(UNITED KINGDOM) Reports of head lice and “smelly” chicken have drawn new attention to living conditions inside asylum hotels across the UK, where thousands of people seeking protection remain in temporary rooms while they wait for decisions on their claims. As of 2025, critics say overcrowding, lack of privacy, and worries about safety remain common in many sites, even as the Home Office moves to lower costs and reduce the use of hotels altogether.
While detailed official data on specific complaints like head lice or poor-quality food is limited, charities and caseworkers describe a pattern: families sharing small rooms, limited access to fresh air, and long waits that weigh on mental health. According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, asylum hotels became a widespread “contingency” measure during and after the pandemic, as a growing backlog and too few long-term housing options pushed more people into short-stay rooms for months at a time.
Cost pressures, procurement and profit debate
The money involved has become a flashpoint. Hotels are far more expensive than standard asylum housing, with estimates showing they can cost about six times more per person per day than other types of accommodation.
Between April 2024 and March 2025, the Home Office sought to reduce spending by:
- Placing more people per hotel
- Cutting the average nightly rate from £162 to £119
Providers say bulk bookings, quick turnaround, and added security increase costs, while critics argue the model is wasteful.
- One large provider recorded around £180 million in profit in 2025, prompting questions about value for money when residents report dirty bathrooms, poor food, and mold.
- Local leaders say hotels strain nearby services and create tension in areas not planning for large-scale temporary housing.
- Contractors insist they follow government standards and that rapid demand changes make operations costly and complex.
Mental health, safety and daily realities
The human cost is harder to measure but widely felt. Studies and frontline workers report higher rates of anxiety, depression, and trauma symptoms among people held in hotels compared with those in community housing.
- Long stays without school integration for children, cramped space for families, and unclear timelines can worsen past trauma.
- Residents describe hearing arguments through thin walls, staying inside for long periods, and struggling to sleep because of noise and worry.
- People report feeling unsafe when hotels mix single men, single women, and families on different floors but have crowded common areas.
Women and parents describe coping mechanisms:
- Parents keep children close.
- Women avoid certain hallways or eat at quieter times.
- Some residents skip bad meals (described as “smelly” or undercooked) and rely on instant noodles — not sustainable for weeks or months.
Public health issues, including reports of head lice, add stress and stigma. Health support varies by location, and while many hotels offer basic supplies, residents say they struggle to get timely help for routine needs. For trauma survivors — many fleeing war, persecution, or trafficking — these conditions can impede recovery.
“For a mother worried about head lice spreading through shared bedding, or a teenager skipping meals due to unpleasant food, policy tweaks can feel very far away.”
Government policy, pledges and resources
The government says hotels are a last resort and has pledged to cut their use. In May 2023, ministers announced a full-dispersal model to share responsibility across more local authorities, rather than concentrating placements in a few areas. Officials say that as new housing options come online, hotels can be closed.
The Home Office actions include:
- Tightening contracts and monitoring standards
- Pressing casework teams to clear pending claims faster
An official overview of asylum support policy is available through the Home Office’s asylum support collection, which sets out what help people may receive and the responsibilities of providers.
Charities, including the Helen Bamber Foundation, argue hotel stays should be as short as possible and replaced with small, community-based homes where people can cook, attend local clinics, and rebuild their lives.
Practical steps urged by community groups
Community groups say quicker decisions would make the biggest difference. Faster case outcomes would:
- Lower hotel numbers
- Reduce pressure on local services
- Cut costs
In the meantime they urge practical steps that would reduce immediate harm:
- Regular room cleaning with proper tools
- Safe child-friendly spaces
- Clear meal standards with culturally suitable options
- Easier access to GP appointments, translation, and mental health support
Residents also highlight everyday needs:
- Privacy
- Steady Wi‑Fi to contact family and lawyers
- Clear communication about moves and appointments
- Simple, respectful notices in multiple languages
- Safe ways to report pests, broken locks or poor food
- Responsive staff to build trust and reduce tensions
The budget trade-off and dispersal challenges
Supporters of cost-cutting point to the drop in average hotel rates as proof that tighter procurement can save money. Critics counter that squeezing prices while increasing occupancy risks worse living conditions and more overcrowding.
Local councils stress that dispersal must be accompanied by funding for:
- Schools
- Social care
- Housing officers
- Health services
Without this support, towns may struggle to absorb people with complex needs, and short-term fixes could become long-term problems.
Recommendations from charities (summary)
Charities recommend several steps to reduce harm while the transition continues:
- Keep hotel stays short with clear maximum time targets
- Maintain minimum room space standards to prevent severe crowding
- Provide culturally appropriate meals and routine checks on food safety
- Ensure on-site safeguarding leads and quick routes to medical and mental health care
- Offer independent complaints channels so residents can raise concerns safely
Outlook
None of this changes the core challenge: hotels were never meant to be long-term homes. VisaVerge.com reports that the move away from hotels will hinge on consistent local placements, faster decisions, and stable funding.
If those pieces hold, the UK could phase down hotel use while improving living conditions and lowering costs. If not, the cycle of overcrowding, complaints, and rising bills may persist, leaving people seeking safety stuck in rooms that were never built for long stays.
This Article in a Nutshell
Asylum hotels in the UK have attracted renewed attention in 2025 due to reports of overcrowding, poor food quality, hygiene issues and negative mental-health impacts. The Home Office has worked to lower costs—reducing the average nightly rate from £162 to £119 between April 2024 and March 2025—and increase occupancy, prompting debate over procurement, provider profits and value for money. Charities and caseworkers report families in cramped rooms, limited privacy, and higher rates of anxiety and depression. Recommended measures include short maximum hotel stays, minimum room-space standards, culturally appropriate meals, on-site safeguarding, quicker case decisions and community-based housing to reduce both harm and public expenditure.
