The UK High Court this week ordered that migrants must be moved out of the Bell Hotel in Epping, northeast of London, by mid-September. (Photo: Getty Image)
The UK government is under new pressure after a court ruling questioned its use of hotels to house asylum seekers. The UK High Court this week ordered that migrants must be moved out of the Bell Hotel in Epping, northeast of London, by mid-September.
The case was brought by Epping District Council. The council argued that housing asylum seekers at the hotel broke planning rules and created tension in the community. Judge Stephen Eyre agreed and instructed the Home Office’s contractors to relocate residents.
This marks a turning point. Other councils are now considering similar legal action to block hotels being used for asylum accommodation.
The Epping case followed weeks of tension. Protests started after an asylum seeker staying at the Bell Hotel was accused of sexual assault. He denied the allegation, but the case became a rallying point for anti-immigration activists.
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Demonstrations quickly grew outside the hotel. Police were called in to maintain order as protesters clashed with counter-groups supporting asylum seekers. In total, 16 people were arrested.
The UK Home Office opposed the injunction. Officials warned the ruling could disrupt the asylum system across the country. They argued that the government has a legal duty to provide shelter for asylum seekers who would otherwise have nowhere to live.
Security Minister Dan Jarvis confirmed the government would appeal the decision. He said: “We’re going to close all asylum hotels in this Parliament.” But he stressed the closure must be “ordered and managed” rather than forced by individual court rulings.
Hotels were never meant to be a long-term solution. Before 2020, asylum seekers were usually placed in private flats or shared houses rented by contractors.
That changed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Social distancing rules meant thousands had to be moved out of shared housing and into hotels. At the same time, evictions were paused and small boat crossings across the English Channel surged.
By 2023, the backlog of asylum claims had risen to over 119,000, compared to 45,000 in 2018. With limited housing, nearly one-third of asylum seekers ended up in hotels.
The government is currently housing more than 103,000 asylum seekers, with over 32,000 people staying in hotels as of March 2025. There are now just over 210 hotels, down from over 400 in 2023 during the Labour government; however, they claim that this is insufficient. But critics say this is not enough.
Hotels used for asylum seekers have become flashpoints for anger and protests. In Epping, demonstrations outside the Bell Hotel turned violent at times.
Similar protests have taken place in Merseyside, London, the Midlands, and the south coast. Far-right groups have played a visible role in stirring opposition. They use social media to share hotel locations and spread anti-migrant messages.
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A New York Times report revealed that three of the four administrators of the Epping protest group on Facebook were members of the Homeland Party, a fringe white nationalist organisation.
Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, has openly encouraged people to campaign against hotel accommodation for asylum seekers.
Tensions have already turned violent in several cases. In 2022, a man carried out a firebomb attack on a migrant processing centre in Kent before taking his own life.
In 2024, an Eritrean asylum seeker was stabbed by a neo-Nazi outside a hotel near Worcester. The attacker received a life sentence after calling for more assaults on migrants.
That same year, riots erupted in Yorkshire after false claims spread online about a murder suspect being a Muslim asylum seeker. The rumour sparked violence in several cities, and hotels housing migrants were attacked.
The government fears that similar unrest could spread as far-right groups continue to use social media to mobilise supporters.
Immigration is dominating British politics more than ever. Polls show it has overtaken the economy as the public’s top concern. More than 27,000 people have arrived in the UK on small boats this year alone.
Opponents of the hotel system say it puts pressure on local communities and risks public safety. They highlight criminal cases involving asylum seekers and argue that British families facing high housing costs should come first.
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But supporters say asylum seekers are fleeing war and persecution. They accuse politicians and far-right groups of using isolated crimes to spread hate. They also point out that the real problem is the slow processing of asylum claims.
The UK Home Office said: “We continue to work closely with police and community partners across the country, and discuss any concerns they have. The security of the local communities within which hotels are located will always be our priority.”
The UK is not alone in this struggle. Across Europe, governments are facing protests and political backlash over migrant housing. In France, far-right groups have opposed the opening of migrant centres, using similar tactics to those seen in Britain.
The Epping case may now shape how the UK handles asylum seekers in the future. With councils challenging hotel use in court and the government promising to end the practice, the fight over where migrants should be housed is set to remain at the heart of the immigration debate.
