The UK government has closed 11 asylum hotels as part of a phased exit from emergency accommodation, with 185 hotels still in use as of April 2026. The Home Office aims to end all hotel use by July 2029, moving asylum seekers to large sites and dispersal housing. This article tracks the closure timeline, the remaining hotels, and what the policy shift means for residents and local communities.
Last checked: 2026-06-17
Closures announced: 11 hotels closed and returned to communities ·
Current hotel count: 185 still in use ·
Policy target: End all hotel use by July 2029 ·
Alternative accommodation: Large sites and dispersal housing
How we researched this
Last checked: 2026-06-17.
Sources reviewed: primary government department (GOV.UK Home Office), academic research (The Migration Observatory at the University of Oxford), policy analysis (UK in a Changing Europe), and editorial analysis (The Conversation).
No on-site visits to asylum hotels, no interviews with residents or staff, and no independent verification of government figures.
Asylum hotel closures at a glance
Closures announced
- 11 hotels closed and returned to communities (GOV.UK)
Current hotel count
- 185 still in use (GOV.UK)
Policy target
- End all hotel use by July 2029 (The Conversation)
Alternative accommodation
- Large sites and dispersal housing (UK in a Changing Europe)
| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Closures announced | 11 hotels closed and returned to communities |
| Current hotel count | 185 still in use |
| Policy target | End all hotel use by July 2029 |
| Alternative accommodation | Large sites and dispersal housing |
| Annual taxpayer saving | £65 million from the latest closure round |
| Overall asylum cost reduction | Nearly £1 billion since the government took office |
| People housed in hotels | Just under 190 |
| Change vs. previous year | Down nearly 20% |
| Change vs. peak | 45% lower than the peak |
| Contingency share (Q1 2020) | 5% |
| Contingency share (end 2023) | 41% |
| Asylum seekers in hotels (March 2025) | 32,345 in 218 hotels |
How many asylum hotels are there in the UK today?
As of April 2026, 185 asylum hotels remain in use across the UK, down from a peak of more than 400 in September 2023. The government has closed 11 hotels in the latest round, including sites in Banbury, Bangor, Cheltenham, Heathrow, Wolverhampton, Madeley, St Helens, Crewe, Aberdeen, and two in Halifax, according to the Home Office. The number of people housed in hotels has fallen to just under 190, more than halving from earlier levels.
The Migration Observatory at the University of Oxford reported that at the end of Q1 2020, only 5% of asylum seekers were in contingency accommodation. By 31 December 2023, that share had risen to 41%, reflecting the rapid expansion of hotel use. The bottom line: The number of hotels is shrinking, but the pace of closures will determine how quickly the system transitions.
What happens after 5 years of asylum?
After receiving refugee status, individuals who have held that status for five years can apply for indefinite leave to remain (settlement) in the UK. This is a key milestone in the asylum journey, as it grants permanent residency rights. Asylum seekers cannot apply for settlement until they are granted refugee status, which means the five-year clock starts only after a positive decision.
The Home Office provides accommodation on a “no choice” basis while claims are processed. Once status is granted, individuals move out of the asylum accommodation system and into mainstream housing. The implication: The five-year rule means most hotel residents are in a temporary holding pattern, not a long-term settlement path.
What disqualifies you from asylum?
Common grounds for refusal include criminal activity, persecution of others, or the existence of a safe third country where the applicant could have sought protection. According to the Home Office, asylum can be refused if the applicant had protection elsewhere or if their claim is based on economic rather than protection grounds.
The government has said it has no plans to contract new hotels for asylum accommodation, and that hotels were always a temporary measure created in response to an unprecedented spike in small boat arrivals. The pattern: Refusal criteria directly shape who remains in the hotel system, as only those with credible protection claims are housed.
Which country has the highest number of asylum seekers?
Germany has historically received the most asylum applications in Europe, followed by the United States globally. The Migration Observatory notes that the UK’s share of asylum seekers in Europe has grown as other countries tightened their policies. The UK’s use of hotels as contingency accommodation was unusual in scale compared to other European nations, which rely more on dispersal housing and reception centres.
The Conversation reported that in March 2025 there were 32,345 asylum seekers living in 218 hotels, compared to more than 400 in September 2023. The trade-off: The UK’s reliance on hotels was an outlier; now it is moving toward large-site accommodation, which other countries have used for years.
Timeline: Key milestones in asylum hotel closures
- Q1 2020: Only 5% of asylum seekers were in contingency accommodation (Migration Observatory).
- September 2023: Hotel use peaked at more than 400 hotels (The Conversation).
- December 2023: 41% of asylum seekers were in contingency accommodation (Migration Observatory).
- March 2025: 32,345 asylum seekers were housed in 218 hotels (The Conversation).
- 15 April 2026: 11 hotels closed; 185 remain (GOV.UK).
- July 2029: Target date to end all hotel use (The Conversation).
“We have been able to stop the procurement of new asylum hotels and begin closing some hotels.” Pour en savoir plus sur la fermeture des hôtels pour demandeurs d’asile, consultez Kyopelinvuoren hotelli Linnanmäen kummitusjuna.
UK Home Office
“Evidence suggests that the use of large sites may, in fact, be more expensive than hotels.”
UK in a Changing Europe
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The closure of 11 asylum hotels is part of a broader effort to end the use of hotels by 2029, a policy influenced by controversies like the Britannia International Hotel controversy.
FAQ: Asylum hotel closures
How many asylum hotels have been closed?
11 hotels have been closed and returned to communities as of April 2026, according to the Home Office.
When will all asylum hotels close?
The government has set a target of July 2029 to end all hotel use, with closures phased on a monthly basis.
What happens to asylum seekers when hotels close?
Residents are moved to other parts of the asylum estate, including large sites and dispersal housing, with a minimum of 5 days’ notice.
Why is the government closing asylum hotels?
The government says hotels are an inappropriate form of accommodation and that closing them will save taxpayers nearly £65 million a year.
How many asylum hotels remain?
185 hotels remain in use, down from more than 400 in September 2023.
Where are asylum hotels located?
Hotels have been closed in locations including Banbury, Bangor, Cheltenham, Heathrow, Wolverhampton, Madeley, St Helens, Crewe, Aberdeen, and two in Halifax.
What is the Home Office’s role in asylum accommodation?
The Home Office procures and manages asylum accommodation on a “no choice” basis, and has said it has no plans to contract new hotels.
What do critics say about hotel closures?
Critics argue that cost savings may be uncertain and that large sites could be more expensive than hotels, based on evidence from UK in a Changing Europe.
Sources cited
- GOV.UK — Asylum hotels close as government scales up use of large sites
- GOV.UK — Asylum hotel summary and FAQ
- Migration Observatory — Asylum accommodation in the UK
- UK in a Changing Europe — Closing asylum hotels: what will the policy mean in practice?
- The Conversation — As protesters and politicians call for the closure of asylum hotels, what are the alternatives?
- GOV.UK — Asylum hotel summary and FAQ
- GOV.UK — Asylum hotels close as government scales up use of large sites
- The Conversation — As protesters and politicians call for the closure of asylum hotels