Student Block Leased For Asylum Housing Sits Empty As Government Fights Hotel Ban

A student accommodation block leased by the Home Office two years ago to house refugees sits empty, as the government’s strategy to house asylum-seekers dominates the news agenda. 

The Home Office signed a lease on two student blocks in Huddersfield in 2023, under the previous Conservative government, and had planned to start moving in residents in mid-2024. 

But as of August, the units have sat unused, with no date for occupation, Huddersfield Hub reported. The blocks can house up to 670 people. 

“Decisions on the future use of accommodation sites will be made in due course in consultation with local authorities and other stakeholders,” a Home Office spokesperson told the website in a statement. 

“This lease agreement was agreed before the election and change of government. No asylum seekers will be moved into the site until the site is ready for occupancy, including meeting legal and building regulations.”

The government last week won a court victory in its battle to stop local authorities from prohibiting the use of hotels as accommodation for asylum seekers while their claims are processed. 

The UK has spent billions of pounds housing tens of thousands of asylum seekers in hotels across the country despite criticism that the scheme is expensive and hotels do not offer good long-term accommodation. 

Local authorities have attempted to use planning laws to stop the use of hotels in their area as refugee housing. 

Violent protests outside of hotels housing asylum seekers swept the country last summer. There have been protests again this year, albeit without as many violent confrontations between police and protesters.

The Underground, Bisnow’s UK newsletter, revealed earlier this week that one owner of UK student accommodation was considering entering a lease with the Home Office to house asylum seekers but was wary because of the inflamed nature of the debate about immigration in the UK. 

The Huddersfield scheme was put up for sale in 2024 and bought by a private investor.