Single Male Asylum Seekers Who Refuse to Move from Hotels Risk Homelessness, Says Home Office
The Home Office has announced that single adult male asylum seekers who decline to relocate from hotels to alternative accommodation could face homelessness. This move is part of new government guidance aimed at reducing reliance on hotels for housing asylum seekers.
According to officials, the “Failure to Travel” policy outlines consequences for those who refuse to move into what the government deems “suitable alternative accommodation.” The Home Office says hundreds of individuals are declining transfers each week, which is hindering efforts to streamline the asylum system.
The government is under increasing pressure to cut down on the use of hotels, which have been used extensively since 2020. At their peak in 2023, over 50,000 asylum seekers were housed in hotels. As of March 2025, that number had dropped to 32,345.
Recent protests in Epping, Essex, have drawn attention to the issue. Demonstrators gathered outside The Bell Hotel, where asylum seekers are currently being housed.
Ministers have committed to phasing out hotel use entirely by 2029, shifting people into more cost-effective accommodation options. The new guidance, issued Friday, states that refusal to relocate is disrupting the efficiency of the asylum support system.
Under the updated rules, individuals will receive at least five days’ written notice before being moved. Those who repeatedly refuse to comply may be evicted and lose their financial support, which typically amounts to £49.18 per week per person for essentials like food and toiletries.
Asylum seekers are generally not permitted to work while their claims are being processed, making them reliant on government assistance.
This approach mirrors previous government actions, such as threats to withdraw support from those unwilling to board the Bibby Stockholm barge, which had been repurposed for asylum accommodation.
Dame Angela Eagle, Minister for Border Security and Asylum, said the new policy is part of a broader effort to reform the asylum system and reduce costs to taxpayers. “This is another example of this government’s action to transform the asylum accommodation system and crack down on those who abuse our system,” she said.
Liberal Democrat Home Affairs Spokesperson Lisa Smart MP agreed that ending the use of hotels was a necessary step. However, she argued that the government should go further by addressing the root causes of the crisis. “To more effectively tackle the scale of the problem, the government should be focused on stopping dangerous Channel crossings through improved cross-border cooperation and reducing the need to pay for asylum accommodation altogether by scrapping the ban on asylum seekers working,” she said.
Source: bbc.com