Refugee homeless applications to Scottish councils soar by over 50% in a year

The figures were revealed in official stats released by the Scottish Government.

10:18, 03 Feb 2026Updated 10:38, 03 Feb 2026

A homeless man sit in Buchanan Street

Applications by refugees for homeless assistance have soared by over 50% across Scotland. People granted leave to remain after a successful asylum claim now account for 16% of all bids for temporary accommodation.

The figures were revealed in official stats released by the Scottish Government. Covering the period between April 1st to September 30th last year, there were a total of 20,643 applications for homelessness assistance – a fall of 2% compared to the same period in 2024.

There was also a small decrease in the number of households assessed as homeless or threatened with having no home. But the same figures reveal a huge rise in applications from refugees granted leave to remain.

There was a 51% rise for this group between 2024 and 2025, despite a decrease for all other eligibility categories. The same data also showed 2,092 households reporting someone experiencing rough sleeping in the three months prior to application, and 1,487 the night before. These are increases of 16% and 24% compared to 2024.

Councils have blamed the surge in homeless applications on the Home Office policy of trying to empty hotels for asylum seekers. Local authority chiefs believe refugees are leaving the hotels after being granted leave to remain, but having nowhere to live.

But critics of the SNP Government say liberal homelessness laws are part of the problem.

Refugees can apply for homeless assistance in any part of Scotland even if they have no connection to an area.

MSPs also abolished the “priority need” test in 2012, allowing anyone who is homeless to apply to a Scottish council.

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Refugee homeless applications to Scottish councils soar by over 50% in a year

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