The number of asylum seekers being housed temporarily in UK hotels has fallen to a new low of 20,885 at the end of March 2026, a 35% year-on-year decrease, according to Home Office figures. This decline coincides with a significant drop in UK net migration, which fell to an estimated 171,000 in the year to December 2025, the lowest level since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.
Net migration figures
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) reported that net migration for the 12 months to December 2025 was down 48% compared to the previous year's figure of 331,000. This marks the first time the estimate has fallen below 200,000 since the onset of the Covid-19 outbreak. For context, in the year to March 2021, net migration stood at 132,000, a period when travel restrictions were still in place and the post-Brexit immigration system had just been introduced.
Drivers of the decline
The continued fall in net migration is primarily driven by a reduction in the number of people arriving from outside the European Union for work purposes, the ONS explained. This trend reflects broader shifts in immigration patterns and policy impacts.
The reduction in asylum seekers in hotels is part of a wider government effort to move away from using expensive temporary accommodation. The Home Office has been working to clear the asylum backlog and find more permanent solutions for those awaiting decisions. The latest figures suggest progress in reducing reliance on hotels, which have been a contentious and costly aspect of the asylum system.
