Cost of housing migrants in taxpayer-funded hotels rises to £200 a night despite Government vowing to shut them down
The cost of housing asylum seekers in taxpayer-funded hotels has risen to £199 per person per night, despite the Government’s pledge to end the practice during the current Parliament. Ministers say they are moving people into rented accommodation and former military sites, while speeding up asylum decisions and closing hotel contracts.
The Home Office attributed the higher average cost to paying for vacant rooms as hotels are closed in stages, up from £144.98 per night last October. Hotel use has fallen from 36,273 migrants across 200 hotels last September to 16,021 across 160 hotels by June, although 73,068 people remain in other taxpayer-funded accommodation. The article also highlights controversy over migrant hotels being exempt from proposed local visitor levies.
- Hotel accommodation costs have risen to £199 per migrant nightly.
- Ministers say hotel use is being reduced and sites are closing.
- Exemption from visitor levies has prompted hospitality-sector criticism.