Edinburgh City Council has reported a sharp rise in homelessness applications from people granted refugee status, while its suspension of normal social-housing allocations has prompted political criticism. The council says it paused allocations in April 2024 to meet its legal duties towards emergency homeless households during a declared housing emergency, but Reform UK has accused it of favouring migrants over other applicants.

The council is housing 1,442 refugees, compared with 281 two years earlier, a rise of 413 per cent; refugees account for about 16 per cent of temporary-accommodation households, up from roughly one per cent three years ago. Between April 2025 and June 2026, 711 of 722 asylum-seeker housing applicants were assessed as homeless and needing accommodation, while total homelessness presentations rose from 3,455 to 3,969. The council says it intends to restart its standard allocation scheme in October after adding and acquiring homes for temporary accommodation.