Page 14 | Living next to asylum seeker HMO, ask me anything

JapanesePotWeed · 2026-09-24T19:28:11+00:00

As the title says. I live in a Victorian mid-terrace, wall-to-wall, garden-to-garden with an asylum seeker dispersal HMO. They were moved in nearly two years ago, replacing a multi-generation family that were living there before. There is another HMO directly opposite my house, where asylum seekers get rooms once they are approved to remain but don't have an income to support themselves. Not AIBU but more like AMA. I'm wondering what people would ask me if they really could ask anything. Does anyone actually want to know what it is like? I hear a lot of political point scoring in the media regarding this topic but no one actually talks to people like me!

Original poster

JapanesePotWeed · 25/09/2026 00:16

poetryandwine · 25/09/2026 00:07

That £200 per month of pocket money includes food, clothing, toiletries and transport.

Do you really think this sounds lush, OP?

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No, it is only lush when topped up by tax free working!
I can see how one guy earning big money delivering food or drugs can tempt others on basic sustenance to join in!
Those who smoke cigarettes, weed and buy a Shisha pipe are not on £50 a week...

OP posts:

poetryandwine · 25/09/2026 00:15

Maomee · 25/09/2026 00:04

Asylum seekers can claim benefits in the form of universal credit. There are certain routes where public funds shouldn't be allowed this is often ignored, and the whole immigration system is so messy that the majority of migrants-whether seeking asylum or not- end up being supported with UC because the UK is a very expensive country to live in and these people almost always do not have the resources to fund themselves.

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Asylum seekers cannot claim UC. They live on a pittance: a welfare payment of less than £50 per week if responsible for feeding themselves, or a payment of less than £10 (that is not a typo) per week if the accommodation provided board.

Refugees, like other UK passport holders, can. One does not become a refugee until
one’s claim of asylum is granted. Only a minority of claims are successful.

Original poster

JapanesePotWeed · 25/09/2026 00:11

Ilmiocompleanno · 24/09/2026 23:38

Have you ever had a conversation with any of your neighbours about what prompted them to leave their home country? (If yes, where was the person from and what reason(s) did he give?)

They mostly complain about England to be fair! 😅 I don't blame them though, this street is a hell hole. Prostitutes on hard drugs proposition to them and they tell me how awful that is!

Usually they have quite nice things to say about their countries. About food and their mums. No one has ever mentioned war. One told me that his mum is from Syria, dad is Kurdish and that they are still in Kurdistan. But there are no jobs and he can't have a family with no job. I never pry into the asylum part and I think that is why they trust me. I pretend it doesn't exist.

OP posts:

poetryandwine · 25/09/2026 00:07

JapanesePotWeed · 24/09/2026 23:48

This on repeat: go to a country - claim asylum - work illegally cash in pocket - stay as long as the asylum process lasts and the government covers all living costs - leave when full financial support stops, whether the asylum is granted or not.
There's usually 12-18 months max before fully supported living stops. If asylum is granted, they are expected to look for work, house themselves and must start paying bills. At that point some leave, some stay and work, some present to the council as homeless and destitute and live on benefits (the men in the HMO opposite my house).

Imagine an 18 month long "working holiday" during which you didn't have to pay for accommodation, phone, internet, utilities, no council tax payments, no tax on illegal working, plus £200 a month pocket money. They must make a sizeable amount of cash!! Not all of them work. But more than half have something going on the side.

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That £200 per month of pocket money includes food, clothing, toiletries and transport.

Do you really think this sounds lush, OP?

Katemax82 · 25/09/2026 00:05

JapanesePotWeed · 24/09/2026 20:58

An interesting observation is that the guys are all pretty much nocturnal. They wake around 12pm-1pm and are at their most "animated" from 10pm onwards. Must be something that they are used to. I'm a night-owl myself so I can tolerate it. Would be hard otherwise!

I loved next door but one to a similar set up. All fucking night they would be out in the street talking incredibly loudly or playing music

Maomee · 25/09/2026 00:04

poetryandwine · 25/09/2026 00:01

Asylum seekers cannot claim benefits. Those in an HMO have housing expenses covered and receive a weekly welfare payment of £49.19. That is to cover all of their other expenses.

You can see why they pick up the illegal Deliveroo work.

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Asylum seekers can claim benefits in the form of universal credit. There are certain routes where public funds shouldn't be allowed this is often ignored, and the whole immigration system is so messy that the majority of migrants-whether seeking asylum or not- end up being supported with UC because the UK is a very expensive country to live in and these people almost always do not have the resources to fund themselves.

Maomee · 25/09/2026 00:01

WaryCyanStork · 24/09/2026 22:26

HMO-style accommodation is nearly always single sex. This applies whether it's for asylum seekers, homeless people, rehab, abuse victims, etc.

