Royal Hotel Hull’s use to house asylum seekers to end this autumn

Coun Mike Ross said at July’s full council meeting that he has been told by the Home Office the process is expected to be done “by the end of October”.

This was put to the Home Office, who did not comment on the specific case, but did highlight work to close asylum seeker hotels.

It comes shortly after Hull MPs expressed optimism of an early decision to stop using the hotel as asylum seeker accommodation.

The Ferensway hotel has been used to house asylum seekers for over six years, since just before the Covid-19 pandemic.

At full council, Coun Salman Anwar raised the topic, noting Coun Ross said in July 2025 he had written to the Home Office asking for the Royal Hotel to stop being used to accommodate asylum seekers as its use was not fair on the city. “A year on, the hotel as we’ve heard remains in use”, said Coun Anwar.

“Can the leader tell residents what response he received from the Home Office and what further steps he intends to take to secure a firm and dated commitment to end its use?” The council leader said the responses to last year’s letter written by himself and others on behalf of the council “were fairly disappointing”.

He added: “However, recently the Home Office has confirmed they will be moving out all of the remaining occupants of the hotel in the coming weeks, with it expected to be completed by the end of October.”

He added, though, that the Home Office “haven’t yet committed to a permanent end of the use of the facility”. While the council has no control over this, he said it “will continue to press the Home Office for answers and solutions on this matter”.

A Home Office spokesperson told LDRS: “This government will close all asylum hotels, moving asylum seekers into basic accommodation including ex-military sites.

"The population in asylum hotels has fallen by nearly 20 per cent in the last year and by 45 per cent since the peak under the previous government – helping reduce costs by nearly £1 billion.”

It has announced so far this year the end of 31 hotels across the country for use as asylum seeker accommodation. The number of hotels used for such a purpose is now at below 170, compared to a peak of over 400 hotels.

Further groups of hotels no longer used to house asylum seekers will be announced in due course as the Government continues towards its commitment to end the use of asylum hotels by the end of this Parliament.

The Home Office is working to fairly disperse asylum seekers across the country, working closely with local authorities, and listening to local concerns to reduce the impact on communities.

The use of five former military sites to house asylum seekers is also being explored.

Labour opposition group leader Coun Daren Hale also referenced the hotel’s future earlier in the council meeting, stating he was glad to hear from the city’s MPs its use to house asylum seekers would appear to be ending.

“If that is the case, we very much want that hotel to be returned to usage as a hotel.”

He mentioned Hull Labour Group’s call for it to be purchased by the mayor and combined authority to secure its future and reiterated concerns it may not be returned back to use as a commercial hotel.