Home Office restores protections for vulnerable asylum seekers following successful legal challenge

The Home Office has reinstated key protections for survivors of torture and other highly vulnerable people seeking asylum following a successful legal challenge brought by DPG on behalf of Freedom from Torture and the Helen Bamber Foundation (“FfT” and “HBF”).

In May 2026, the High Court found that the Home Office had acted unlawfully when it introduced fundamental changes to its Allocation of Asylum Accommodation policy. These changes (introduced in February 2024) removed longstanding protections for FfT and HBF clients and other survivors of torture, including the presumption that they should be accommodated in single rooms and excluded from ex-military sites/vessels. Read our previous press release on the judgment for further detail.

The updated Allocation of Asylum Accommodation policy, published on 29 July 2026, now reverses these changes. As a result, individuals being treated by FfT or HBF, other survivors of torture, rape or other serious forms of psychological, physical or sexual violence, and individuals with serious mental health conditions who are at high risk of suicide, serious self-harm or harm to others will once again be considered unsuitable for accommodation in shared rooms in hotels/community housing, ex-MoD sites, or on vessels.

The updated guidance also restores the previous arrangements for considering evidence provided by FfT and HBF as to the needs of their clients, as well as the approach to dispersing those undergoing initial assessments with the organisations.

The reversal of these unlawful changes will help to ensure that vulnerable individuals do not become trapped in unsuitable living conditions and exposed to further risk of serious harm.

NB. The updated guidance states that these changes have been made pending further consideration following the litigation. We will continue to monitor and update this page with any further developments.