There being no women or children in a men's HMO is hardly surprising.

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HMO accomodation is by no means nearly always single sex. The majority of HMOs are student houses or professional houseshares in or near cities, usually mixed sex. I've lived in a few myself and every one was mixed.

poetryandwine · 25/09/2026 00:01

Onlyyoucanknow · 24/09/2026 22:14

Yep. They're going on courses and not working and claiming benefits. Ffs....

Show quote history

Asylum seekers cannot claim benefits. Those in an HMO have housing expenses covered and receive a weekly welfare payment of £49.19. That is to cover all of their other expenses.

You can see why they pick up the illegal Deliveroo work.

Original poster

JapanesePotWeed · 24/09/2026 23:55

If they're economic migrants they wouldn't be granted asylum and wouldn't have a route to gain accommodation.

It's not like they tell the Home Office or their case workers where they've been before and that they intend to work here!
Some of the more "experienced" asylum claimants are very aware of all laws, regulations and what could catch them out. For example, they knew very well to store their delivery bags on shared land to claim plausibly those things are mine. They have a whole house, a shed and a large garden but they knew exactly the benefits of that shared alley.

OP posts:

JudyTeeny · 24/09/2026 23:48

converseandjeans · 24/09/2026 21:58

I’m sure there was a storyline on one of the soaps years ago about someone going across houses via shared attic space.

I think it’s terrible that the contractor is being so secretive. It’s your home & you’re entitled to know who is living next door.

I’d hate the e-bikes & food bags blocking my alley way. I think the only way to stop this sort of thing is for people to collect their own take away. It’s bad enough in most town centres now - I’m constantly on edge looking over my shoulder for blokes on bikes with food bags in pedestrian areas. I don’t think it’s safe.

Yes it was Coronation St. Les Battersby was getting into a neighbour's house through the shared loft.

Original poster

JapanesePotWeed · 24/09/2026 23:48

fashionqueen0123 · 24/09/2026 23:25

If they all like Germany why not go there? Or you mean they did but their claim was rejected?

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This on repeat: go to a country - claim asylum - work illegally cash in pocket - stay as long as the asylum process lasts and the government covers all living costs - leave when full financial support stops, whether the asylum is granted or not.
There's usually 12-18 months max before fully supported living stops. If asylum is granted, they are expected to look for work, house themselves and must start paying bills. At that point some leave, some stay and work, some present to the council as homeless and destitute and live on benefits (the men in the HMO opposite my house).

Imagine an 18 month long "working holiday" during which you didn't have to pay for accommodation, phone, internet, utilities, no council tax payments, no tax on illegal working, plus £200 a month pocket money. They must make a sizeable amount of cash!! Not all of them work. But more than half have something going on the side.

OP posts:

Pumpkindice · 24/09/2026 23:41

Tiramisu85 · 24/09/2026 23:32

This is just awful, were yous able to object to them being made into HMOs? Also the entitlement of them to not like shared accommodation and want to get themselves a flat or a house, they shouldn't even be in this country. Economic migrants the lot of them

Most of the men I've known (through work) in this situation have families back home, and are hoping they'll get their asylum claims granted so they can get their own accommodation and apply to have their wives/children join them. It isnt usually an expectation to live alone, just not to live with strangers in a set up that you have no choice in.
If they're economic migrants they wouldn't be granted asylum and wouldn't have a route to gain accommodation.

Ilmiocompleanno · 24/09/2026 23:38

Have you ever had a conversation with any of your neighbours about what prompted them to leave their home country? (If yes, where was the person from and what reason(s) did he give?)

Tiramisu85 · 24/09/2026 23:32

This is just awful, were yous able to object to them being made into HMOs? Also the entitlement of them to not like shared accommodation and want to get themselves a flat or a house, they shouldn't even be in this country. Economic migrants the lot of them

EmeraldRoulette · 24/09/2026 23:31

This thread won’t last I expect

@JapanesePotWeed I lived near a hotel and it was awful, I really feel for you.
I do wonder if you’ll be a bit more protected though, I mean you’re somebody that they recognise? And presumably they’re less likely to cause trouble on their own doorstep. just a thought.

By the way, the loft access is a fire safety issue as well - I’m surprised it’s not been asked about on your insurance.

Anonyanonay · 24/09/2026 23:31

How has this experience affected your political views, OP?

Original poster

JapanesePotWeed · 24/09/2026 23:28

Ilmiocompleanno · 24/09/2026 22:59

When you say they are "always single" have they told you that? I am just wondering whether some of them may be married, but their wives are in other countries.

