This information is from the Community Integration and Advocacy Centre – vital to counter the manufactured anger that is poisoning society and our political discourse
Here are 10 prevalent misconceptions regarding asylum hotels, clarified and refuted with accurate information for you to share, particularly if you are sick of hearing the same tired and often racially motivated arguments.
❶ “They’re living in luxury hotels at our expense!”
Fact: These accommodations typically comprise budget hotels or repurposed facilities. The rooms are basic, frequently cramped, lacking kitchen access, and providing limited privacy.
❷ “They get £40 a day spending money.”
Fact: Asylum seekers residing in hotels receive approximately £9.58 per week in cash, equating to about £1.37 daily—insufficient to cover even fundamental necessities.
❸ “They’re taking hotel rooms from paying guests.”
Fact: The government specifically contracts hotels that often have available capacity or are unsuitable for typical guests. Most were not fully booked prior to their use.
❹ “They should be working to pay for their stay.”
Fact: Asylum seekers are prohibited from working while their claims are being processed—a policy decision rather than a personal choice.
❺ “They’re just waiting around doing nothing.”
Fact: The majority of asylum seekers aim to contribute positively. Many engage in volunteering, learning English, or participating in community organisations, despite facing significant uncertainty.
❻ “We’re spending millions on them!”
Fact: The high costs associated with hotel use stem from a broken and backlogged asylum system, not from the individuals utilising it. Delays perpetuate a state of limbo, resulting in increased long-term expenses.
❼ “They’re given better treatment than our homeless.”
Fact: Asylum seekers are housed in hotels due to the government’s legal obligation to accommodate them. Homelessness is a distinct and also underfunded issue; one should not be used to justify neglect of the other.
❽ “They’re all men of fighting age.”
Fact: Asylum hotels also house families, women, and children. The narrative surrounding “fighting-age males” is often intended to incite fear rather than accurately represent the situation.
❾ “They could have stayed in a safe country.”
Fact: International law does not mandate claiming asylum in the first safe country encountered. Individuals arrive in the UK for various reasons—language preferences, family connections, historical ties, or safety concerns elsewhere.
𝟏𝟎 “They’re pretending to be refugees to get free stuff.”
Fact: The vast majority of asylum seekers are legitimate refugees fleeing war, torture, and persecution. Their claims undergo individual assessments based on stringent criteria.
Asylum seekers residing in hotels are not leading luxurious lives—they are enduring hardships while awaiting safety. The core issue lies not with those occupying the hotels, but rather with the prolonged circumstances that have led them there.
For information on our services visit https://www.ciacadvice.com/
