Do asylum seekers get preferential treatment for social housing?
Asylum seekers are housed under separate arrangements, funded and administered centrally by the Home Office department called the National Asylum Support Service (NASS). NASS has a contract with housing providers rather than tenancy agreements with asylum seekers, who are excluded from social housing lists. Asylum seekers who are given housing support have no choice about where their accommodation is allocated. They are dispersed across the UK with no choice about where they live. Accommodation provided to asylum seekers is not better than that provided to UK nationals. In summary, NASS requires the provision of: • human habitable accommodation as defined in the housing act 1985 • safe electrical equipment • furniture to a reasonable standard, including cot/high chair for babies/young children • gas • electricity • water • sign posting to local services NASS does not require the provision of: • telephones (landlines or mobile) • televisions, television licences or hi-fi equipment • new
