The number of asylum seekers residing in "non-hotel" accommodation in the United Kingdom has surpassed 73,000, according to new figures released by the Home Office.

In the year to June 2026, 73,068 asylum seekers were housed in alternative accommodations such as shared homes, flats, or military bases. This represents a three percent increase compared to the previous year. Concurrently, the number of asylum seekers remaining in hotels has decreased by 50 percent, falling to 16,021, the lowest figure recorded since data collection began in 2022.

These figures come as the Labour Government continues its efforts to phase out the use of hotels for asylum seekers, a commitment to be fulfilled by the end of the current parliamentary term. Earlier in August, 13 hotels were closed as part of this transition. The total number of hotels in use is now under 160, a significant reduction from the approximately 400 hotels utilized under the previous Conservative administration. The government is increasingly relying on more basic sites, including former military barracks, a move that has faced opposition from some local communities concerned about the influx of individuals.

Asylum Applications Decline

In the same 12-month period ending June 2026, a total of 85,891 individuals applied for asylum in the UK. This figure marks a 21 percent decrease from the 108,585 applications received in the prior year and is the lowest 12-month total since the year ending June 2022, when applications numbered 75,668.

Small boat crossings across the English Channel accounted for 40 percent of asylum claims, with 33,949 individuals arriving through this route in the 12 months to June 2026. Over half of all asylum seekers arrived via illegal entry methods, while an additional 41 percent had previously held a visa or other form of leave to enter the UK.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood stated that the recent data demonstrates progress in border control and the migration system. "A little over two years into office and the asylum backlog is down, the number of asylum seekers in hotels is falling, illegal working arrests are at record levels, and deportations and returns are up markedly," Mahmood said. She also noted that small boat numbers are declining but emphasized that vigilance is required. "We are not complacent and there is more we must do," she added, citing increased enforcement on French beaches and overseas, alongside new legislation aimed at deterring illegal routes.

"This Government is restoring control at our border and fairness to the migration system," Mahmood concluded.