Asylum seekers in the UK are often housed in hotels as a temporary measure while their claims are processed or suitable long-term housing is unavailable, with about 35% of all accommodation being hotel-based as of May.

The UK government plans to phase out hotel housing for asylum seekers by 2029, and Labour has pledged to accelerate this process if possible.

Over the summer of 2023, more than 400 hotels were used to accommodate asylum seekers, but this number has now been reduced to fewer than 210 according to Labour estimates.

Recent legal rulings, including a High Court order, have challenged the use of hotels like the Bell Hotel in Epping Forest for housing asylum seekers, prompting the government to explore alternative short-term housing options such as RAF Wethersfield.

The use of hotels to house asylum seekers has become increasingly controversial, with legal challenges from local councils and court rulings highlighting the growing political and social tensions surrounding this practice.

Protests erupted outside the Bell Hotel in Epping after an asylum seeker charged with sexual assault was staying there, sparking debates over safety and migration policies, with some figures politicizing the incident.

These protests have fueled political debates, with Nigel Farage calling for increased action against migrant housing concerns, while women's organizations warn against exploiting issues of violence and safety to stoke anti-migrant sentiment.

The backlog of asylum cases in the UK peaked at 175,000 in 2023, largely due to the country's loss of the legal right to return migrants to Europe post-Brexit and ineffective policies aimed at reducing small boat crossings and relocating migrants to Rwanda.

Former immigration minister Robert Jenrick highlighted the rapid expansion of hotel-based asylum accommodation during his tenure, reflecting policies under Conservative governments.

A coalition of women's organizations has warned against using concerns about violence against women to justify anti-migrant rhetoric, emphasizing the need for balanced and informed discussions.