![](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/0_Anti-racism-rally-in-Glasgow.jpg\")
(Image: PA)<\/p>\nThousands of migrants are expected to come to Scotland as they have a legal right to be housed here that does not exist in England.(Image: PA)<\/p>\n
A crackdown on hotel stays for asylum seekers will be \u201cdisastrous\u201d for Scotland as thousands try to get homes here, a council leader warned.<\/p>\n
As part of a tougher regime for migrants the Home Office<\/a> has halved the amount of time they can remain in government accommodation such as hotels from from 56 days to 28.<\/p>\n After that, those given leave to remain often end up homeless, and thousands are expected to come to Scotland as they have a legal right to be housed here that does not exist in England.<\/p>\n The move comes after often violent protests outside hotels housing asylum seekers, which started in Epping in Essex but have also spread to Falkirk, Aberdeen and Perth.<\/p>\n The new system, which took effect on September 1, could see Glasgow face particular problems as a key migrant destination in the country.<\/p>\n Now council chiefs and homeless charities are demanding more support from government to avoid Scotland\u2019s housing emergency being made even worse by an influx of refugees.<\/p>\n Glasgow Council leader Susan Aitken<\/a> criticised the new rules, saying: \u201cThis is a decision that reeks of panic and pandering.<\/p>\n “It\u2019s hard to see it being anything other than disastrous for refugees and for the communities trying to support them when the Home Office washes its hands.\u201d<\/p>\n Sean Clerkin of the Scottish Tenants Organisation also said more support was needed for Glasgow.<\/p>\n He said: \u201dThe British and Scottish Governments have got to make Glasgow a special case and give the city much more money to house everybody that needs a home including all refugees.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Home Office must also introduce a fairer dispersal system \u2013 where more refugees are sent to other council areas in Scotland \u2013 to take the pressure off Glasgow.\u201d<\/p>\n Alex Fraser, British Red Cross<\/a> spokesperson, hit out at the potential for thousands to be made homeless by the Home Office<\/a> ruling.<\/p>\n He said: \u201cReducing the \u2018move-on\u2019 period will increase levels of homelessness and destitution for people granted protection and put additional pressure on local authorities.<\/p>\n \u201cLocal authorities need 56 days to work with households at risk of homelessness.<\/p>\n \u201cGiving people only 28 days to find work, housing or support isn\u2019t enough time.\u201d<\/p>\n Charities also fear those coming north after being thrown out of government hotels will be left \u201cdestitute\u201d.<\/p>\n A spokesperson for Glasgow charity Positive Action in Housing<\/a> said: \u201dThe decision to cut refugee support to 28 days will be devastating, driving more people into homelessness and destitution.<\/p>\n \u201cSince April we have received almost 330 cases of people from refugee or immigrant backgrounds who are homeless, at risk of homelessness, or facing eviction because of their refugee status.\u201d A refugee granted leave to remain must find somewhere to live before they are evicted from Home Office accommodation such as hotels. Many end up declaringthemselves homeless to councils like Glasgow.<\/p>\n Families, pregnant women, those over 65 and the disabled will continue to be given 56 days until December, when the policy will be reviewed again.<\/p>\n Glasgow City Council spent \u00a316.5million between April and July 20 this year placing the homeless in hotels and B&Bs. Of 2242 people being housed in hotels and B&B during that time in the city, 1615 were refugees granted leave to remain in the UK<\/p>\n The number of homeless people in Glasgow \u2013 including refugees granted leave to remain \u2013 now stands at a record 8530.<\/p>\n Cllr Aitken previously complained that Glasgow City Council<\/a> plays a disproportionate role in supporting refugees<\/a> and is facing a \u00a3110million overspend in the next two years due to spiralling homelessness costs.<\/p>\n Scotland and Glasgow in particular is attractive to those granted refugee status because the country\u2019s homelessness laws are more liberal than other parts of the UK.<\/p>\n Councils in England are required only to house those in \u201cpriority need\u201d, such as families with children, but Scottish rules cover all unintentionally homeless people, including single men and women.<\/p>\n This has led to homeless refugees travelling to Glasgow from Belfast<\/a>, Birmingham, London, Manchester and Liverpool, according to Glasgow charities.<\/p>\n The SNP government in Scotland has called for the Home Office to u-turn on the hotels crackdown.<\/p>\n Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today.<\/p>\n You’ll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland.<\/p>\n No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team.<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/1757397012_69_0__GFMP_SDR-270422-Susan_Aitken-SNP-GCC-009_copy.jpg\")
(Image: Garry F McHarg Daily Record)<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/0_Red-Cross-Distribution-Centre-Marks-150th-Anniversary-Of-The-Movement.jpg\")
(Image: Getty Images)<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/0_GFM_SDR_210814_ATOS_Grieves_10.jpg\")
(Image: Garry F McHarg Daily Record)![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/0_WACOMMUNITYQR3.jpg\")
Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community!<\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/0_MSPs-sworn-in-at-Scottish-Parliament.jpg\")
(Image: PA)<\/p>\n