Contingency accommodation for asylum seekers

People seeking asylum in the UK can apply for asylum support if they are destitute. The Home Office has a statutory obligation to provide support including accommodation to destitute asylum seekers whilst their claims are being considered.

Due to the rise in the numbers of people seeking asylum in the UK and the volume of applications to be processed, hotels, alongside other types of accommodation, are being used across the country as additional contingency accommodation.

No. The Home Office contracts an organisation to source accommodation for asylum applicants on their behalf and then makes the decision on which hotels are used as contingency accommodation and who will be placed. This is carried out in agreement with the hotel owner.

We get briefed at short notice once a hotel has been selected for this purpose.

No. We have not received any funding. The Home Office contract a partner organisation to provide accommodation for asylum applicants. They provide and manage accommodation by engaging directly with landlords or owners of premises or through third party procurement and management companies.

The Home Office contract a partner organisation who are accountable for all services provided within hotel accommodation which includes delivery of onsite wraparound services for those seeking asylum. This Home Office subcontractor directly manage the relationship with the accommodation owners and hotel management staff including catering, housekeeping and maintenance.

This is a Home Office decision and can change based on need. Initial information provided indicates that the intention is for this hotel to be used for families with children and single adult females.

We do not know how long the average stay will be for those moved to this temporary accommodation by the Home Office.

People staying at the hotel temporarily may be moved on to other temporary dispersed accommodation provided by central government whilst their claim for asylum is considered. This could be anywhere in the country and is not provided by local councils.

Where asylum is granted, people are recognised as refugees under the 1951 Refugee Convention and are allowed to remain in the UK for an initial period of five years.

Where the Home Office grants asylum, people will be given a Biometric Residence Permit; an identity document allowing the person to work, study, access public funds and find a place to live.

There is no rule to say people must settle where they have been staying while awaiting a decision on their application for asylum in the UK.

Yes. They can access local health services in the same way as any person visiting West Sussex on a temporary basis would do. They would be registered with the local GP practice and each patient would have an initial health assessment. From then on, they would book future appointments in the same way that existing patients would do.

Asylum seekers are not able to claim welfare benefits.

Where people have submitted a claim for asylum to the Home Office, they are recognised as asylum seekers and are waiting for their asylum application to be assessed.

Under international law, anyone has the right to apply for asylum in any country that has signed the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, and to remain there until the authorities have assessed their claim. This is a legal process.

An asylum seeker is someone who has left their country, often suddenly, because they are faced with persecution, war or violence and cannot get protection there. Many have fled war-torn countries, were trafficked to the UK or faced persecution and violence. They have temporary accommodation until their asylum request has been processed.

The Home Office are responsible for processing claims for asylum and aim to process those applications within six months.

Where asylum is granted, people are recognised as refugees under the 1951 Refugee Convention and are allowed to remain in the UK for five years. At the end of five years, subject to the outcome of any review and to the policies in place at the time, people can seek indefinite leave to remain.

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Should members of the public wish to contact the Home Office directly, they can be emailed at public.enquiries@homeoffice.gov.uk or by phoning 0207 035 4848.