How Refugees and Housing Glasgow Shape the City's Future

Refugees and housing Glasgow is a contentious issue that's gained prominence in the election campaign, despite immigration being outside the direct purview of the Scottish Parliament. While the Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) elected on May 7 won’t influence immigration policy—which is determined at Westminster—every political party has a stance on the matter. A recent BBC poll identified immigration as one of the most pressing concerns for voters, prompting BBC Verify to investigate claims surrounding the effects of asylum and migration on housing. In recent years, Scotland, mirroring trends across the UK, has witnessed a significant rise in immigration. The increase can largely be attributed to official channels, such as international student visas. However, the political discourse often centers around the much smaller influx of individuals via unofficial routes, like small boats crossing the English Channel, which has generated considerable debate, particularly concerning Glasgow. As Scotland's largest city, Glasgow has long grappled with housing shortages. Alarmingly, it was the first city in Scotland to declare a housing emergency in 2023. This situation has been exacerbated by the Home Office’s efforts to tackle the backlog of asylum cases, clashing with Scotland's strategy to combat homelessness. Currently, over 6,500 individuals are seeking asylum in Scotland, receiving housing support from the Home Office, accounting for 6% of the UK's total asylum seekers. These individuals reside in a mix of hotels and social housing while awaiting the government's decision regarding their long-term stay. Notably, Glasgow accommodates more than half of this population, making it the leading local authority in the UK for housing asylum seekers, with 3,683 individuals depending on housing support and an additional 152 receiving financial assistance without accommodation. Glasgow became a central hub for asylum seekers in 1999 when it joined the Home Office's dispersal scheme. Recent policy changes transitioned the focus to a “full dispersal” model, allowing asylum seekers to be placed in any council area. Nevertheless, individuals often gravitate towards Glasgow for its established communities, charities, and support from faith centers, even if housed elsewhere while awaiting their asylum decisions. Currently, asylum seekers in Glasgow are accommodated long-term, unlike in other areas where former hotels have been used. They receive free meals and housing, along with a daily allowance of £1.42, but cannot work while their claims are pending. Once granted permission to remain in the UK, they must vacate Home Office accommodation, leading many to seek homelessness support from the city council, which has been criticized as a form of "homelessness by design" by groups like Shelter Scotland and the Scottish Refugee Council. Between April and September 2025, Glasgow experienced 3,895 applications for homelessness support, 43% (1,685) of which came from individuals with refugee status or leave to remain, a stark contrast to the overall Scottish figure of 15%. Other cities, such as Edinburgh, are also witnessing high rates, with 29% from refugees. The shortage of available housing forces the council to often turn to hotels or bed and breakfasts for homeless accommodation. In 2025-26, the cost to Glasgow City Council for handling refugee-related applications is projected to be £38 million, with estimates rising to £56 million for the next year and potentially reaching £74 million in 2027-28. During a recent election debate hosted by BBC Scotland, Reform UK’s Scottish leader, Malcolm Offord, asserted that asylum seekers arriving in Glasgow are prioritized over local residents for services like housing. The Scottish Conservatives echoed this sentiment, claiming that the influx of asylum seekers diminishes available housing for the local populace. However, the reality is that the prioritization pertains to individuals who are homeless and in quest of temporary accommodation rather than providing unique advantages to refugees. Local councils are legally obligated to house anyone who is considered "unintentionally homeless." Legislative amendments made by MSPs in 2003 sought to streamline access to support, enabling councils to assist more homeless individuals, including refugees. In Glasgow, there are currently over 6,000 live applications awaiting permanent housing, with more than 4,200 households in temporary accommodations without a defined waiting limit. Consequently, families that have long awaited permanent housing may perceive that refugees are overtaking them in the queue for suitable accommodations. This predicament is underlined by the Home Office’s efforts to address an extensive backlog of unresolved asylum claims. Authorities remain hopeful that once this issue is resolved, the number of individuals leaving Home Office accommodation will stabilize at a manageable rate. Meanwhile, Glasgow City Council continues to advocate for additional support. The Home Office has introduced Asylum Move-On Liaison Officers to assist individuals transitioning from their accommodations. Modifications have also been made to extend the duration allowed for individuals granted asylum to vacate Home Office housing. This timeline has increased from a fixed 28 days to 42 days as of March. Both Reform and the Conservatives propose reinstating a local connection rule removed from the homelessness framework in 2022. This former provision allowed councils to refer individuals without connections to the area back to regions where they had ties, such as employment or family. Housing Secretary Mairi McAllan stated that the suspension of this rule ensures that, for example, someone fleeing domestic abuse from Inverness can choose where to live without being mandated to return to the Highlands for housing support. However, both the Scottish Government and Shelter Scotland contend that reinstating a local connection rule would not affect refugees, as it was never applicable to them. Unlike in England and Wales, asylum seekers awaiting Home Office decisions in Scotland are not regarded as having connections to the area they are temporarily residing in. Calls from various parties center around prioritizing long-term local residents awaiting permanent housing. When questioned about the status of homeless refugees, Offord remarked that those allowed into England through the Home Office should return there for resolution. BBC Scotland has summarized the positions of main parties regarding immigration and other key campaign topics. The SNP advocates for a Scottish visa scheme and has called for devolving migration policy to better meet Scotland's workforce needs. The Scottish Greens support the devolution of immigration policy and aim to fund councils and social landlords for dedicated asylum housing, seeking to eliminate the use of hotels and barracks. The Scottish Conservatives oppose allowing anyone who entered the UK illegally to claim asylum and intend to withdraw from the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) and close all asylum hotels. Scottish Labour promotes a managed migration system that meets Scotland's skill needs while ensuring secure UK borders. The Scottish Liberal Democrats propose declaring the backlog of asylum claims a national emergency, hiring 2,000 additional caseworkers to expedite resolution and close asylum hotels. Lastly, Reform UK aims to terminate the residency of those who entered Scotland unlawfully and abolish Glasgow's role as Scotland’s principal dispersal city for successful asylum seekers. The overarching issue remains Scotland's housing crisis. There’s consensus among all parties that sustainable solutions necessitate the construction of more housing units. Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cly0g184l9ro

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