With "single" I mostly mean they don't have anyone with them when they arrive next door.
They do talk to families back home and it is mostly women that are on the phone (mums, wives?)
The guys in the HMO opposite have been in the country for a while and I never see any female visitors/ girlfriends. They sometimes have complained to me that it is very hard to live life in UK alone and that they'd like a wife. Do we even have enough culturally compatible women in this country to give these men any chance for a family life?! I suppose that is why they sneak back and bring a wife from their country...

OP posts:

fashionqueen0123 · 24/09/2026 23:25

JapanesePotWeed · 24/09/2026 21:57

And obviously, no one is allowed to know that they've claimed asylum elsewhere before.
I once randomly asked a guy if he speaks German. His face sort of dropped in concern and he asked me panicked : How do you know me?!!
I don't know them but I know they like their Germany 😅

If they all like Germany why not go there? Or you mean they did but their claim was rejected?

Original poster

JapanesePotWeed · 24/09/2026 23:19

NotPerfectlyAdverage · 24/09/2026 22:28

Terrace houses being turned into HMOs has destroyed my home town within a few short years. Every two / three terrace gets snapped up and turned into a minium 5 bed HMO. Changes everything about the town. The only good news OP that if you sold up, you have a developer bidding war

Ah yes. This is a massive problem around me. Exploitation of working class communities for huge profits. We are losing everything we were already short on: community connections, social capital, safety and all investment that creates jobs and educational opportunities.
Any investment that does arrive, gets diverted towards servicing the needs of the new tenants. No more investment in the capable. Here we only finance and make rich those who service the needy.

I have an arguably much more problematic HMO to the other side of me - it houses drug addicts and prisoners on release. Ain't I lucky!
But I wanted to dispel some myths around HMO dispersal accommodation. Some priviledged people don't even believe these HMOs exist!
They do but also there are much worse neighbours available.

OP posts:

Ilmiocompleanno · 24/09/2026 22:59

When you say they are "always single" have they told you that? I am just wondering whether some of them may be married, but their wives are in other countries.

Original poster

JapanesePotWeed · 24/09/2026 22:51

ASimpleLampoon · 24/09/2026 22:31

Has anyone ever brought you a plate of food?

I ask because the house next door to mine was housing asylum seekers for 10 years. The capacity of as 4 to 5 persons though so sometimes it was families sometimes groups of men sometimes groups of women.

Several introduced themselves to neighbours brining a plate of food. i have lived overseas so luckily knew the etiquette of sending something back!

I never had any issues. Most were lovely, a few kept to themselves. But no trouble at all.

I think there are different cohorts of asylum seekers and unfortunately my neighbouring lot are what we would call "boat people" and straight here from the processing centre in Kent.
They are always single, male and 90% of African origin. There have been a couple from Afghanistan and currently an Albanian. The Albanian man is upto no good.

The asylum seekers next to me are supposed to be destitute and living off the £49 a week government payment. So I'm not surprised they don't feed me. Though I was offered to come in for tea&hashish!!

OP posts:

Original poster

JapanesePotWeed · 24/09/2026 22:38

Ilmiocompleanno · 24/09/2026 22:31

How did you find out that a lot of the people living next door to you speak fluent German?

I spoke to them and was asked about my heritage. My dad was from Sweden and that is when I get told about Denmark and Germany. One guy had been in Norway. They try to speak German to me as it's better than their English. I don't speak German though!
And I've seen German as the main language on a phone - I was typing in where nearest Tesco is!

OP posts:

ThisDandyWriter · 24/09/2026 22:36

therockingbird · 24/09/2026 21:53

If the contractor is Mears the client is the council surely?! Therefore the property is a council owned.

No, private landlords rent to Mears.

DownToTheGround · 24/09/2026 22:35

ASimpleLampoon · 24/09/2026 22:31

Has anyone ever brought you a plate of food?

I ask because the house next door to mine was housing asylum seekers for 10 years. The capacity of as 4 to 5 persons though so sometimes it was families sometimes groups of men sometimes groups of women.

Several introduced themselves to neighbours brining a plate of food. i have lived overseas so luckily knew the etiquette of sending something back!

I never had any issues. Most were lovely, a few kept to themselves. But no trouble at all.

Food is a great connection, isn’t it, a reminder that we, as human beings, have lots in common. Food is a great way of learning from and about each other, as well as seeing that we are the same.

The Syrian adults I worked with and the British Pakistani community too, always share their food with a sense of pride and giving.

ASimpleLampoon · 24/09/2026 22:31

Has anyone ever brought you a plate of food?

I ask because the house next door to mine was housing asylum seekers for 10 years. The capacity of as 4 to 5 persons though so sometimes it was families sometimes groups of men sometimes groups of women.

Several introduced themselves to neighbours brining a plate of food. i have lived overseas so luckily knew the etiquette of sending something back!

I never had any issues. Most were lovely, a few kept to themselves. But no trouble at all.