Archive · 20 Aug 2026
Mahmood Pledges Fairer Asylum Housing Spread Across Britain
The government wants asylum seekers to be housed in more parts of the UK.
It says wealthier areas should take more of the responsibility.
The plan could use military bases, former student buildings and ordinary houses.
The government says this change will take time.
It wants to stop one kind of community from carrying most of the burden.
Some residents worry about having asylum accommodation nearby.
Shabana Mahmood said she understands those concerns.
She also said Britain is discussing a longer-term migration arrangement with France.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said asylum accommodation should be distributed more evenly across the UK.
A proposed mixed model would use military sites, former student housing, bedsits and houses of multiple occupancy.
As of March, 97,519 asylum seekers were living in taxpayer-funded accommodation, including 20,885 in hotels.
Mahmood said the government was discussing making the one-in, one-out agreement with France permanent after October.
The Home Office said 80,286 foreign citizens without the right to remain had been returned since Labour came to power.
- Who
- Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, the UK government, asylum seekers and residents near asylum accommodation.
- What
- The government is planning a mixed and more evenly distributed system of asylum accommodation across the UK.
- When
- Mahmood discussed the plans in an interview; the France pilot is due to end in October, while the accommodation figures are from March.
- Where
- Across the United Kingdom, with discussions also involving France.
- Why
- To create a fairer spread of accommodation and prevent one community or type of community from bearing most of the burden.
Government’s case
Residents’ concerns
Distribution of asylum accommodation
Government’s case
The government says accommodation should be spread more fairly across the UK, including wealthier areas, so that no single community bears the brunt.
Residents’ concerns
Residents, including those in more affluent areas, have concerns about living near asylum accommodation; Mahmood said she understood those worries.
- Asylum seekers in taxpayer-funded accommodation
- 97,519 as of March
- Hotel accommodation
- 20,885 asylum seekers
- Dispersal housing
- 68,719 asylum seekers
- Military sites
- 989 asylum seekers
- France transfer arrangement
- 1,087 migrants were deported to France and 1,117 asylum seekers were transferred to the UK
- Returns since Labour took power
- The Home Office said 80,286 foreign citizens without the right to remain had been returned
- France agreement cost
- £660 million