Housing Solicitors

New figures from the National Audit Office (NAO) have revealed that many asylum seekers in Liverpool are housed in accommodation which is “damp and dangerous”.

The Liverpool Echo reports that of the 1,600 asylum seekers living in Liverpool, many remain living in squalid conditions with little signs of improvement in housing conditions for asylum seekers in the city. Echo reporters also found that many asylum seekers had been subjected to racial abuse within the community.

Private housing provider Serco was awarded the contract for housing asylum seekers in Liverpool more than a year ago.

Research by the NAO reveals that many asylum seekers are still living in “non compliant” housing stock in Liverpool – despite Serco taking over the contract to provide housing in October 2012.

There are currently more than 1,600 asylum seekers and refugees living in Liverpool.

Liverpool Council has admitted that the addresses of asylum seekers and refugees in Liverpool are no longer passed to Local Authorities, making it difficult to assess where refugees are being housed. Support workers are only given an approximation of the areas asylum seekers and refugees may be housed in across Merseyside – purportedly because of previous breaches in data protection.

The Liverpool Echo reports that many asylum seekers are living in “slum-like” conditions across Merseyside – and as a result Serco has already faced court action. Serco was fined £10,000 last October after it was found that seven Serco tenants were housed in a terrace house without a multiple occupancy licence. The tenants were said to be living in “shocking” conditions – including breaches of health and safety which could have prevented tenants escaping in the event of fire.

Liverpool Council housing standards authority, Healthy Homes, said that properties occupied by refugees and other tenants were only inspected “if concerns are raised”.

“We cannot insect every property Serco procured – it is their duty to bring them up to standard,” said council representative Gosia McKane.

However Liverpool Council has admitted that not knowing exactly where refugees and asylum seekers are housed has made it difficult to monitor the standard of housing they are living in.

Chair of the asylum seeker and refugee group Councillor Hetty Wood said:

“Asylum seekers are not lost in the city – there is local knowledge as to where they are. We are trying to help these people, but it would be easier if we knew exact addresses.”

The Home Office declined to comment on the change in policy regarding making available to councils an exact address for refugees – a spokesman added that the Home Office liaised with Local Authorities over maintaining performance levels and making sure community cohesion issues were addressed.

The managing director for Serco’s home affairs business said that the company accepted there was room for improvement. James Thorburn added:

“Our top priority is the welfare and wellbeing of almost 10,000 vulnerable asylum applicants in our care in northwest England, Scotland and Northern Ireland.”

Duncan Lewis Immigration Solicitors

Duncan Lewis is a leading firm of immigration and asylum solicitors and can advise asylum seekers on issues such as housing benefit and access to services in the UK – as well as illegal entry to the UK and detention, right to work in the UK and asylum appeals.

Duncan Lewis housing solicitors can also advise on Local Authority housing, including disrepair of rental property.

For expert legal advice on immigration and asylum contact Duncan Lewis immigration solicitors on 020 7923 4020.