A survey published on 4 December 2025 by Naccom—a network of 140 refugee and migrant support organisations—shows refugee homelessness in the UK has risen 106 % in a single year. Member groups provided more than 672,000 nights of emergency accommodation in 2024-25 but still turned away at least 3,450 people they could not house. Rough-sleeping among refugees has climbed to 829 individuals, up from 378 two years earlier.
Charities blame the spike on the Home Office’s return to the 28-day “move-on” period that gives newly recognised refugees four weeks to exit asylum hotels, secure housing and find work. A pilot that temporarily extended the window to 56 days ended in August. Advocates say the shorter deadline is unworkable in Britain’s overheated rental market and leaves people destitute just as their right to work begins.
![Refugee homelessness in Britain doubles as eVisa rollout and 28-day move-on rule bite]()
Compounding the problem are glitches in the eVisa system that replaced biometric residence permits for many refugees this year. Several banks, landlords and employers still refuse to recognise digital status checks, delaying access to jobs and Universal Credit. Mobility advisers supporting corporate resettlement or refugee-talent schemes should be aware that new hires may face documentation hurdles and require HR assistance with right-to-work checks.
Naccom and MPs across party lines are urging the Home Office to reinstate the 56-day period and to accelerate its promised ‘service-provider gateway’ that would let landlords and banks verify eVisas automatically. The department says it is reviewing the policy and working with industry to ensure eVisas are accepted everywhere.
Charities blame the spike on the Home Office’s return to the 28-day “move-on” period that gives newly recognised refugees four weeks to exit asylum hotels, secure housing and find work. A pilot that temporarily extended the window to 56 days ended in August. Advocates say the shorter deadline is unworkable in Britain’s overheated rental market and leaves people destitute just as their right to work begins.
Compounding the problem are glitches in the eVisa system that replaced biometric residence permits for many refugees this year. Several banks, landlords and employers still refuse to recognise digital status checks, delaying access to jobs and Universal Credit. Mobility advisers supporting corporate resettlement or refugee-talent schemes should be aware that new hires may face documentation hurdles and require HR assistance with right-to-work checks.
Naccom and MPs across party lines are urging the Home Office to reinstate the 56-day period and to accelerate its promised ‘service-provider gateway’ that would let landlords and banks verify eVisas automatically. The department says it is reviewing the policy and working with industry to ensure eVisas are accepted everywhere.
