UK Appeals to Landlords for Asylum Housing Amid Record Channel Crossings

The UK Home Office, in response to record-high Channel migrant crossings, is working with private contractor Serco to encourage landlords to rent properties to asylum seekers through five-year guaranteed rent agreements. Serco, already housing over 30,000 asylum seekers in more than 7,000 properties, offers landlords rent paid on time, full property maintenance, and coverage of utilities and council tax, making the offer financially attractive. This approach is significantly cheaper for taxpayers than hotel accommodation, costing as little as £14 a night versus £145 per night for hotels. The scheme, initially introduced by the Conservatives, is now being expanded under Labour as the number of migrants crossing the Channel continues to rise sharply. Critics, including opposition figures, argue that the policy provides better deals to migrants than to long-term UK residents, fueling controversy ahead of local elections. The Home Office maintains that such arrangements have been longstanding and are necessary to fulfill statutory duties to support destitute asylum seekers.