Contingency hotel accommodation for asylum seekers
The Home Office places homeless asylum seekers in accommodation while their claims are being considered. The UK asylum system is facing significant pressures and it has become necessary for the Home Office to arrange the use of additional temporary accommodation, such as hotels, for this.
In Herefordshire, asylum seekers are currently being accommodated in the Three Counties Hotel in Hereford and The Talbot Hotel in Leominster.
Herefordshire has a proud history of welcoming and supporting refugees and asylum seekers. We have seen the generous support extended to refugees from Afghanistan, Ukraine and from other countries and the compassion shown by local communities to those in need. It is hoped that asylum seekers coming to Herefordshire will continue to receive the same warm welcome.
15 January 2024: Statement regarding termination of contract with Three Counties Hotel as asylum seekers' accommodation
Herefordshire Council has been informed by the Home Office that they are terminating the contract with Three Counties Hotel as asylum accommodation and it will cease being used before the end of March 2024, reflecting the contractual notice period on this property.
Residents currently accommodated in the hotel will be moving to other parts of the asylum estate and the Home Office aims to complete all relocations in advance of the final closure date.
Residents will be notified a minimum of five days in advance.
The Home Office has already terminated the contract with The Talbot Hotel in Leominster which will cease to be used as contingency accommodation for asylum seekers by the end of February 2024. Residents are already receiving notices to move and those relocations are underway.
The council will continue to work closely with Serco, local partners and the community and voluntary sector to ensure appropriate help and wellbeing support is in place over this period.
You can view responses to frequently asked questions. We will continue to update these responses as more information becomes available.
25 October 2023: Statement regarding Home Office restarting use of accommodation for asylum seekers at the Talbot Hotel, Leominster
Herefordshire Council has been informed by the Home Office and their contractor, Serco, that they plan to re-start use of the Talbot Hotel in Leominster as contingency accommodation for people awaiting the outcome of their asylum applications, from today (25 October 2023) until end February 2024.
Herefordshire has a proud history of welcoming and supporting refugees and asylum seekers. The residents who were moved to other contingency accommodation while The Talbot Hotel was temporarily closed are being offered the opportunity to return.
The council will continue to work closely with Serco, local partners and the community and voluntary sector to ensure appropriate help and wellbeing support is in place for those coming to the county and to respond to any matters raised by businesses and residents.
Asylum seekers will be accommodated on a full-board basis within the property. There will be support on site 24 hours a day, seven days a week, along with security staff, and this is all being funded by the Home Office. This is a private arrangement between the Home Office and the hotel, which is closed to the public. The council are not involved in running the site or providing day-to-day support, all of which will be managed by the Home Office’s contractor, Serco.
Responses to some of the frequently asked questions have been put together and are available online. This will continue to be updated as more information becomes available.
3 October 2023: Statement regarding Home Office relocation of asylum seekers at the Talbot Hotel, Leominster
Since August, the Talbot Hotel in Leominster has been used by the Home Office as contingency accommodation for households seeking asylum, and operationally managed by Serco.
Herefordshire Council has been informed (on Monday 2 October) that due to operational issues, residents at the hotel are being relocated to other suitable accommodation outside of Herefordshire.
The Home Office makes the decision on which hotels are used as contingency accommodation and where they place those seeking asylum. It is their decision working with their local provider on whether a hotel is fit for purpose.
At this stage we do not have any information on when the Talbot Hotel will become operational once more.
4 August 2023: Statement regarding Home Office contingency accommodation for asylum seekers at the Talbot Hotel, Leominster
Herefordshire Council has been informed by the Home Office that they plan to use the Talbot Hotel in Leominster as contingency accommodation for people awaiting the outcome of their asylum applications, starting from 8 August 2023.
Just as with the existing accommodation at the Three Counties Hotel, Hereford, this is a private arrangement between the Home Office and the hotel, which is closed to the public. The council was not involved in this arrangement and will not be involved in running the site or providing day-to-day support, all of which will be managed by the Home Office’s contractor, Serco.
However, the council will be working closely with Serco, local partners and the community and voluntary sector to ensure appropriate help and wellbeing support is in place for those coming to the county and to respond to any matters raised by businesses and residents.
Asylum seekers will be accommodated on a full-board basis within the property. There will be support on site 24 hours a day, seven days a week, along with security staff, and this is all being funded by the Home Office.
Herefordshire has a proud history of welcoming and supporting refugees and asylum seekers. We continue to see the generous support extended to Ukrainian refugees and the compassion shown by local communities to those in need and it is hoped that asylum seekers coming to Herefordshire will receive the same warm welcome.
Responses to some of the frequently asked questions have been put together and are available online. This will continue to be updated as more information becomes available
30 June 2023: Statement regarding proposed use of Talbot Hotel, Leominster to provide temporary accommodation for asylum seekers
The Home Office has notified Herefordshire Council of a proposal to use the Talbot Hotel in Leominster as contingency accommodation for asylum seekers. This would be in addition to the current use of the Three Counties Hotel in Hereford.
The council has written back to the Home Office, indicating that we are very aware of the pressure on the system of asylum seekers and outlining Herefordshire’s already significant track record in recent years of participating in government migration schemes. However, we have a number of concerns which we outlined in our written response and also at a meeting held with the Home Office, the regional Strategic Migration Partnership, and local police, health and fire services this week.
The Home Office will be carrying out due diligence checks over the coming weeks to assess the suitability of the property, following which they will inform the council of their final decision.
27 June 2023: Statement regarding proposed use of Talbot Hotel, Leominster to provide temporary accommodation for asylum seekers
The Home Office has notified Herefordshire Council of its intention to use the Talbot Hotel in Leominster as contingency accommodation for asylum seekers. This would be in addition to the current use of the Three Counties Hotel in Hereford.
The council has written back to the Home Office, indicating that we are very aware of the pressure on the system of asylum seekers and outlining Herefordshire’s already significant track record in recent years of participating in government migration schemes. However, we have a number of concerns which we outlined in our response to the Home Office and will do so again when we meet with them and the regional Strategic Migration Partnership and local partner organisations later this week.
March 2023: Statement regarding use of Three Counties Hotel, Hereford to provide temporary accommodation for asylum seekers
Herefordshire Council has been informed by the Home Office that they plan to use the Three Counties Hotel in Hereford as accommodation for people awaiting the outcome of their asylum applications, starting from 13 March 2023.
This is a private arrangement between the Home Office and the hotel, which is closing to the public.
The council was not involved in this arrangement and will not be involved in running the site or providing day-to-day support, all of which will be managed by the Home Office’s contractor, Serco. However, the council will be working closely with Serco, local partners and the community and voluntary sector to ensure appropriate help and wellbeing support is in place for those coming to the county and to respond to any matters raised by businesses and residents.
Asylum seekers will be accommodated on a full-board basis within the property. There will be support on site 24 hours a day, seven days a week, along with security staff, and this is all being funded by the Home Office.
You can view responses to frequently asked questions. We will continue to update these responses as more information becomes available.