Sheffield’s Labour MPs have demanded an independent review looking into what the Home Office knew about the safety of the hotel where a five-year-old Afghan boy fell to his death from a ninth-floor window.

Mohammed Munib Majeedi died on Wednesday after falling out of a window at the OYO Metropolitan hotel in Sheffield city centre.

Describing his death as an “unimaginable tragedy”, the five MPs called for an independent review to establish what was known by the Home Office about the suitability and safety of the hotel, and what procedures were followed before commissioning its use for vulnerable families.

Their call echoed a demand from the Refugee Council, which urged the Home Office to launch an immediate investigation into the incident and whether any safeguarding assessments were carried out.

Deborah Coles, the director of the charity Inquest, has also called for a wide-ranging inquiry known as an article 2 inquest to be held into the boy’s death, along with an independent inquiry.

“That a family can seek safety and protection in the UK and their child die in such a shocking way is a consequence of the hostile environment and the increasing use of inappropriate accommodation for asylum seekers,” Coles said. “This avoidable death must result in an urgent independent inquiry to ensure the widest possible learning and systemic change.”

Home Office sources said they had not been made aware of safety concerns, no concerns regarding the windows had been raised with them, and the hotel’s rooms were commercially available. The sources added other families had been moved out partly to protect their privacy after the incident.

Concerns had been raised previously about the safety of the hotel and its windows, which can open very wide. One guest wrote on the hotel’s Facebook page in 2019 that the windows “opened so wide I was scared my children would fall out”. She added: “Please don’t stay at this dangerous hotel.”

The budget hotel, which is being used to accommodate Afghan refugees who assisted the British authorities in their own country, was described as “absolutely disgusting”, “grimy” and “dirty” in online reviews as recently as last month.

The hotel was used for a short time last year as temporary accommodation for asylum seekers. Several families from Afghanistan have been placed in the hotel in recent weeks under the Home Office’s scheme to rescue those fleeing the Taliban, including Mohammed, his parents and siblings.

Last year MPs received evidence from the South Yorkshire Migration and Asylum Action Group that suggested the government had broken a promise to make sure asylum seekers are “treated with respect in safe, secure and suitable accommodation”.

After hearing the evidence, MPs concluded that too many hotels used to accommodate asylum seekers across the country lacked facilities for children and “are not suitable for families to share for extended periods”.

Responding to Mohammed’s death on Friday, the Sheffield MPs Paul Blomfield (Sheffield Central), Clive Betts (Sheffield South East), Olivia Blake (Sheffield Hallam), Gill Furniss (Sheffield Brightside) and Louise Haigh (Sheffield Heeley) demanded answers from the Home Office.

“The death of Mohammed Munib Majeedi is an unimaginable tragedy. Our hearts go out to his family and friends, and supporting them at this terrible time must be everyone’s priority. After fleeing the harrowing situation in Afghanistan, they sought asylum and protection in our country and it is devastating that this young boy lost his life in this way and here in the UK’s first city of sanctuary. His death is felt across Sheffield and across the country,” they said in a statement.

“Lessons must be learned from this tragedy so it is never repeated. The Home Office have a duty of care for all those who they resettle under their programmes. We support the Refugee Council’s call for an urgent investigation into the circumstances of Mohammed’s death, which must be independently conducted to establish what was known by the Home Office about the suitability and safety of this accommodation, and what procedures were followed before commissioning its use for vulnerable families.

“The UK must be a safe haven for those fleeing the appalling horrors in Afghanistan, and we must see a clear commitment from the government to ensure this is the case.”

The Home Office said on Thursday: “We are extremely saddened by the tragic death of a child at a hotel in Sheffield. The police are providing support to the family while the investigation continues and we cannot comment further at this time.”

The Health and Safety Executive said it would not be investigating the incident as it was not part of its remit.

It is understood that South Yorkshire fire and rescue raised safety concerns about the hotel last year. The service has been approached for comment.