Asylum accommodation

Home Affairs Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 17 Dec 2024 Closed: 22 Jan 2026 Parliament page
The Home Office has a duty to provide housing and subsistence to asylum seekers who are awaiting a decision on their claim and are destitute. Asylum accommodation is primarily delivered by private providers through the Asylum Accommodation and Support Services Contracts (AASC). Home Office spending on asylum accommodation and support … Read more
22 Recommendations
24 Conclusions
1 Report
5 Oral sessions
6 Letters
5 Events
Activity timeline 18 events
22 Jan
2026
Report published
22 Jan
2026
Correspondence
11 Nov
2025
Correspondence
27 Oct
2025
Report published
14 Oct
2025
Correspondence
14 Oct
2025
Correspondence
1 Jul
2025
Oral evidence
1 Jul
2025
Correspondence
1 Jul
2025
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 6, Palace of Westminster
10 Jun
2025
Oral evidence
10 Jun
2025
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Thatcher Room, Portcullis House
13 May
2025
Oral evidence
Oral evidence sessions 5 sessions
1 Jul 2025
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Caroline O'Connor · Migrant Help Juliet Halstead · Migrant Help
10 Jun 2025
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Dame Angela Eagle DBE · Home Office Joanna Rowland CB · Home Office Simon Ridley · Home Office
13 May 2025
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Claudia Sturt · Serco UK & Europe Jason Burt · Mears Group Steve Lakey · Clearsprings Ready Homes
29 Apr 2025
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Alex Fraser · British Red Cross Councillor Peter Mason · Local Government Association Enver Solomon · Refugee Council Frances McMeeking · Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership Megan Smith · Deighton Pierce Glynn Natasha Beresford · Dacorum Borough Council Paul Dennett · Salford City Council
18 Mar 2025
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David Bolt · Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration Dr Lucy Mort · Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) Professor Jonathan Darling · Durham University Sachin Savur · Institute for Government
Title HC No. Published Items Response
4th Report – The Home Office's management of asylum accommodation HC 580 27 Oct 2025 46 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
11 results
Clear
1 Conclusion Accepted
4th Report – The Home Office's man…
Home Office failures led to costly, widespread hotel use in asylum accommodation.
Instead of acting as a short-term contingency measure, the use of hotels has become a widespread and embedded part of the asylum accommodation system, increasing the cost of the asylum accommodation contracts by billions of pounds beyond the original forecast. … Read more
Government Response
The Home Office recognizes past failures and commits to exiting asylum hotels as soon as possible by progressing alternative accommodation, using sites like former military bases, and increasing Dispersal Accommodation, noting a significant reduction in hotel use already. They also commit to using lessons learned to design flexible, value-for-money contracts for future systems.
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3 Conclusion Accepted
4th Report – The Home Office's man…
Poorly planned Home Office policies led to neglected contract management and spiralling asylum accommodation costs.
We are persuaded by the evidence we have heard that, in the last Parliament, the Home Office focused on pursuing high-risk, poorly planned policy solutions and lost sight of the day-to-day work of effectively managing the asylum accommodation contracts. Failures … Read more
Government Response
The government states it has significantly strengthened its approach to assuring Key Performance Indicator (KPI) data, applying service credits, and improving contract management oversight over the past year, recovering £74 million. It commits to continuing to strengthen transparency and oversight and enhance management information platforms.
Home Office
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6 Conclusion Accepted
4th Report – The Home Office's man…
Home Office neglected oversight and assurance of asylum accommodation providers, over-reliant on self-reporting.
The Home Office has neglected the oversight and assurance of performance of providers delivering multi-billion pound contracts. The department has been over-reliant on self-reporting of performance by providers and failed to invest in the assurance capacity necessary to properly monitor … Read more
Government Response
The government is devising and implementing a subcontractor assurance framework to identify and rectify issues within supply chains, ensuring providers conduct due diligence and strengthening supply-chain visibility for the Home Office. It also reported that 93% of identified excess profits have been returned.
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7 Conclusion Accepted
4th Report – The Home Office's man…
Home Office failed to robustly apply financial penalties for poor asylum accommodation provider performance.
The Home Office has not taken a sufficiently robust approach to applying financial penalties for poor performance by providers. These have been applied late, if at all, with no explanation of why maximum penalties haven’t been applied. The Home Office … Read more
Government Response
The government outlined the profit share mechanism in its contracts, reporting that £45.9 million has been received from providers to date, with a further £3.7 million under discussion. It states the outcome of the annual profit-share audit will be reported through the department's annual accounts.
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8 Recommendation Accepted
4th Report – The Home Office's man…
Establish clear process for routinely assuring KPI data and applying service credits across all accommodation.
