Migrant Hotels to Stay for Four More Years Despite Promises to Close

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Key Takeaways

The UK government will continue housing asylum seekers in migrant hotels until 2029, despite earlier commitments to end the practice sooner.
Hotel usage dropped to 218 from 400 in 2023, but alternatives like smaller sites and property purchases progress slowly.
Labour processes 10,000 asylum applications monthly but faces delays due to a backlog and 25,000 new English Channel arrivals.

The UK government has acknowledged that migrant hotels will continue to house asylum seekers for another four years, despite earlier pledges to close them much sooner. This marks a major shift in its approach to dealing with asylum accommodation, sparking debate over the effectiveness of current immigration policies and the government’s ability to manage rising costs and public expectations.

Home Office Permanent Secretary Sir Matthew Rycroft revealed during a recent session with the Commons Home Affairs Committee that the government now aims to phase out the use of hotels for asylum seekers by 2029. This target aligns with the end of the current Parliament, considerably later than earlier deadlines outlined by both the Conservative and Labour parties. Sir Matthew noted that the timeline has been influenced by ongoing challenges in managing growing pressures on the asylum system.

Migrant Hotels to Stay for Four More Years Despite Promises to Close

This decision is a contrast to earlier commitments made before Labour came into power promising to end the practice of housing migrants in hotels within their first year of governance. Political leaders previously underscored their intention to shift towards other, less costly alternatives, a promise that many now see as increasingly unrealistic.

Migrant Hotels: Current State of Use

As of February 2025, the number of hotels being used to shelter asylum seekers has dropped from the 400 hotels used during the autumn of 2023 to 218. While this indicates some progress, the government backtracked slightly, with six additional hotels being utilized to house migrants shortly after Labour took office. This has contributed to ongoing public criticism of the government’s handling of these accommodations. According to Border Security Minister Dame Angela Eagle, the reduction in hotel reliance remains an ongoing challenge tied to limited alternative options.

Occupancy rates remain high in these migrant hotels, though exact figures haven’t been provided. The Home Office continues to grapple with substantial costs associated with this arrangement. At its height in 2023, maintaining such facilities ran up an annual bill of £3 billion, highlighting the financial burden of sustaining an effective yet temporary housing solution.

Labour’s Pre-Election Promise vs. Reality

Labour’s pre-election promise to close down all migrant hotels within their first year of government created high expectations. Their pledge emphasized reducing taxpayer costs and moving toward alternative housing solutions. Yet these commitments have since been tempered. Official statements now acknowledge that closing hotels “will take time,” with Labour indicating a plan to phase out the space when possible, rather than sticking to specific deadlines.

The inconsistency has drawn criticism from political opponents and observers arguing Labour’s modified stance signals an inability to implement key immigration reforms quickly. Labour counters this criticism by pointing to progress in clearing a backlog of asylum applications as proof of their commitment to improving the system.

Tackling the Backlog in Asylum Applications

One of the main factors delaying the closure of migrant hotels is the backlog in asylum applications, which has strained the system for years. Labour has made noticeable strides in addressing this issue, increasing processing to approximately 10,000 applications monthly—five times the speed under previous administrations. However, these gains are offset by the continuous arrival of more asylum seekers, including over 25,000 new migrants intercepted crossing the English Channel since Sir Keir Starmer assumed office.

The backlog remains a bottleneck for reducing demand on migrant hotels. The government’s statutory obligations to accommodate waiting applicants add to the challenges of ending the reliance on these costly temporary measures.

Costs and Challenges Driving Extended Hotel Use

Financial concerns persist as the UK continues to spend billions annually to house asylum seekers in hotels. While alternative solutions are being explored, some officials, including Sir Matthew Rycroft, have emphasized that there are limited viable options available. The government has shifted away from facilities like the Bibby Stockholm Barge or military bases, focusing on smaller, more localized accommodations instead.

The pace of clearing the backlog competes against the influx of new asylum claims, making it increasingly difficult to stabilize hotel usage. Issues such as speedier processing and managing sudden waves of migrant arrivals remain key hurdles.

Additionally, some critics have highlighted the local impact of using hotels as housing, arguing that it strains communities. These impacts include potential pressure on local services, schools, and healthcare systems. Some members of Parliament have urged the government to balance these concerns while ensuring that asylum seekers receive appropriate shelter.

Alternatives and Adjustments in Strategy

Although more time will be required to end the use of migrant hotels, the government has made some efforts to explore alternative approaches. Sir Matthew Rycroft shared updates on these measures, which include:

Smaller Housing Sites: Focus has been placed on using smaller facilities, like disused care homes and empty student flats. These are viewed as more cost-effective and less disruptive than large-scale sites or hotels.
Property Purchases: The Home Office has reportedly purchased some properties intended for asylum seeker accommodation, which could reduce the reliance on private rentals.
Ongoing Use of Certain Facilities: Some locations, like the former RAF base at Wethersfield in Essex, remain operational, currently housing about 540 migrants.

Despite these measures, the process of finding long-term solutions has proven slow. Nine hotels, though slated to close by March 2025, are still in operation, highlighting the difficulties in transitioning to alternative housing arrangements on schedule.

Broader Implications of the Extended Use of Migrant Hotels

The decision to extend hotel use highlights broader concerns across multiple levels of government and society. For taxpayers, the continued financial drain of billions of pounds annually raises questions about the practicality and sustainability of current immigration strategies. Politically, Labour’s decision to roll back their initial 12-month deadline reflects a reality check on the complexity of addressing longstanding systemic problems within the immigration system.

From a policy standpoint, the government’s reliance on hotels exposes vulnerabilities in asylum processing—namely, the struggle to both streamline applications and accommodate those awaiting decisions.

As reported by VisaVerge.com, increased efforts to return or remove individuals without residency rights have also been critical to easing housing pressures. Within just six months into Labour’s term, over 16,400 individuals without the right to remain were returned or removed, illustrating ongoing commitment albeit with mixed results.

Final Thoughts and Outlook

The Home Office’s plan to continue using migrant hotels until 2029 reflects the long-standing challenges in reforming the asylum housing system. Despite substantial progress in processing applications and experimenting with alternative accommodations, the reality is that these solutions take time to implement fully. Financial constraints, rising migrant numbers, and local community concerns further complicate the task.

Ultimately, it will be the balance between reducing costs, closing accommodation gaps, and managing public sentiment that defines whether Labour can stabilize the UK’s asylum housing system. With critics watching closely and taxpayer money at stake, the ability to close hotels sooner while meeting legal obligations will remain a critical measure of the government’s success. For further updates and official government facts about immigration and asylum housing, visit the UK Home Office’s official asylum seeker accommodation guidance.

Learn Today

Asylum Seekers → Individuals seeking protection from persecution or danger in their home country, pending approval of refugee status.
Backlog → Accumulated and unresolved cases or tasks, often causing delays, such as unprocessed asylum applications in immigration systems.
Home Office → A UK government department responsible for immigration, security, and law and order, including managing asylum processes.
Migrant Hotels → Temporary accommodations for asylum seekers provided by the government, often criticized for high costs and extended use.
Statutory Obligations → Legal duties imposed by law, such as providing shelter to asylum seekers awaiting a decision on their application.

This Article in a Nutshell

The UK government’s shift to continue housing asylum seekers in hotels until 2029 challenges earlier promises of swift closures. Amid rising costs and public expectations, progress in asylum backlog reduction collides with growing migrant arrivals. Balancing economic burdens, community impacts, and policy promises reveals the complexity of reforming the nation’s immigration system.
— By VisaVerge.com