Taxpayer-Funded Accommodation for Foreign Criminals

By the Editorial Team · Monday, August 3, 2026

The British government is providing taxpayer-funded housing to at least 1,509 foreign nationals with criminal records instead of deporting them, a practice costing around £62 million annually. Critics warn this approach strains public resources and compromises safety, urging stricter immigration controls and deportations to address growing concerns over public security and government spending.

The British government is providing taxpayer-funded accommodation to at least 1,500 foreign nationals with criminal records instead of deporting them, according to an investigation. This provision has raised concerns about public safety and government spending amid ongoing debates over immigration policy.

The figure of 1,509 individuals housed in government-funded homes was revealed after an extended struggle to obtain the data. The Home Office had previously declined to release the numbers despite commitments made in 2025 and under Freedom of Information regulations, citing plans to publish in the future. Following a challenge and referral to the Information Commissioner’s Office, the department relented and disclosed the information.

Critics argue that the continued housing of foreign offenders in British communities strains public resources and compromises safety. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp condemned the practice, criticizing Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood for accommodating these individuals “in expensive hotels and flats at taxpayers’ expense” and warning of the potential for repeated offenses. Philp advocated for the deportation of all foreign criminals, asserting that leaving the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) would enable the government to remove such individuals without the possibility of asylum, modern slavery, or human rights claims.

Zia Yusuf, director of the Reform think tank, described the situation as “outrageous,” emphasizing that those who entered the country unlawfully should not be entitled to housing at public expense. Similarly, Robert Bates, research chief at the Centre for Migration Control, labeled the practice as an “insult to the British public” and criticized the asylum system for allowing foreign offenders to remain in the country while receiving government support.

The investigation further highlighted a 10 percent increase since 2024 in the number of foreign nationals with criminal convictions living in Britain, now totaling 19,779. It is estimated that the average cost of housing and supporting an individual asylum seeker was approximately £41,000 for the 2023/24 fiscal year. Based on this figure, government expenditure on accommodating these 1,509 foreign offenders could reach around £62 million annually.

Opponents of the current approach emphasize the need for stronger immigration controls and more rigorous deportation policies. They call for an end to housing foreign criminals within local communities and propose freezing parts of the asylum system to prevent what they describe as “spurious claims.” The government faces growing pressure to balance public safety, fiscal responsibility, and legal obligations under national and international frameworks.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.