UK Asylum Seekers in Hotels Rise 8% Despite Legal Challenges

The number of asylum seekers housed in UK hotels has increased by 8% over the past year, rising from 29,585 to 32,059, despite a slight decline from March to June 2025. Home Office spending on asylum in 2024/25 was £4.76 billion, down 12% from the previous year but still significantly higher than in earlier years. The peak number of asylum seekers in hotels was 56,042 in September 2023, and the current figures remain substantially lower than that. Legal challenges against housing asylum seekers in hotels are mounting, with councils including Epping Forest winning court injunctions based on lack of planning permission, and other Labour and Conservative councils considering similar actions. Protests and counter-demonstrations have occurred outside some hotels, reflecting public tensions around the issue. The Home Office continues to use hotels and other temporary accommodations due to a shortage of longer-term housing options for asylum seekers awaiting claim assessments or decisions.