Home Office Explains Rise in Asylum Seeker Accommodation Costs

Anna Turley, representing the Home Office, explained the financial costs associated with housing asylum seekers in hotels. The average cost to British taxpayers for this accommodation has increased by more than a third, reaching £199 per person per night in April. This average is up from the £144.98 rate reported last October, equating to roughly £72,600 per year per asylum seeker.

The cost increase is attributed to the phased closures of hotel sites as the department accelerates efforts to move people into cheaper accommodation. The Home Office noted that the department continues to incur costs for rooms that are closed but remain unoccupied, which drives up the average expenditure.