The City of Sanctuary Local Authority Network has just written to the Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, responding to recent changes announced by the Home Office reduce the asylum “move-on” period.
Our network brings together over 180 councils across the UK. Many are accredited Councils of Sanctuary, committed to supporting people who have been forced to flee their homes to rebuild their lives safely in our communities.
Why we are writing
The move-on period is the time people have to leave asylum accommodation after they are granted refugee status. It is a crucial window that allows people to find housing, access work, and begin to settle.
We are deeply concerned that shortening this period will increase homelessness and place further strain on already stretched local services.
What we are seeing locally
As councils, we are responsible for preventing homelessness and supporting community cohesion. We are already seeing rising pressure:
- People leaving the asylum system are now one of the largest groups sleeping rough after leaving public institutions
- There has been a significant increase in refugee households at risk of homelessness
- Temporary accommodation is at record levels, with over 130,000 households currently affected
From our experience, shorter move-on periods simply do not give people enough time to:
- receive and prove their immigration status
- access benefits and receive first payments
- open bank accounts
- find work or employment support
- secure housing in highly pressured local markets
The result is predictable: people present to councils in crisis, often at immediate risk of rough sleeping.
Why this matters
We recognise the Government’s aim to reduce the use of asylum hotels and manage costs. However, shortening the move-on period risks shifting those costs onto local authorities, increasing homelessness and the use of temporary accommodation.
This runs counter to the Government’s own commitments in its plan to end homelessness, which emphasises prevention and better coordination across public services.
What we are asking for
In our letter, we urge the Government to:
- Reinstate a 56-day move-on period for people granted refugee status
- Avoid frequent, short-notice policy changes that make planning difficult for councils
- Publish the evidence behind the current policy decisions
Working together
We remain committed to working constructively with the Government, including the Department led by Steve Reed, to ensure the move-on process works for everyone.
A fair and workable system is essential—not only for those rebuilding their lives, but for the health of our communities and public services.