More than half of LGBT asylum seekers have experienced bullying or abuse while living in refugee accommodation, a survey by equal rights group COC has found.

Four out of five of people questioned were not open about their identity because they felt unsafe, the COC found, noting that conditions for asylum seekers had not improved since its last report in 2018.

Researchers spoke to 54 residents who identified as gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender, of whom 31 said they had been subjected to verbal abuse, threats or bullying. The COC referred to LGBT in its report because no intersex people took part in the survey.

The perpetrators were other inmates, accommodation staff and people living in the neighbourhood of an asylum seekers’ centre, the report said.

The organisation called on accommodation service COA to take more steps to protect LGBTI residents, such as better training for staff and appointing liaison officers who can be approached in confidence.

The COA said in a response that it was aware of the concerns, but overcrowding at the accommodation centres meant it was not always possible to cater for residents’ demands regarding safety.