Home Office reverses policy on UK hostel evictions after surge in refugee homelessness

Measure, introduced in August, in effect gave people granted leave to remain just seven days’ notice to move on

Ministers have quietly reversed an administrative change made in the summer that resulted in refugees being evicted from hostels with just seven days’ notice, triggering a surge in street homelessness.

The Home Office admitted that it had abandoned the measure, introduced in August, which in effect reduced the notice-to-quit period from 28 days to just a week, giving refugees awarded leave to remain little time to find alternative housing and get social security support.