Number of asylum seekers housed in hotels drops - with a rise in small boat arrivals
#asylum seekers #hotel accommodation #small boat arrivals #UK immigration #asylum claims #visa applications #Home Office #Channel crossings
📌 Key Takeaways
- Asylum seekers in UK hotels drop to 18-month low despite increase in small boat arrivals
- Asylum claims decreased by 4% in 2025 from 104,000 to 101,000
- Hotel accommodation for asylum seekers decreased by 20% compared to end of 2024
- Labour government pledges to end hotel use for asylum seekers by 2029
📖 Full Retelling
UK Home Office figures published on Thursday reveal that the number of asylum seekers being housed in hotels across the UK has dropped to the lowest level for 18 months, despite a 13% rise in small boat arrivals, as asylum claims fell by 4% in 2025. The current count of 30,657 asylum seekers in hotel accommodation represents a significant decrease from the 56,018 recorded under the previous Conservative government at the end of September 2023, though remains slightly higher than when Labour took office (29,561). The three-month period from September to December 2025 alone saw a 15% reduction in hotel-dwelling asylum seekers, contributing to a 20% overall decrease compared to the end of 2024.
The Labour government has committed to eliminating the use of hotels for asylum seeker accommodation completely by the end of parliament in 2029, a practice that has sparked controversy with protests occurring at locations such as the Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex. Meanwhile, visa applications have also decreased, with a 13% drop in study, work, or family visas granted in 2025 compared to the previous year (757,000 vs 874,000). While study visas actually increased by 2.4%, work visas fell by 29% and family visas by 22%, resulting in an overall visa refusal rate of 18%—the highest since 2007. Work visa applications now constitute nearly 12% of total applications, up from approximately 6% in 2023.
A Home Office spokesperson responded to the statistics, emphasizing 'real progress' in restoring order to the UK's borders, noting the removal of nearly 60,000 illegal migrants, increased law enforcement against people smugglers, and efforts to reduce the asylum backlog. However, they acknowledged that 'the number of people crossing the Channel is too high, and too many hotels remain in use,' signaling upcoming reforms to address factors attracting illegal migrants to Britain and enhanced removal procedures for those without legal status to remain in the country.
🏷️ Themes
Immigration policy, Border control, Housing crisis
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Original Source
Number of asylum seekers housed in hotels drops - with a rise in small boat arrivals There has been a fall in asylum claims and in people applying for work, study or family visas, compared with 2024. Thursday 26 February 2026 11:43, UK Why you can trust Sky News The number of asylum seekers being housed in hotels across the UK has dropped to the lowest level for 18 months, new data shows. The number of asylum claims also fell by 4% in 2025, from 104,000 to 101,000 - despite a 13% rise in small boat arrivals. There are 30,657 people seeking asylum being housed in hotels, down from 56,018 under the previous Tory government at the end of September 2023, Home Office figures published on Thursday reveal. However, the current number of asylum seekers in hotels remains slightly higher than when Labour took office, when there were 29,561 people in government-funded hotel housing. Politics latest - follow live There were 20% fewer asylum seekers in hotels at the end of 2025 compared with the end of the previous year - the three months from September to December saw a 15% drop. Labour has pledged to end the use of hotels to house asylum seekers completely by the end of the parliament, in 2029. More on Asylum Ukrainian family denied UK asylum told to use noise-cancelling headphones for child to block out bombs 'It's a disaster in the making': Empathy but mostly concern in town set to house hundreds of asylum seekers Asylum hotel migrant evictions set to begin in the spring Related Topics: Asylum Home Office Housing asylum seekers in hotels has proved controversial, with protests held outside some, such as the Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex. Separately, there was a 13% drop in the number of study, work or family visas granted in 2025 compared with the previous year, with 757,000 of these issued, down from 874,000 in 2024. The number of study visas issued actually rose in 2025 by 2.4%, but the overall decrease is due to a 29% fall in work visas and a 22% decrease in family visas. T...
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