Our response to upcoming move on changes

Everyone deserves the chance to build a safe and secure future. Whatever your background or postcode, having a roof over your head is the foundation for stability and belonging. 

That’s why the decision to cut the “move on period” for newly recognised refugees from 56 days back to 28 is a step in the wrong direction. 

When the period was extended to 56 days in December 2024, it worked. In just four months, we saw: 

10% fewer people needing costly local authority temporary accommodation, and 

8% more people moving directly into private rented housing. 

Giving people the time to find a home doesn’t just help refugees; it saves money, reduces pressure on councils, and creates stronger, safer communities. 

Halving the time available means more people will fall into homelessness—one of the strongest predictors of long-term housing instability and higher public costs. Councils already struggling to rehouse single individuals will be left carrying the burden. 

Reinstating the 56-day move on period until at least December 2025 would allow people with the legal right to remain here to start contributing from a place of stability, not crisis. It’s a practical, fair, and cost-effective step—one that helps people rebuild their lives and helps communities thrive. 

Andrea Cleaver – CEO