Overview
London boroughs, residents and voluntary sector partners continue to play our part to show compassion and support for the thousands of refugees and asylum seekers London has welcomed in recent months. However, there are several cumulative pressures regarding refugee arrivals and asylum seeker placements in London. This briefing explores these pressures and outlines London Councils’ key asks of the government.
Pressures regarding asylum placements in London
Hotel Optimisation Plan
Over the last month, 25 London boroughs have received notice from the Home Office to ‘optimise existing space’ within hotel estates. The Home Office has confirmed that this entails filling empty hotel rooms, replacing single-use double beds with twin beds, and increasing room-sharing, leading to thousands more asylum seekers in London hotels. Consultation in relation to this policy has been limited, and we have the following safeguarding concerns:
- A number of London boroughs have conducted hotel visits/audits and have raised issues regarding the safeguarding practice by staff in the hotels (and poor rates of referrals), limited space (particularly for children and babies), living standards, and the poor quality of food provision.
- There are also safeguarding questions being raised regarding unaccompanied asylum-seeking children (UASC) who continue to be placed in contingency hotels after they have been age-assessed as adults by border force. A recent Helen Bamber Foundation report shows that in 2022 over 1000 UASC incorrectly age assessed as adults were later found to be under 18.
Use of Appropriate Locations and Sites
- We are having positive and constructive discussions with Home Office and Clearsprings about planning for asylum dispersal and about a more aligned approach to accommodation procurement. However, we continue to find that inappropriate sites are being considered and new sites are being planned in local authorities which are already above the 1 in 200 threshold (a threshold agreed in the London Asylum Dispersal Plan linked to the national asylum dispersal policy - detailing that there shouldn’t be more asylum seekers in a borough than 0.5% of its population).
- Furthermore, we remain concerned that accommodation in London continues to be procured above the ‘inter-borough accommodation agreement’ rates (which mandate rate sharing and the application of a cap on rates paid for certain accommodation). Concerns around the standard of accommodation procured have been heightened by the recent decision to try and remove HMO properties used for asylum seekers from the HMO licensing.
The Streamlined Asylum Process (SAP)
The Streamlined Asylum Process (SAP) relates to around 4,000 people in London. Recently, the Home Office announced that the SAP will be extended individuals from Iraq, Iran and Sudan. Whilst we welcome steps to decrease the asylum backlog, if this is not managed properly, an influx of newly recognised refugees may present as homeless. We continue to ask for more engagement with councils on managing this process, and better data sharing.
Wider challenges regarding refugee resettlement
Afghan Move-on Arrangements
- Around 8,000 Afghan individuals and families, housed at 59 temporary bridging hotels across the country, have been served notice by the Home Office to leave the hotels by the end of August.
- We still await clarity on how the government plans to address contingency arrangements after people have been moved out of Afghan bridging hotels and do not have settled housing arranged/ready to move into.
Ukrainian Support and London housing pressures
- Ukrainian households continue to present as homeless in London due to sponsorship arrangements coming to an end and the unaffordable cost of housing in the capital. London boroughs have been able to explore several innovative approaches using the Homes for Ukraine tariff to help Ukrainians access private rented sector housing.
- The lack of clarity around what happens post 3 years for all the Ukraine visa schemes (they are temporary visas that don’t lead to resettlement) can make it harder for Ukrainians to feel settled, access employment and housing.
- According to analysis undertaken jointly by the LSE and Savills on behalf of London Councils, there has been a 41% reduction in the number of London properties available for private rent since 2017, and due to the shortage of affordable accommodation in London, a total of 166,000 Londoners are estimated to be homeless and living in temporary accommodation arranged by their council.
- DLUHC has introduced a £750 million local authority housing fund to enable local authorities to acquire housing for Ukrainians, Afghans, and others presenting as homelessness. This is a welcome step, but more work is needed to increase access to the private rented sector.
Inconsistent Funding Packages
- Different refugee resettlement routes come with different funding packages for local authorities and the voluntary sector, which is complex to navigate and has created inequitable arrangements. For example, local authorities receive a tariff to support Afghan resettlement scheme arrivals and Homes for Ukraine scheme arrivals, but not Ukraine family scheme arrivals.
- Uncertainty of future funding, for example for asylum seekers placed in hotels, is challenging.
Key asks of the government
Asylum Placements and the delivery of the London Asylum Dispersal Plan
- We ask that the Home Office consult health professionals and local authorities about the ‘hotel optimisation process’ and the suitability of accommodation sites, to ensure that residents are safeguarded and that no additional placements occur in boroughs over the 1 in 200 threshold (in line with the London Asylum Dispersal Plan).
- Government should share further data on SAP cases in line with local authority requests.
- Allow temporary work permits for asylum seekers, enabling them to integrate and earn income promoting autonomy.
- Home Office should extend the £750 payment per asylum seeker for all new asylum seekers (there is currently no funding for asylum seekers placed in hotels after 1st of April), or provide £3,500 for those receiving status in hotels; Furthermore, the ICB contingency funding (£150 per asylum arrival) should be at least doubled. Local authorities have asked for the findings from a burdens assessment to inform funding for asylum seekers in the future.
Safeguarding
- Local authorities should be consulted on the safeguarding protocol, referral process, potential improvements to training, and local risk assessments of asylum accommodation, including preventing the mixing of single males with families.
- Building on recent improvements to the age assessment system linked to the National Age Assessment Board, we ask for a substantive review of the age-assessment process at the border.
Refugee Resettlement
- We’re calling for clarity on contingency arrangements following the closure of Afghan bridging hotels.
- Government should provide clarity on the future of the Ukraine visa schemes beyond 3 years.
- We’re calling for greater parity across refugee resettlement routes and visa routes.
Housing
- Clearsprings and Home Office should adhere to the London procurement framework principles as highlighted in the London Asylum Dispersal Plan - this includes ensuring locally agreed rent levels are not exceeded (as per the Inter Borough Accommodation Agreement) and providing assurance around accommodation standards.
- The government should build on the local authority housing fund and address London’s chronic shortage of affordable housing.
