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Asylum support, including accommodation, is provided to asylum seekers who are destitute and do not have any other way of supporting themselves. The Home Office contracts its asylum dispersal programme on a regional level.

Serco is the regional provider in the North West as part of the Home Office AASC (Asylum Accommodation Support Contract) which has been in place since September 2019. Asylum seekers cannot choose where they live as accommodation is provided on a ‘no choice’ basis. They may have limited knowledge of Oldham and may be moved to different accommodation or a different area at any time.

Once a decision has been made on their asylum claim, asylum seekers are required to leave the accommodation provided by Serco (on behalf of the Home Office). At this point, those with a negative decision are expected to leave the UK. Those with a positive decision will then become refugees and will be able to access accommodation in the same way as any other resident of Oldham. If they are at risk of becoming homeless, it is important to get advice as soon as possible and they should contact the Oldham Housing Options Service at:

Telephone: 0161 770 4605
Email: housing.options@oldham.gov.uk

Oldham Council also employs two Local Authority Asylum Support Liaison Officers who provide support to asylum seekers who have received a positive decision to access housing, benefits and employment when their asylum support ends.

They can be contacted by telephone on:

  • 0779 095 2275 or 0781 633 5589

The Private Rented Sector Enforcement Team can also offer advice to tenants and landlords on disrepair issues, irrespective of immigration status. The team can enforce against landlords for necessary repairs.