Keir Starmer Plans Massive Home Rentals for Migrants Before Summer Surge in Channel Crossings”

The Home Office is trying to get more landlords to rent out their properties to house asylum seekers because the number of migrants crossing the Channel in small boats has hit record highs.

One of the private companies working for the Home Office, called Serco, is offering landlords a guaranteed deal where they get full rent paid every month for five years. This rent will be covered by taxpayers. Serco already manages housing for more than 30,000 asylum seekers across about 7,000 different properties and says their housing network keeps getting bigger.

This new push to recruit more landlords comes after a new record was set earlier this month for the number of small boats arriving in one day. Serco even planned an event at a luxury hotel in the Malvern Hills to attract landlords, but the Home Office later cancelled it.

On Serco’s website, they promise landlords that rent will always be paid on time with no missed payments. They also offer to take care of all repairs, maintenance, property management, utility bills, and council tax — all included.

Housing asylum seekers in rented homes costs a lot less than putting them in hotels. It can cost around £14 a night for private homes, while hotel stays cost about £145 per night. Serco is mainly targeting homes of multiple occupancy (HMOs), family homes, old care homes, and former student accommodations.

So far this year, 9,638 migrants have arrived through small boat crossings, which is about 44.5% higher than the same time last year. This is the highest number since small boats started being used in 2018. 

Home Office data shows private contractors are now responsible for housing about 65,700 asylum seekers, the highest number in ten years. Back in 2014, there were only around 31,000 asylum seekers living in what’s called “dispersal accommodation.” Now, there are at least 16,000 such properties being managed by Serco and two other contractors, Mears and Clearsprings.

This private housing program was first started under a Conservative government, but Labour is now expanding it. Labour had promised during their election campaign to move away from hotel accommodation for asylum seekers in order to save taxpayers billions of pounds. However, as of December, 38,000 asylum seekers were still living in hotels, costing around £5.5 million every day.

Criticism has been growing. Chris Philp, the Shadow Home Secretary, said Labour is treating illegal immigrants better than the people who have lived, worked, and paid taxes in the UK all their lives. He believes that instead of being given nice flats, these migrants should have been sent to Rwanda under a previous policy plan.

The Home Office defended the scheme, saying it’s not new and has been used by previous governments. They also pointed out that the government has a legal duty to support asylum seekers who are broke and can’t pay for basics like electricity, water, and council tax.

Still, there has been backlash. Some councils and charities say that this policy is making it harder for local families to find homes. One council leader even accused Serco of helping landlords take advantage of taxpayers and said the whole thing isn’t good for society or the people involved.