World News

Number of asylum seekers in UK hotels halves in one year

Home Office figures show hotel occupancy dropped to 16,000 as total asylum claims and legal migration rates declined.

Updated Aug 27, 2026 · 12:24 UTC1 reports

The short version

The number of asylum seekers housed in UK hotels fell from over 32,000 in June 2025 to over 16,000 in June 2026.
Total asylum applications dropped 20% to 86,000, while the backlog of initial decisions decreased to 40,000.
Legal migration also contracted, with work visas down 18% and student visa arrivals dropping 11% compared to the prior year.
The opposition criticized the shift, alleging the government is transferring migrants into alternative housing, while the Home Secretary cited policy success.

UK Home Office statistics show the number of asylum seekers residing in hotels dropped from over 32,000 in June 2025 to more than 16,000 by June 2026.[BBC News]
The initial asylum decision backlog fell to 40,000 people, down from a peak of 175,000 recorded in June 2023.[BBC News]
Asylum claims dropped by 20% to 86,000 in the year ending June 2026, with roughly half of the applicants already legally in the UK prior to applying.[BBC News]
Work visas issued fell 18% year-over-year to 235,000, while foreign student arrivals decreased 11% to 383,000.[BBC News]
The count of individuals provided state-funded housing increased from 65,000 at the end of 2024 to 69,000 by June 2026.[BBC News]
Approximately 40,000 individuals without legal status were removed from the UK in the year to June 2026, representing an 8% annual increase.[BBC News]

The ongoing legal status and future efficacy of restrictions on refugee family reunification remain contested amid active challenges in the High Court.[BBC News]