The Home Office should establish a clear process for routinely assuring KPI data submitted by asylum accommodation providers and applying service credits where providers fail to meet the terms of the contract. There should be a clear and transparent framework … Read more
Government Response
The government committed to introducing a more rigorous profit-share methodology in future asylum contracts, with work already underway to incorporate these provisions into upcoming procurements to reinforce accountability and drive sustainable commercial outcomes.
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22 Conclusion Accepted
4th Report – The Home Office's man…
Asylum seeker communication regarding accommodation remains inconsistent and inadequate
Communication with asylum seekers is inconsistent and often inadequate. Communication can be particularly poor when asylum seekers are moved between accommodation sites, which can happen with practically no notice. (Conclusion, Paragraph 93)
Government Response
The government states that service providers have a contractual obligation to provide at least five days' notice for accommodation moves, that processes are in place and reviewed, and Migrant Help offers 24/7 support.
Home Office
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23 Recommendation Accepted
4th Report – The Home Office's man…
Set clear communication standards for asylum accommodation providers, including minimum notice periods
We recommend that the Home Office sets clear standards for providers to communicate with asylum seekers about their accommodation and support, including minimum notice periods for moving asylum seekers to new accommodation. The department should regularly monitor provider practices to … Read more
Government Response
The government states that clear contractual obligations already require service providers to notify asylum seekers of moves with a minimum five-day notice, and these standards are monitored through departmental inspections and contract management meetings.
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24 Recommendation Accepted
4th Report – The Home Office's man…
AIRE service unable to meet demand due to Home Office management failures
The Advice, Issue Reporting and Eligibility Contract (AIRE) service delivered by Migrant Help has not been able to meet demand, and the Home Office has failed to effectively manage the performance of the service. We recognise that Migrant Help has … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges Migrant Help's contractual obligations and monitoring, noting improvements in some KPIs, and states it is working closely with the provider while also reviewing performance frameworks and contract scope to ensure adequate service delivery.
Home Office
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28 Recommendation Accepted
4th Report – The Home Office's man…
Review AIRE service structure, considering local delivery and end-to-end oversight mechanisms
We recommend that the Home Office reviews the structure and remit of the AIRE service, to identify changes that could be made to ensure the service delivers what is required. The Home Office should report back to us on the … Read more
Government Response
The government accepts the recommendation to review the AIRE service, stating it is currently reviewing its structure, remit, performance frameworks, and contract scope, and examining alternative approaches as part of its future asylum contracts development.
Home Office
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32 Recommendation Accepted
4th Report – The Home Office's man…
Improve age dispute identification in asylum accommodation, ensuring staff training and compliance monitoring
The Home Office should review and make improvements to arrangements for identifying and responding to age dispute cases in adult asylum accommodation and ensure that there is clear guidance for accommodation providers. To protect the welfare of children in the … Read more
Government Response
The Home Office is committed to strengthening age dispute processes, including commissioning trials for AI technology to improve age assessment. They use safeguarding audits and contractual levers to monitor provider compliance with guidance and training requirements, and facilitate information sharing through daily travel lists and Secure Communications Forms.
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40 Recommendation Accepted
4th Report – The Home Office's man…
Improve communication with local communities about asylum accommodation, addressing concerns and misinformation
The Home Office should work with other government departments, local authorities, devolved administrations and community groups to improve communication with local communities about the use of asylum accommodation in their areas. This should include communicating how legitimate concerns are being … Read more
Government Response
The government accepted the recommendation, committing to improving communication with local communities, addressing legitimate concerns, and challenging misinformation. It outlined specific actions including developing clear messaging, strengthening engagement channels, and conducting trials with police forces.
Home Office
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Government Response AI assessment · 46 of 22 classified
Accepted 11
Accepted in Part 6
Acknowledged 12
Deferred 13
Not Addressed 1
Rejected 3
Total 22 recs + 24 conclusions
Correspondence 6 letters
22 Jan 2026 To committee Letter from Minister for Border Security relating to Stay Belvedere Hotels Ltd 15.01.2026
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11 Nov 2025 To committee Letter from the Minister for Border Security and Asylum regarding asylum accommodation 10.11.2025
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14 Oct 2025 From the Minister for Border Security & Asylum relating to Asylum accommodation 08.10.2025
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14 Oct 2025 From committee Letter to the Minister for Border Security and Asylum re asylum accommodation 01.07.2025
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1 Jul 2025 To committee Letter from the Minister for Border Security & Asylum on Asylum Accommodation following the evidence session on 10 June 25.06.2025
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29 Apr 2025 To committee Letter from the Chief Executive of the Refugee Council on asylum accommodation 14.04.2025
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