DUP hits out at Mears with plan to move asylum seekers into HMOs outside of Belfast

A DUP representative says he is “shocked at a lack of transparency” after a meeting with the company responsible for housing asylum seekers in Northern Ireland.

South Belfast MLA Edwin Poots and Lisburn North Alderman Paul Porter met with Mears Housing today (22 August) to address what they described as “urgent public concerns” amid growing scrutiny over the use of hotels to accommodate asylum seekers.

Several Northern Ireland councils have launched investigations into whether planning regulations have been properly followed.

The two DUP politicians called on Mears to review its Northern Ireland policy with the UK Home Office but said their request was “refused”.

According to the Mears website, the company works with the Home Office to provide housing and support to asylum seekers entering the UK.

Alderman Porter told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) he was “shocked at a lack of transparency” around the Home Office’s asylum accommodation policy.

He said:

“We finally got to meet Mears in the DUP Sandy Row offices today, and after this meeting we have actually been left with more questions than answers. It is very disappointing the lack of information Mears was willing to supply, not only to elected members but to address urgent public concerns.

“They did say that the individuals in hotels would be moved to HMOs and that they are now looking outside of Belfast to try to deliver those.”

Porter added:

“I asked Mears to review their policy that I believe is having a massive impact on deprived areas, but they refused. They kept saying they had to go back to the Home Office and would not provide answers or a review of policy, and that is shocking.”

The meeting took place as Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch urged Tory councils in England to launch more legal challenges against the use of hotels for asylum seekers.

It follows Epping Forest District Council’s successful High Court injunction on Tuesday, which temporarily blocked asylum seekers from being housed at the Bell Hotel in Essex.

In Northern Ireland, several councils have been asked whether they hold information on change-of-use applications for hotels accommodating asylum seekers. Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council (LCCC), responding to an LDRS query, said:

“Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council is unaware of any hotels in the council area being used to house asylum seekers.”

Porter has previously raised concerns that Mears was “buying up properties” and pushing rental prices higher. However, the housing provider has denied purchasing homes in Northern Ireland.

He said:

“The reason this meeting was called is there is a massive discrepancy in regards to what is being seen on the ground. It was a very challenging meeting and we did challenge on a lot of fronts on the impact they are having.

“The only thing Mears clarified is that they don’t buy up properties, but rent. But four years ago Mears had told me directly they were going to buy properties. I asked how many properties they had, and they said they couldn’t answer that.

“I went through their own housing figures with them and showed them the massive discrepancies in regards to postcodes in areas of high deprivation. That in my opinion shows, on previous figures I have, over 85% was in socially deprived areas. They have refused to give me updated figures.”

The LDRS has previously sought clarification from both the UK Home Office and Mears on asylum seeker housing policy in Northern Ireland.

Porter concluded:

“I welcome that Mears finally met with us, but I urge them, in order to have public confidence in an issue that is causing so much concern, they must be more transparent and open. They need to work with the Home Office to make sure that the information being asked for is made more public.”

Mears, which employs more than 5,600 staff, says it currently provides and manages 17,000 homes for local and central government and is responsible for maintaining 750,000 social housing homes across the UK. In November, the company raised its 2024 forecast to around £1.13bn in revenue and at least £60m in adjusted pre-tax profit.

Alderman Porter speaking to LDRS after meeting with Mears on August 22.

The Home Office, in a response to the LDRS, said:

“Asylum accommodation is procured by accommodation providers via contractual arrangements with the Home Office.

“Mears Group consults on all accommodation used for asylum dispersal with relevant partners in Northern Ireland, and we maintain active governance forums to discuss issues relating to procurement.

“We provide funding to local authorities to support them in meeting the needs of asylum seekers and host communities.

“Value for money, community cohesion and the well-being of those working and living in asylum accommodation will continue to be at the forefront of decision-making as we continue to explore options.”