Asylum seekers are being placed in appalling housing conditions where they are at risk from abuse and violence, according to a survey published on Sunday documenting the lives of new arrivals.

A year after the home affairs select committee found asylum seekers were being held in “disgraceful” conditions and called for a major overhaul of the system, new research suggests the situation remains poor.

In-depth interviews with 33 individuals inside a north London Home Office asylum accommodation centre found that 82% had found mice in their rooms. The survey, by the human rights charity Refugee Rights Europe, also found that two-thirds of asylum seekers interviewed felt “unsafe” or “very unsafe”.

Others, some of whom have been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder after fleeing violence and persecution from war zones, described how non-residents would enter the building and threaten residents, or simply use the kitchens and hallways to sleep.

Of those interviewed, 30% alleged they had experienced verbal abuse in the accommodation from fellow residents or from staff, with 21% claiming they had experienced physical violence.

“A number of respondents were under the impression that the cleaning staff may hold racist views. Sometimes this was expressed through abusive or hostile language in English, and, at other times, the respondents were shouted at in a foreign European language which they couldn’t understand,” said the study.

Marta Welander, head of Refugee Rights Europe, said: “An entire year has passed since the home affairs select committee released its alarming report on asylum accommodation in the UK, yet it seems as though little to nothing has changed. Our research revealed terrible hygiene standards and widespread problems with vermin.

“Many of the [interviewees] said they felt unsafe in their accommodation, in particular the younger ones or those diagnosed with PTSD. Others explained they’re experiencing health problems, which they attributed to the unsanitary conditions in their bedrooms and communal areas.”

Other findings implicated the general living conditions with just two working washing machines available to around 200 residents. Almost three-quarters of the respondents said their accommodation was “dirty” or “very dirty” when they moved in. In addition, many complained of overcrowding, with one teenager describing how he shared a room measuring approximately eight square metres with two others, leaving scant space for personal belongings. Just two of those interviewed said they had a room of their own.

The Home Office contracts to provide housing for dispersed asylum seekers were awarded in 2012 to three providers: G4S, Serco and Clearsprings Ready Homes, under the Compass contracts. Following significant criticism, the companies have told MPs they are housing more people than the funding allowed for because of growing delays in Home Office asylum processing and increasing numbers of applications.

A Home Office spokesperson said: “It is the responsibility of our contractors to provide accommodation that is safe, habitable, fit for purpose. We urgently investigate any complaint we receive that a contractor is falling short of these standards.”