The number of asylum seekers housed temporarily in hotels across the United Kingdom has halved compared to the previous year, reaching the lowest level since 2022, according to Home Office data released on Thursday. At the end of June 2026, 16,021 asylum seekers were staying in hotels, down 50 percent from 32,041 in June 2025.

While there was a 4 percent increase in the number of asylum seekers placed in dispersal accommodation—privately managed houses, flats, or rooms in shared properties—the overall number of individuals receiving government support decreased by 12 percent. Specifically, the number in dispersal sites rose from 66,234 in June 2025 to 69,038 in June 2026, but this growth was outweighed by the decline in hotel and other contingency accommodation use. Consequently, total supported claimants fell from 106,075 to 93,293 over the same period.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood stated that the figures reflect the government’s progress in regaining control of the border and improving fairness within the migration system. Mahmood highlighted reductions in the asylum backlog, fewer asylum seekers in hotels, increased arrests related to illegal work—which are now at record levels—and a significant rise in deportations and returns. She also noted a decline in the number of people crossing the English Channel in small boats but emphasized that the government remained vigilant and committed to further action.

The Labour Party has committed to ending the use of hotels for asylum accommodation by the end of this parliamentary term, signaling a shift towards alternative housing arrangements. The number of hotels utilized by Labour stands below 160, a substantial decrease from its peak of about 400 during Conservative governance. In parallel, the government is expanding the use of more basic facilities, including former military barracks.

Experts attribute much of the decrease in hotel use to faster processing of asylum claims. Dr. Nuni Jorgensen of the University of Oxford’s Migration Observatory explained that the government has been able to reduce reliance on hotels largely by accelerating asylum decisions. Supporting this, the Home Office figures show that by the end of June 2026, 40,168 individuals were awaiting an initial decision, marking a 56 percent reduction compared to 90,812 in June 2025 and the lowest total since March 2019.

However, the issue remains politically contentious. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp criticized Labour’s approach, accusing the party of moving asylum seekers from hotels into private flats within communities and allegedly encouraging them to disappear from official records. He also vowed that a future Conservative government would deport all illegal immigrants, setting aside any legal obligations, including rulings by the European Court of Human Rights, as part of a strategy to eliminate hotel-based accommodation.

Home Office spending on asylum-related support declined as well, dropping 8 percent from £4.76 billion in 2024-25 to £4.36 billion in 2025-26. Authorities continue to emphasize enforcement measures, including record arrests for illegal working, as part of their comprehensive immigration control strategy.