The High Court has intervened to halt the eviction of a refugee from asylum accommodation, challenging the Home Office’s contentious 28-day move-on policy.
The emergency ruling was handed down by Mr Justice Johnson just before 2am on Wednesday.
The Home Office policy requires newly recognised refugees to vacate asylum accommodation within 28 days, a period critics argue is insufficient for securing alternative housing, work, or benefits. Charities warn that thousands of refugees are at risk of street homelessness under the policy, with only certain vulnerable groups, such as pregnant women and the elderly, allowed a 56-day period instead.
The government previously trialled a 56-day move-on period at the end of 2024. Dozens of refugee organisations hailed the pilot as a success, noting a significant reduction in street homelessness. However, the Home Office reverted to the 28-day period at the end of August 2025, sparking protests from more than 60 non-governmental organisations.
Natalie Hawes, a trainee solicitor at Deighton Pierce Glynn representing a 20-year-old Eritrean refugee facing imminent eviction, welcomed the interim court order. She said: “We are hoping others can now rely on this order and seek an extension of their support where they are at risk of being left street homeless.”
The Eritrean man had been scheduled for eviction at 10am on Wednesday. Lawyers argued the Home Office had failed to take “reasonable steps” to assess the impact of cutting the move-on period from 56 to 28 days on refugee homelessness and integration. In a court statement, the man said: “I am very frightened that I have nowhere to go on 22 October 2025 and that I will end up on the streets in the cold and rain. The warmest clothing I own is a jumper: I own no coat, jacket or scarf and I cannot afford to buy these because I have no money to spend.”
The High Court order prevents the Home Office from carrying out the eviction and stipulates that either the move-on period be extended to 56 days or alternative accommodation be provided. The ruling notes: “There is a serious issue to be tried.”
Hawes added: “Local authorities need at least 56 days to assist people in sourcing alternative accommodation and as a consequence refugees are being left street homeless during the winter. The court is now having to intervene to order the home secretary to extend the move-on period. We hope the home secretary will now reconsider and stop leaving refugees street homeless and adding further pressure on local authorities.”
A government spokesperson defended the policy, stating: “This government inherited a broken asylum and immigration system. We are taking practical steps to turn that chaos around – including doubling asylum decision-making to clear the backlog left by the previous government and reducing the number of people in hotels by 6,000 in the first half of 2025. We continue to work with local councils, NGOs and other stakeholders to ensure any necessary assistance is provided for those individuals who are granted refugee status. The 56-day move-on period remains in place for vulnerable individuals.”
