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City of Edinburgh Council <\/p>\nEXCLUSIVE: The Capital has seen a hike in the number of refugees applying from south of the border. City of Edinburgh Council <\/p>\n
Edinburgh has seen a surge in homeless applications from refugees based in other parts of the UK<\/a>.<\/p>\n The city has witnessed a near 250% rise in applications for assistance from people outside Scotland<\/a>.<\/p>\n The figures have fuelled calls for a rethink of the country\u2019s liberal homelessness laws<\/a>.<\/p>\n Scottish Labour MP Joani Reid said: \u201cThese figures are further evidence that the SNP Government\u2019s virtue-signalling has worsened Scotland\u2019s housing crisis.<\/p>\n \u201cThey have made Glasgow and Edinburgh a magnet for homeless refugees from other parts of the UK without any plan for housing or local services.\u201d<\/p>\n READ MORE: Asylum seekers to be offered \u00a3100 a week to leave taxpayer-funded hotels<\/a>READ MORE: Shona Robison may ‘revisit’ tax plans as UK Budget could ‘cut Scotland’s funding by \u00a31bn’<\/a><\/p>\n We recently revealed that Glasgow council had received thousands of homeless applications from refugees granted to leave to remain from south of the border.<\/p>\n Greater London was the area responsible for the highest number of applications to Glasgow – 418 – with Belfast second at 304.<\/p>\n New figures show a similar trend for the local authority in Edinburgh, which declared a housing emergency two years ago.<\/p>\n In 2022-23, 121 refugees from outside Scotland made a homeless presentation to Edinburgh but the number jumped to 439 last year.<\/p>\n These include refugees arriving in Edinburgh from other parts of the UK or directly from another country.<\/p>\n The number of refugees in temporary accommodation in Edinburgh also rose from 236 to 523 over the same period.<\/p>\n The Home Office policy of emptying asylum seeker hotels is believed to be a key factor behind the homeless application rise.<\/p>\n An Edinburgh council insider said the hike was caused by people \u201cleaving Home Office asylum accommodation with positive decisions and moving to Edinburgh\u201d.<\/p>\n Other critics believe Scotland\u2019s progressive housing laws have made Glasgow and Edinburgh a magnet for refugees in other parts of the UK.<\/p>\n Refugees can apply for homeless assistance north of the border even if they are based in England.<\/p>\n Holyrood’s abolition of \u2018priority need\u2019 rules in 2012 now requires councils to house anyone who is homeless.<\/p>\n Reid said: \u201cSNP Ministers could change the law to address this crisis, but they choose not to do so.<\/p>\n “The SNP’s \u00a3200m affordable housing cut in 2024 was also a disaster that has had far reaching consequences for vulnerable people in need of accommodation.<\/p>\n \u201cThe SNP can\u2019t keep pointing the finger elsewhere. This situation is getting worse and the failure rests with them.”<\/p>\n Tory MSP Sue Webber said: \u201cThese figures expose how the SNP\u2019s open door migration policy simply is not sustainable in cities like Edinburgh.<\/p>\n \u201cTheir reckless decision to ditch the local connection rule means the capital \u2013 just like Glasgow \u2013 is becoming a magnet for asylum seekers, which is putting more strain on our public services.<\/p>\n \u201cEdinburgh is already facing a housing emergency due to years of savage SNP cuts and a failure to deliver the homes we need. These figures look likely to be just the tip of the iceberg.\u201d<\/p>\n