of 5 days in advance and moved by the Home Office in line with our existing contractual requirements with our providers. We are providing additional resource to work with our accommodation providers and local partners to manage this process and minimise disruption, particularly on families.
As we exit hotels, we will continue to demand that local authorities deliver on their mandated commitments to their regional dispersal plans. Dispersal accommodation is cheaper to the taxpayer and more manageable for communities. We will also continue to deliver the ramp up of the Bibby Stockholm and our large sites as accommodation to ensure we can reduce reliance on hotel accommodation.
Why are you closing hotels now?
Asylum hotels were only ever a temporary measure in response to an unprecedented spike in small boat arrivals and the statutory requirement to accommodate asylum seekers who would otherwise be destitute. The government has always been clear that they are an inappropriate form of accommodation and that we must stop using them as soon as possible.
The Home Office recognises the strain that local authorities are facing at this time and the challenges that hotel accommodation brings. That is why we are making every effort to reduce hotel use and limit the burden on the taxpayer.
As a result of the range of measures we have put in place to stop the boats, reform the management of asylum accommodation estate and deliver alternative forms of accommodation sites, we are now able to stop the procurement of new asylum hotels and begin the second phase of hotel exits.
As we continue to deliver on our comprehensive ten-point plan to stop the illegal, dangerous and unnecessary small boat crossings we will be able to exit more asylum hotels.
How many hotels are you going to close?
We keep our accommodation estate under constant review and will close additional hotels whenever possible.
Which hotels are being closed?
For the safety of asylum seekers and staff in the hotels the Home Office does not publicly comment on individual hotels.
We are committed to work with local authorities and statutory partners and have informed them of all hotel sites being vacated in their area, so they are aware of our plans.
When are hotels going to close?
Hotel closures will be phased on a monthly basis. Timings will be informed by operational requirements and contractual notice periods.
Phasing these hotel exits and providing notice in advance will enable hoteliers time to plan for their hotel being returned to its normal use by communities and businesses.
How did you select these hotels for closure?
Hotels have been chosen based on a wide criteria: operational deliverability, taking into consideration cohorts and sizes, speed of potential exit, hotels notice period length; geographic factors, prioritising reductions in the most impacted locations, including rural areas. Hotel closures includes hotels across the UK.
Will you be opening more hotels?
We have taken decisive action to reduce the use of hotels and have no plans to contract new hotels for asylum accommodation. This does not include transitional accommodation, provided for safe and legal routes including under the (Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy) ARAP and Afghan citizens resettlement scheme (ACRS) schemes.
As we continue to deliver on our comprehensive ten-point plan to stop the boats we will be able to exit more asylum hotels.
What will happen to the asylum seekers in hotels that are closing?
The programme of closures will be managed carefully to ensure all supported asylum seekers are provided with suitable alternative accommodation elsewhere in the estate.
Dispersal accommodation and large disused military sites are cheaper for the taxpayer and less impactful on the communities.
Asylum seekers will be required to leave the hotel and relocate to alternative Home Office accommodation. The hotel will no longer be available as asylum accommodation and asylum seekers will not be able to remain there.
Will asylum seekers be allowed to choose their next accommodation?
All asylum accommodation is provided on a ‘no choice’ basis. Individuals will be moved suitable alternative accommodation, which may be in a different location from their current hotel.
Those whose personal circumstance necessitate accommodation in a particular location, will have their requests considered in accordance with existing published policies.
Will the asylum seekers be notified of when and where they are being relocated to?
Our accommodation providers will notify asylum seekers as early as possible and will discuss the move with each individual and establish if there are any safeguarding, medical or other personal circumstances which need to be considered.
In accordance with contractual requirements asylum seekers will be provided with a minimum of 5 days notice before their relocation.
Will asylum seekers have to share rooms when relocated?
Room sharing is a long establish occurrence and all asylum seekers are informed that they may need to share when they first in asylum accommodation.
Where an asylum seeker is in a room on their own, and this room is suitable for more than one person, they will be asked to share a room with an individual of the same sex. Individuals may be asked to share a room where appropriate with family members, friends or individuals of the same sex.
How much notice will affected councils receive if a hotel in their area is set to close? When will we be informed?
Local authority chief executives and MPs will receive formal notification from the Home Office if an asylum hotel in their area is being exited along with a specific date by which it will have closed. Existing mechanisms remain in place as forums for engagement.
The Home Office’s accommodation providers will manage the moves of asylum seekers from one location to another.
Whilst we expect impacts on local authorities to be minimal, we are putting in place additional resource to work with our accommodation providers and local partners to manage this process and minimise disruption, particularly focusing on families.
As we exit hotels, we will continue to demand that local authorities deliver on their mandated commitments to their regional dispersal plans. Dispersal accommodation is cheaper to the taxpayer and more manageable for communities.
The government continues to honour our commitments to bring eligible Afghans to the UK, with new arrivals going directly into settled accommodation where possible. Where no settled accommodation is available, or other short-term accommodation, the MOD and DLUHC may, at some point, need to use hotels on a short-term temporary basis to accommodate new arrivals, as work to secure more settled accommodation continues.