英国政府正在考虑提高对私人租赁房屋的补贴上限，以便将庇护寻求者的住宿更均匀地分布在全国各地，而非集中在租金较低的地区[1]。相比使用昂贵酒店，采用私人租赁和前军事营地的费用更为经济[1]。
英国政府近来在庇护寻求者住宿方面已取得显著进展[1]。酒店使用数量已从2024年7月的213家下降至目前不足160家，相比曾经的峰值400处大幅减少[1]。过去一年，庇护寻求者在酒店中的人数下降了35%，与2023年高峰相比更是下降63%[1]。自大选以来，整体庇护支持成本累计节省10亿英镑[1]。
对于政府的政策方向存在不同看法[1]。难民委员会主任伊姆兰·侯赛因表示，"支持难民应该是全国性责任"[1]，而保守党议员乔·罗伯特森则批评提高成本的政治选择"在各个层面都是错误的"[1]。
The UK government is examining whether to increase its subsidy ceiling for private rental properties used to house asylum seekers, with the goal of spreading accommodation more evenly across the country rather than concentrating placements in the cheapest rental areas.[1] This approach aims to shift away from expensive hotel accommodation, which has proven costlier than alternative solutions.[1]
The government has already made significant progress in reducing reliance on hotel accommodations. The number of hotels used for asylum accommodation has fallen from 213 in July 2024 to fewer than 160 currently, down from a peak of 400 locations that cost £9 million daily.[1] Over the past year, the number of asylum seekers housed in hotels has declined by 35 percent, representing a 63 percent reduction from the 2023 peak.[1] These reductions have contributed to total asylum support costs dropping by £1 billion since the general election.[1]
The policy shift reflects broader perspectives on responsibility for asylum support. Imran Hussain, director of the Refugee Council, stated that "supporting refugees should be a nationwide responsibility."[1] However, Conservative MP Joe Robertson criticized the decision to increase costs, calling it "wrong on every level."[1]