In Wigan, there are no asylum hotels but in recent years the number of HMOs – homes in multiple occupation – has risen from about 350 to just over 900 today. Some of these now house asylum seekers.
The ‘s UK editor, Ed Thomas, visited a neighbourhood there and was invited into a shared home for a glimpse of life for asylum seekers in rental accommodation.
While there, locals spoke of their concerns at having people seeking asylum living nearby.
A short drive away in Warrington, there have been weekly protests over the summer outside an asylum hotel.
