Portsmouth asylum housing data gap

Portsmouth City Council discovers 55 HMOs housing at least 165 asylum seekers without notice, prompting questions about capacity and oversight.

Portsmouth faces strain as hundreds of asylum seekers housed in private rentals

Portsmouth City Council learned last week that 55 houses in multiple occupation are being used to shelter at least three asylum seekers each across the city, a minimum of 165 people. The council had told the Home Office it could not support additional asylum seekers, but the dispersal program had continued. Amanda Martin, the Labour MP for Portsmouth North, highlighted that the number of private rentals used for migrants had risen from 10 in 2019 to 58 by April 2024, a figure cited in a parliamentary inquiry and reported by The Times.

The Home Office confirmed it is expanding dispersal as part of a plan to reduce costly hotels and deliver a more sustainable asylum system. It said dispersal is being implemented in close consultation with local authorities to balance community needs and concerns. Portsmouth City Council said it was not notified about the decision to use private rentals and urged formal notification to a senior officer to avoid surprises and strain on local services.

This episode exposes a tension between national policy aims and local governance. The government’s dispersal strategy is meant to cut hotel costs and speed up decisions, but the lack of formal notification to the council risks misaligned planning and community tensions. Outsourcing housing to private operators raises questions about accountability and cost, especially when data gaps are exposed by MPs and in parliamentary inquiries. The episode also tests how quickly local authorities can adapt when decisions are made at a national level without timely local visibility.

Looking ahead, sustained transparency will be essential. If councils lack reliable data or a clear channel for notification, policy promises risk becoming public pressure. The government’s pledge to end asylum hotel use depends on delivering timely, well coordinated dispersal and robust oversight of private providers.

Highlights

Public trust hinges on open data and accountable decisions.