In an effort to address the ongoing migrant crisis, the UK’s Labour government is reportedly striking deals with private landlords to house illegal immigrants for up to five years.
With record numbers of people crossing the English Channel, this move aims to relieve pressure on the overwhelmed asylum system. But, as the housing crisis deepens across the nation, many are questioning the impact this will have on ordinary Britons struggling to secure homes.
Despite the ongoing housing shortage, which has made it tough for young people to get a foothold on the property ladder, the government is now offering taxpayers’ money to fund rental agreements for housing migrants. According to The Telegraph, Serco—a private contractor working with the Home Office—has begun reaching out to landlords and property owners in areas such as East England, the Midlands, and the North West, proposing long-term rental contracts for housing migrants.
The deal sounds tempting for landlords: guaranteed rent payments, covering of maintenance costs, utility bills, and council tax. But while housing migrants in private properties is significantly cheaper than putting them up in hotels—£14 a day versus around £145—many critics argue that this could make the country’s housing crisis worse. One housing expert pointed out that these properties could be used to help struggling Britons, rather than housing non-citizens with taxpayer funds.
As of now, about 65,700 migrants are being housed by the government, the highest number in a decade. Of these, around 38,000 are living in hotels, costing taxpayers a staggering £5.5 million every single day. Despite the previous government’s promises to tackle illegal immigration, these numbers have only grown under the current Labour leadership, especially with record numbers of migrants crossing the Channel. Since the beginning of this year, nearly 10,000 have arrived, marking a 45% increase over last year.
The news of expanding the migrant “dispersal” program came just days before local elections across the country. This marks the first major electoral test for Labour since they took power last year. The ongoing migration issue has given rise to Reform UK, led by Nigel Farage, who’s seen a surge in support as voters express frustration over both the Labour and Conservative handling of immigration. A recent poll from Find Out Now placed Reform at 28%, well ahead of both Labour and the Tories, who are tied at 20%.
A striking 47% of the public now believe that immigration has had a negative impact on Britain, according to YouGov, with only 19% seeing it as a positive force. Richard Tice, deputy leader of Reform UK, was quick to criticize Labour’s approach, posting on social media, “The British public is fed up with seeing their homes and hotels given away to illegal immigrants at enormous taxpayer expense. Starmer is failing on the boats, and Reform will fix this when we take over.”
The move to house migrants in private homes has ignited widespread debate about the future of the UK’s housing policy and its immigration stance. With escalating tensions, it’s clear that immigration will remain a pivotal issue in upcoming elections.
